Two pumps in as many weeks have been replaced in the small neighborhood of San Elijo just north of San Diego.Pondman, a Certified Aquascape Contractor , was called out to investigate and replace if needed.With the unpresidented double pump shut down in the same neighborhood , several ideas have come to light as to the cause.

Electrical issues were given as a possible explination for the onslaught of pond pump failures. However Pondman,(San Diegos most experienced pond maintenance and service company) ruled this as not being the case.With few clues to go by, other ideas became to be heard. A never heard of  archeology student , with a minor in beer manufacturing, postulated the idea that man had been useing this area for thousands of years. So was it possible, that the San Elijo area was an ancient buriel site, and was protected by  magic against pond pumps.This was ruled as not probable. Other ideas soon poured in , including chem trails, government control, mustard, and hypnotism.

In the end the consensus was.The origional pumps were both manufactured by Aquascape. Both pumps were over 9 years old and had been used regularly for several years. And even if not common, simultaneous pump failur is not unheard of.Pondman(San Diego’s premier Certified Aquascape Contractor)Was satisfied with the outcome.

As the Pondman crew drove off , some one  in the truck was heard to say…

Pondman is a Professional Certified Aquascape Contractor from San Diego and can be reached at  (858) 449-9135 or on line at www.ourponds.com

 

 

A few years ago, a landscaper installed a pond, with a bridge. The pond is in SanElijo. I had never gone there before, and was suprised , when I arrived. The area is great, with a view of the ocean and all.The Pond was an Aquascape ecosystem pond with an Aquascape pond pump. The pump had run great for several years with no problems.After removal I found An Aquasurge Pump was a great replacement. After a little retro fitting, It went in smmothly. Now the pond in San Elijo is running again.

Rancho Bernardo Pond maintenance, in action. This week our maintenance guys got a new customer in Rancho Bernardo. This pond is at least 3000 gallons with a 25 ft. stream/waterfall. Looks like it going to be a fun pond to work on.This picture was after a pond clean out, now to get it in tip top shape.The Pondman pond maintenance crew can handel it.

Half a dozen Certified Aquascape Contractors met up in Irvine on Saturday morning. They were helping the Irvine Valley College, by building a pond . The location on the campus is known as the BEES pond habitat. The outdoor nature area is a great place to see and learn how nature interacts.

David Misterly of Aqualife Ponds, contacted some of his fellow pond builders from the Southern California area, who were more than happy to assist him in the voluntary pond build. These Pond builders included Bernie Kerkvliet, of Skyline Ponds, Carl, Ian and John Petite, from Columbia Water Gardens, Cliff Raitz, from Terrascapes, and Myself with my Pondman truck and tools.

This pond has two skimmers with several hundred gallons of water per hour being sucked in to them, along with the water, any floating debris will be sucked in. There, the debris will easily be removed, not giving it the chance to float or sink to the bottom and decompose. From the skimmers, the water is pumped up to the top of the waterfall, where an Aquascape Bio falls filter, with a beneficial bacteria growth, will help to break down any remaining waste in the water. In addition water will be pumped into a wet land bog filter bed. Plants will be planted in this filter bed. These plants will remove even more nutrients and debris. The result will be a crystal clear pond.Soon Fish like these will call the BEES pond home.

 

 

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RRecently with all this rain my phone has been ringing with a new type of question. How do I control,use,or even save this rainwater for something else.

Rainwater harvesting has been around for thousands of years, from collecting rainwater from small pools in ancient Africa, to grand irrigation in The Orient. Today we have several ways or even reasons to consider when we are thinking about rainwater.Several cities are requiring that up to 100% run off water be kept on site, this means the rain cannot go into the curb or gutter. Runoff control will be a more common issue as time goes by.One way this run off can be utilized is to collect it via gutters, or plumbing and save it under ground . The water can then be used for irrigation or other things. One thing we do is try to incorporate a water feature utilizing this saved water. The water feature not only looks great, but  keeps the water moving for cleanliness.  We are one of the only pond and water feature builders that are also(Certified Rainxchange Professionals) in the Southern California area,This allows us to offer the most up to date info and skills for  runoff and rainharvesting projects.

It doesnt matter if your in Campo, and needing a pond liner repair, or up in Carlsbad and needing your pond serviced.Sometimes we might be in Poway fixing a waterfall leak, or even in La jolla, doing a complete pond rebuild.The point is Pondman serves all of San Diego, not just here, but over there too. So call when you need a dependable Pond and Waterfall company.  We strive to make your pond as nice as if it were our own.

This week we have a new client. The pond in Salona was leaking, They were told it would take major reconstruction, to fix it. We were called out for our ideas.( Thanks by the way)After a little time the leak was found. The beauty of the plants in the waterfall came with a price.The plants had not been trimed or managed in years. This resulted in roots growing thru the liner in some places, Also plants were grown over the edge of the liner pushing it down, and where this wasnt happening  roots were wicking and sucking water over the edge of the liner.

. Our remedy was, a new liner should be installed in the waterfall.

All of the rocks, and gravel were removed. Any and all of the plants were removed.After this the old liner was replaced with a new 45 mil. EPDM liner ,then re-rocked. the results were  beautiful. This waterfall was not only smooth as silk, it wasn’t major construction.  And the pond in solana beach is now one of my favorites.

 

Last week was a little demanding in the way of finding a leak. This pond had a leak somewhere. after determining that the  water falls leaked when running. An extensive dismantle finally produced a couple rodent holes, under the large stone. The next day we had a message that it was leaking again. We then filled the pond, and with out turning the waterfalls on waited, and watched the water level in the pond.  Sure enough the water went down four inches by the end of the day. by removing some rocks around the perimeter of the pond we soon found another set of holes. The holes were patched, The pond refilled.Again we did not turn it on. The next morning the home owner called telling us the water had gone down again. OK This was getting a little frustrating for everyone involved.On our return we removed all the rocks  from the pond. This was when we discovered several more holes in the liner all of them only the size of a pencil eraser. After patching these olso, We repeated or now daily routine. The next day we were happy to be informed that the water level hadnt moved. Whew

Because of a homeowner that understood the process of – (diagnose-repair-test- repeat) and our guy Cuco.This turned out to be a enjoyable experience instead of a chore.  Thanks  Buddy

Well I have always said “Pond people are the best group of people, that I have ever met”. Well Take Kay, for instance. Recently we were doing a little re-do work on her koi pond. I noticed her collection of glass fish in her front window. She said , Her brother made the sea life and called it a glass aquarium. I was mezmerized, and told her so.

After a smooth waterfall build on her pond she thanked me and gave me a fish from her colection. I was touched by her gift, after all this was something that she had  cherished, and now I would too. This is the first of an entire school of fish and sea life that I am going to collect. All along this new hobby of mine I will remember Kay.