Knowledgebase
Welcome to the BTL Knowledgebase. Ever since we started lining ponds, creating covers, and helping people with their projects, we've gotten asked a lot of questions. Many of these questions are repeatedly asked, so we put together the BTL knowledgebase to help answer any questions you had about a particular subject. We are adding new questions every month, so continue to check back often!
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Can I top my pond up with tap water?
Whether you’re filling a new pond for the first time, conducting a periodic water change or simply topping it off during a hot, dry summer, the easiest source of water is often your own tap.
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Can you put tap water into a pond?
Whether you’re filling a new pond for the first time, conducting a periodic water change or simply topping it off during a hot, dry summer, the easiest source of water is often your own tap.
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Is tap water OK for ponds?
Whether you’re filling a new pond for the first time, conducting a periodic water change or simply topping it off during a hot, dry summer, the easiest source of water is often your own tap.
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What does pond muck look like?
Pond much is the dark brown or black sludge that collects at the bottom of your pond.
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Why would you dredge a pond?
Over time, all ponds will collect silt, soil and other material carried in from any number of sources, including local waterways
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How do you keep pond water clear without filter?
While it’s theoretically possible to keep an ornamental pond clear without using an actual filter, it’s unclear why that would be advantageous.
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Why does my pond smell fishy?
There are several conditions in an ornamental or a farm pond that can cause obnoxious odors.
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How long before tap water is safe for pond fish?
Letting tap water sit for 24 hours or so before adding to your fish tank was the custom from years ago, while you simply waited for any chlorine to evaporate.
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Can I put goldfish in my outdoor pond?
In general, goldfish can survive quite happily in outdoor ponds across the US, but there are a number of practical and legal considerations you should examine before you dump “Bubbles” and all her friends in the backyard.
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How do you make pond water safe for fish?
Whether you've got a brand new pond or one that's harming fish, there are useful steps to take.
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How do I clean my outdoor fish pond?
If you have a regularly maintained, basically healthy fish pond, doing an annual cleaning shouldn’t cause too much stress, although you should plan on devoting several hours to the chore.
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What is the best pond sludge remover?
When it’s time to remove the sludge from the depths of your pond, you have some options. Of course, the best one in your circumstances depends on your pond, your resources, and your affinity for exercise.
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Can I use a shop vac to clean my pond?
A Shop-Vac’s portability and strength make it ideal for a big outdoor job like pond-cleaning, allowing you to suck up that unwanted sludge without getting your hands (too) dirty.
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Can you put too much bacteria in a pond?
In an overall healthy pond environment, it would be difficult to add so much bacteria that it’s actually harmful to your fish.
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How do I clean the bottom of my pond?
Muck, sludge, mulm or whatever you call it, it’s brownish, slimy and slippery, and can smell bad or even poison your fish if it gets out of hand.
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What is the best pond muck remover?
The best tool for your particular situation depends, of course, on the size of your pond, the volume of muck you’re clearing out, your budget, and so on.
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How do I get rid of sludge at the bottom of my pond?
A large and neglected buildup of sludge can develop into an emergency, but you do have several ways to deal with it before it reaches that state - choose the one that best fits your situation.
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How deep should a pond be for a fish to survive winter?
Generally, a minimum depth of 4’-5’ is safest for overwintering your fish in a backyard pond.
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How long before tap water is safe for pond fish?
This used to be a simple question with a simple answer. Nowadays,the answer is less straightforward, but fortunately still manageable.
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How do I know if my pond is ready for fish?
While it’s natural that you want to enjoy the fruits of your labors, you need to resist the urge to jump in immediately with both feet.
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Is a Waterfall enough aeration for a pond?
In general, a waterfall only aerates the surface of the water, down to approximately the depth the water penetrates when it falls
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How long can pond fish survive without a pump?
In a fish pond, the pump plays a vital role -- literally.
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Do pond pumps need to run continuously?
If your pond contains fish or other live animals, the water needs to be circulating 24 hours per day.
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Is it OK to put tap water in a pond?
Water that comes straight from the tap is considered safe for human consumption because it has been tested for heavy metals, disinfected with chlorine or chloramine and amended with products like fluoride. While those steps create a water supply that’s among the safest in the world for you and me, it’s not necessarily ideal for our fish or plants.
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Should I top up my pond with tap water?
Tap water is formulated for human consumption and generally contains safe amounts of disinfectant chemicals to kill bacteria that could potentially make us sick. This is all well and good for the people in your household, but those same properties can spell disaster for your fish.
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