Are you intending to build water features? Do you have problems with your water features? Do your garden pond fountains and pumps come up to expectations? Are your water features always clean clear and healthy with colourful fish and thriving plants?

If you would like to test how much water looks best for your fish pond's water feature or waterfall do the following .....

i) Place a hosepipe into the waterfall inlet

ii) Adjust the flow until you are happy with the effect

iii) Without closing the hose fill a known volume container from the hose

iv) Calculate the flow rate by dividing the volume of the container by the time taken to fill it. This week's free calculator could come in useful here.

v) This calculator would also allow you to weigh the container as an alternative to knowing its volume. For water use the following:

1 US gallon weighs 8.83 lbs
1 Imperial gallon weighs 10 lbs
1 litre weighs 2.2 lbs

vi) If one hose does not deliver sufficient water then use 2 hose pipes.

3. If you are sick and tired of looking at debris on the bottom of your pond then consider buying an electrically operated vacuum cleaner. Just make sure that it is safe for pond use. OASE make the one that is best known.

4. For people who do not like to get their hand too mucky when cleaning out a pond there are sepcially made long length gloves extending right to the shoulder.

If the water is a little too cold then the fishermen amongst you could easily use those waders to enter the water if cleaning has to be done.