The North Star of Your Water Garden

NBWG Newsletter

372 W College St. Marshall, MO

Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9am-5pm     Saturday 10:30am-5pm        660-229-3777

July 1, 2017 We will be open 10:30am-2:00pm, sorry for any inconvenience 

Plants:

Now as was mentioned last week we will be featuring a different tropical water lily each week. This week's feature lily is the Brazos White Tropical Water Lily. This lily has a cup shaped flower that is a stark paper white color. There is nothing worse then having something that is supposed to white and it's not, but this flower truly is a bright florescent white. This lily will shine like the north star on a starry night. What is interesting about this water lily is that it blooms at night. It is perfect for those of you who get home in the evening and just want to relax. Typically it starts to bloom three hours after sundown and remains blooming three hour after sunup. Sometimes it will even stay blooming until noon on days with less sun. The bright white will stand out among your other water plants and will be a focal point to anyone who sees your water garden.

Special: Buy 1 Tropical Waterlily, Get 2 Water Lettuce/ Hyacinths Free
while supplies last, expires 07.01.17

Fish:

Comets. The goldfish you had as a child and always named Bubbles. Comets tend to be one of the most under-rated fish and are typically considered to only come in one color: orange. But comets actually come in a wide variety of colors and can be a gem in your water garden or fish tank. Besides orange they come in white, bronze, yellow, and a mix of colors. Sarassas, a type of comet, are white and red or white and orange. They really draw your eye right to them. One of my favorite fish from my childhood was Lola, a sarassa that had long fins and red lips. Her fins seemed to just glide through the water and her pout resembled red lipstick. Out of all the other varieties of fish she stood out the most to me. So come by our store so you can pick up your very own Lola and create memories with you grandchildren. 

Special: 3" Sarassa 25% Off
while supplies last, expires 07.01.17

Ponds:

We all want that crystal clear water, especially in the peak barbecue time when your guests will be in your backyard to not only enjoy your famous ribs but also gaze upon your water garden. One of the most important basics to have is proper filtration. Notice what Aquascape says about the science of filtration. 

"There are two forms of filtration that are critical to maintaining a successful ecosystem pond: mechanical and biological. Through biological and mechanical filtration, the water garden will process a variety of nutrients found in the system, including fish waste, uneaten fish food, leaves and runoff from lawns.

An important role of proper filtration is avoiding high levels of ammonia (a form of nitrogen). High ammonia level can be toxic to fish as well as contribute to prolific algae growth. Biological filtration utilizes nitrogen more than any other nutrient in these systems and therefore plays a crucial role in the success of maintaining a healthy water feature. 

So, how does biological filtration work? Biological filtration begins as nitrifying bacteria absorb ammonia and turn nitrites into nitrates. Nitrates are less dangerous and act as excellent fertilizer, as they are absorbed by aquatic plants and algae during their growth processes. 

Remaining nitrates are removed from the pond by denitrification, another biological filtration method. This process occurs only in anaerobic areas of the pond (areas without oxygen). One area that experiences minimal water flow and oxygen is below the surface of the gravel at the bottom of the pond. The anaerobic bacteria that live in these areas of the pond turn nitrates into nitrogen gas, which is released into the atmosphere. 

There literally needs to be billions of bacteria at work in order for the biological filtration to work successfully to purify the water. These bacteria prefer to anchor themselves to a surface, which is why surface area is so important in constructing a successful ecosystem. More surface area means more bacteria, which maximizes the effectiveness of biological filtration. Surface area in a water feature is provided by filter media (BioBalls™), rocks and gravel. A pond with gravel on the bottom will contain more surface area compared to a pond withe exposed liner at the bottom, providing more space for bacteria to colonize!"

Happy pondering!

Special: 1 Box of 100 BioBalls™ 20% Off
while supplies last, expires 07.01.17