What’s the Best Oranda food?
Just wondering if anyone had a preference when it comes to the type of food to feed an Oranda Goldfish. I have been feeding plain old flake food and sometimes buy the Duckweed plant to feed them but wonder if I should be feeding something different.
Any Advice?
Honey Bees on Galanthus nivalis
 A very Happy... |  A very Happy... |
- Honey Bees on galanthus nivalis
February 29, 2012
The honey Bees are out enjoying the warm wonderful weather we are having here in Independence Ohio. The Galanthus nivalis is in full bloom and is attracting the Honey Bees. This is such an amazing site for us at this time of year.
Spring Time Algae
It’s almost spring time and the Algae will begin to bloom better than ever! Keep in mind that once the plants start growing the algae will disappear. With the warm temperatures and sunny days I’m getting spring fever. The impulse to add more plants to the water garden is a strong one. Patience is the key to the springtime water garden. Hold back on placing plants in the water garden too soon. Adding a plant before the water is warm enough will result in disappointment.
It would be better to Work with the scavengers and natural bacteria to help keep the water clear before adding plants.
Trapdoor Snail
Clams and Snails are the living “Cleaning Crew” for the Water Garden. Clams are a wonder to watch as they gracefully filter the water extracting tiny plants and algae suspended in the water. They draw water inside their shells through a siphon, their gills filter out algae to feed on. Clams generally don’t move around much, they stay comfortably in one spot and draw in nutrients from water.
Snails, on the other hand, are busy moving around in search of their food. They will consume Algae and Debris wherever they can find it.
There are many types of Snails that will survive even the harshest of winters such as the Trapdoor and Ramshorn snails.
Crocus Blooming
February 22, 2012 the weather has been so mild that the Crocus are blooming outside of the greenhouse’s here in Independence, Ohio. This attracted the Honey Bees that were out and about enjoying the warm temperatures and searching for pollen. I hope this is a sign that it will “Bee” an early spring, at least It seems that the Bees are really enjoying these early blooming flowers.
Decorate You Garden with Style
Elegant Resting in the Garden
If you are looking for the Perfect Seat to relax on while gazing at your Water Garden, this is elegance at it’s Best. For more Decorative items for your garden visit Gardecor
Natures Algae control, Clear water the way nature intended
Nature has its own way of purifying water with the “Good” Bacteria. It is a nonpathogenic bacteria that consumes the nutrients that cause excess algae. When we create an artificial body of water it may take weeks, or even months for this bacteria to reproduce enough to keep the water clean. When we have too many fish or over feed the fish we have, the bacteria cannot grow fast enough to keep the water clean. We recommend “UltraClear” products to supply the Good Bacteria. We hare at Tricker’s have worked with all of the different biological products on the market and have found UltraClear to be a Superior product. You can Purchase these Products at: Tricker’s
What Fish will survive freezing temeratures?
Many people ask what fish can live outdoors and survive freezing temperatures. Luckily, there are many to choose from, like Koi, Comets, Shubunkins and Fantails. The key to the success of raising fish in cold climates is the deicer. It will keep an opening in the surface ice and the fish will rest safely during the freezing season. Koi come in a multitude of colors, some with short fins and others with long flowing fins. They can grow up to 2 feet long and live an average of 35 to 100 years. The Comet or common goldfish is another very hardy fish, can grow up to 12 inches long. Comets also come in a variety of colors ranging from white to orange or red with many color variations including the new Apricot Blush. Fish add a special magic to the water and really are fun to watch.
Can I add Floating plants to my aquarium?
My aquarium gets a lot of direct sun and the submerged plants do great for me so I wonder if there might be some floating or bog plants that I could add to the tank. I really like the floating hyacinths, would they grow and stay healthy in an aquarium?
How to Choose a Water Lily
Choosing a Water Lily
Water Lilies are the aristocrat of the water garden pool. They are grouped into Tropical and Hardy varieties. One of the most common questions Tricker receives each year is what type of water lily should you purchase? The above chart, found in our Tricker catalog, compares the general characteristics of the Hardy and Tropical varieties.