Ponds

Healthy Fish Pond – Dos and Don’ts

Can’t wait to have your own fish pond? Are you having trouble planning the things that your pond should have? Well, stop worrying. Below are the list of the things that you should know on how to build and maintain a healthy fish pond.

Depth

The very first thing you have to take in mind when making your fish pond is its depth. Having the proper depth for the size of your fish important for the way you pond will look. You will need a shallow pond if you plan to breed small fishes. Shallow pond would be about 4 feet deep, this is the minimum depth for fish ponds. But if you will breed large fishes, then you can have deeper.

Pond Size

It is not just the depth of your fish pond that matters, but also its width and length. Be sure, when making your pond, that there is enough space for the fish. A large pond will allow your fish to breed more than smaller ponds. It is known that there are some fishes that are territorial, which means that they need a space away from other fishes. This is because some fishes will sometimes attack other fishes that will cross their territory. Having enough space will mean that your fish won’t be attacking each other and your fishes will also have enough space to lay more eggs.

Plants

Your pond should have aquatic plans because they can help you keep your pond’s environment healthy. You should choose an underwater plant if its purpose is for providing oxygen for your fishes. These plants can give enough oxygen to your fishes. Find out also if your fish needs a shade, if they do then look form lily pads or other shade plants. Don’t put a lot of plants in your pond, let your fish adjust to their environment first. Build your pond under a shade but don’t build it under a tree because of the falling leaves.

Equipment

If you want your pond to stay for a long time then investing to some equipment is a must. Water-pump, filtration system, water aerator and ultraviolet sterilizer are some of the equipments recommended for a long term fish pond.

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Ponds

The Beneficial Bacteria in Ponds

Even before people existed, bacteria are believed to have been doing so many roles in shaping life here on earth. They play diverse roles that we discover a new one each passing day. They can adapt to any eco system colonizing even new ones and breaking down materials as energy source.


Bacteria are known to be either beneficial or detrimental to human beings and other living creatures they come in contact with. They can be beneficial when they perform the role of breaking down waste and producing antibiotics. They can be detrimental when they play the role of assaulting living organisms to cause diseases.
Because their being so adaptable to any environment, it didn’t take long for them to be introduced to ponds. The type of bacteria that cause human beings to acquire illnesses such as ulcer, septicaemia and fin rot is the type that gives benefits to ponds. They basically work in pond filters and help keep balance in the whole water system.


Despite the various benefits that bacteria can cause to ponds, their impact to the pond still a bit underrated. Most pond keepers are well aware of the fact that beneficial bacteria are the ones responsible in the management of nitrogen cycle in the pond by breaking down ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate. What they do not know is that’s just one of the many good things these bacteria can do to maintain a pond in its pristine condition.


Beneficial bacteria are the ones to be thanked for the existence of bio filter. This type of pond filter is responsible for making the water suitable for bacteria to flourish in the pond and do what they got to do in the pond–breaking down wastes products that enter the pond. The role of beneficial bacteria is not a little thing to be overlooked at.


Among all the things that beneficial bacteria can do especially in koi ponds, the breakdown of noxious ammonia into nitrites and then nitrates is the most well-known. Many pond keepers resort to the use of bacteria thinking that what they can just do is dealing with ammonia and nothing else. This is extremely important since ammonia pose a huge threat to the lives in the pond.


If the beneficial bacteria in the pond is being appreciated to the right extent, you will find out that they are capable of causing much even better things in the pond and maintaining the good quality of the pond water.


If ever you notice that despite the presence of beneficial bacteria in the pond, the fish start gasping for air or organic matters start to overtake the water system, you might be forgetting to do something. Remember that bacteria are simple, one-celled organisms that digest organic matter by discharging their digestive enzymes into the surrounding water. If there are too much organic matter accumulation more than the bacteria present in your bio filter can handle, you should do something like cleaning the pond water yourself. As the owner, it is still your duty to regularly do water changes so that beneficial bacteria won’t have a hard time dealing with organic matters building up.

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Windows

Marvin and Integrity Windows and Doors featured in Showcase Home and Matching Kid’s Playhouse

The 2010 Southern Building Show, which features its annual showcase home, inspired a children’s playhouse – a miniature copy of a bold, innovative sustainable home design featuring Marvin window and doors products.

Every year the Southern Building Show in Atlanta features an innovative and inspiring showcase home. This May’s show did not disappoint, offering another exciting home design including Marvin windows and doors. Known as the Midtown Green House, this year’s project features green construction and will seek EarthCraft, LEED and ENERGY STAR certification, as well as following the NAHB Green Building Standard. From the concrete foundation to the green roof with garden, this eco home’s bold, mid-century style combines converging planes of glass, stacked stone and stucco and an asymmetrical, loft-style floor plan. This private residence is located in Atlanta’s Midtown section, known for its eclectic architectural style. Click here to see photos.

The AVI team of consultants worked with architect Joel Kelly Design, builder The Hoots Group, and building engineers to ensure the Marvin Clad French doors, Casement windows and Direct Glaze Polygon windows met structural, architectural and energy efficiency requirements. All windows and doors featured LoE3-366®glass, contributing to the home’s sustainable design. The technology behind these windows is especially effective at keeping the sun’s heat out in warmer climates where cooling costs are high, such as Atlanta area homes. “And thanks to Marvin’s design flexibility, the windows look just as beautiful in this contemporary design as they do with traditional décor, said Peter Diehl,” sales manager for AVI.

Building on the excitement generated by this showcase home, The Hoots Group built a kid’s playhouse which also debuted at the Southern Building Show. The Hoots Group provides home performance improvements to existing homes and well as building new homes with a “whole-house” approach to achieve healthy, comfortable, and energy efficient results for homeowners.

The playhouse will be raffled off as a charity benefit for the HomeAid Atlanta’s Project Playhouse 2010 event, which takes place at The Avenue Forsyth in Cumming from September 25 through October 23. HomeAid Atlanta is a nonprofit organization that builds and renovates multi-unit transitional housing for homeless families and individuals in the metro Atlanta area. Through the building industry’s generous support, HomeAid has built or renovated nearly 1,000 shelters. An article in the Atlanta Building News featured the HomeAid playhouse event this past May.

This stunning miniature copy of the showcase home incorporated the same mid-century contemporary design and green architecture translated into a kid-friendly funhouse with an artificial turf cool roof, a roof-top terrace, and a roomy loft accessible by ladder. Keeping with the original design’s sophistication, the playhouse also includes faux stone and stucco facades, spray foam insulated walls, high grade hardwood interiors and energy efficient Integrity® from Marvin Casement windows donated by AVI.

“We’re pleased to contribute to such a great cause, plus Integrity windows fit the green aspect of this project perfectly,” said Peter Diehl.

Integrity windows and doors are made of Ultrex®, a pultruded fiberglass window material whose main ingredient is sand, a safe, renewable resource. In addition, Integrity’s manufacturing process incorporates steps to protect the environment. The fact that Integrity’s Ultrex fiberglass construction is exceptionally strong and long lasting means they require less window replacement and upkeep, reducing wasted building materials that must be land filled and decreasing the need for solvent-based paints. From start to finish, Integrity’s sustainable design contributes to a greener future.

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Windows

A Pain in the Glass

Whether it is modern myth, legend or fact, it is said that as soon as painters finish painting the Forth Bridge in Scotland, they have to start again. Sometimes it feels like that with cleaning windows – as soon as you’ve done it, they seem to need cleaning all over again.

Well imagine how long that might take if your whole building was made of glass. We’re not talking about people who live in Greenhouses here, but the massive modern facades of contemporary office spaces, their faces glistening and bright. And while people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, they should also think about how they’re going to clean the buggers too.

But if that’s not enough, these modern, gleaming edifices can cause even bigger problems – repair and maintenance. Think about it – in the time you live in your house there’s a chance you will replace the windows, maybe more than once. You very rarely need to replace the bricks. So for those buildings that are predominantly glass this can be a massive undertaking. While they look pretty flashy, they can be cause of a huge amount of commercial glazing maintenance. Glazing repairs have to be handled by professional outfits and if you thought changing your glass was a pain, imagine doing it thousands of feet up. Commercial glazing maintenance is not only about replacement but also needs to take into account the upgrading of thermal and drainage performance, replacement of handles, hinges, locks, installation of seals and relevant safety and privacy films as well as upgrades to meet current health and safety regulations. And once all the glazing repairs have been done there’s still a fair bit of cleaning left to do.

So next time you’re moaning about cleaning your windows, just remember it could be a whole lot worse.

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Windows

MrAn Introduction to uPVC Windows and Similar Products

Un-Plasticized Polyvinyl Chloride or uPVC windows and doors have gained popularity in the UK. This is because of the various advantages they offer over their counterparts. Some of these advantages include:

  • Energy Efficiency: uPVC windows and doors are composed of a material that provides greater thermal insulation than the standard wood or aluminum based products. This means that you will make huge savings on heating systems during the winters, since these doors and windows will provide adequate insulation, and in the summers, they will help keep the temperature low, thus cutting back the air conditioning costs. The prices of electricity are on rise in the UK and these products are a great way to save on energy bills.
  • Maintenance: Wooden frames on windows and doors require a lot of maintenance, such as painting, sanding and refilling of wood. Aluminum frames provide some respite but they too are highly vulnerable to rusting. uPVC windows, on the other hand, are a perfect substitute for both. They are made by using a plastic substance that is both highly durable and resistance to the adverse effects of the elements, including fire, water, snow, etc. Cleaning them is also an easy job and can be done with the use of a wet cloth and cleaning liquids. To obtain the original shine, all you have to do is wash and wipe.
  • Cost Efficiency: uPVC windows and doors can be purchased at similar prices to their identical aluminum and wooden counterparts. They also provide value for the expenditure because they can last for a longer time.
  • Safety of Product: Wooden doors and windows can be easily broken into. This is yet another area where uPVC products take the lead. Their firmness and strength match that of the aluminum frames. However, to utilize their full potential, it is advisable to install a good quality locking system, probably a multi point locking system.
  • Beauty: uPVC windows and doors allow light to recede through their frame. This can help create beautiful contours in the living space.

uPVC Windows vs Composite Doors
Composite doors are the latest offering from the house furnishing industry. These doors are designed keeping in mind the common shortcomings of the single material doors. These utilize a unique combination of materials, handpicked for their specific properties, to create a combination that effectively weeds out the old flaws.

Some of the materials used are PVC, insulating foam, wood and glass reinforced plastic (GRP). The subsequent product is extremely strong and secure. A composite door is even more weather resistant than its uPVC counterpart and the insulated foam core provides extended heat resistance. These doors are specifically designed to resemble wooden doors, but, unlike wood, they neither get discoloured nor do they fade or require extensive maintenance. uPVC windows and doors provide all such capabilities and at lower costs.

Bi Folding Doors made of uPVC
Bi folding doors made of uPVC are designed to meet the needs of contemporary households that combine beauty and utility. Here the door panels are configured into several folds, which provide greater versatility. This means that the doors take up very little space at the entrance or exit but provide optimal lighting with minimum obstruction to movement. The wider opening allows the owner to have a much better view of the outdoors and attached garden all year round. These doors are also ideal for installation in areas where a partition is required between rooms or where the exit leads to a patio.

Some manufacturers are providing even more superior forms of bi folding doors. These revolutionary products offer a smooth and simple functionality with the use of a top or bottom rail concertina mechanism rather the conventional top hung system. The door system has a slim panel gap, which offers increased aesthetic appeal. These products can be used to create a glass wall up to 6 metres wide. They can even come with a 10 year guarantee.

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Windows

Why use a window template

The very short answer as to why window templates should be used is that they ensure much faster construction of complex windows. Window templates are made from cavity closers which have become an essential component of the construction industry over the years. Cavity closers are comprised of a number of different parts, all neatly packaged into one, easy to install product. A rigid bricklaying template, a window acceptor, a damp-proof course and a thermal break between the inside and outside of the wall all make up a cavity closure. Once this has been installed, the window can be easily and quickly fitted, saving construction workers both time and money.

Cavity closers and window templates were first introduced in the 1980’s and since then have become more and more relied upon for quick and easy window installation. Windows in the home not only need to look good, but they also need to provide excellent security, noise reduction and insulation. In the winter months the heat needs to be retained, and in the summer months the heat from the sun needs to be kept at arm’s length. Cavity closers made of PVC-U fulfill all these functions well. Furthermore the material PVC-U is completely recyclable too which makes it a friend rather than a foe of the environment.

A PVC-U cavity closure ensures the total elimination of moisture around a window or on the glass. This can sometimes be a major problem with houses and can cause a great deal of damage. The effective seal and unique properties of this type of cavity closer remove this problem altogether. They are completely air tight and comply with all building regulations on this matter. They also come complete with an overhead vent with an external flush grill that improves their aesthetic appeal. Another feature of a PVC-U cavity closer is that they act as a brickwork template so the window itself can be easily fitted at a later date. This is a huge time saver for construction workers and builders who can complete the job much more quickly.

There is no other product as effective at sealing cavities around newly built walls and consequently they have become one of the essential components in any new-build project. They optimise productivity for those who are installing windows as much less time is required to do it. The spring-clip system allows pre-glazed windows to be “clipped” into place in no time at all. There is no adhesive required or any special tools needed to fit windows once a cavity closer is in place. The damp proof layer and effective moisture barrier continue to be effective for many years to come helping to keep a home completely dry and free from moisture. The PVC-U material lasts for decades too as it extremely hard wearing and durable. Despite this it is 100% recyclable unlike other types of plastic materials.

Cavity closers and cavity barriers made from PVC-U are completely recyclable, easy to install and allow huge time and monetary savings to be made. They do not harm the environment and are an efficient way to fit windows. The idea of a window template such as these has revolutionized the way windows are installed and removes the need for tools, equipment and specialist adhesives. The end result is a window that look great, is super strong, offers great protection and keeps noise levels to a minimum. The insulation offered is second to none too. They make the installation of glazed windows and even the fitting of a window board much easier to do, and that is how they have become invaluable to building teams across the world.

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Windows

Roller blinds: A perfect choice for your home & office

If you have completed decoration of your home and office except bathroom, kitchen and window of your living space and are planning to enhance internal beauty of these places with stylish decorative accessories, then roller blinds is perfect solution for you because apart from beautifying it also controls heat, magnifies the sunlight, prevents dust and proficiently maintain privacy. Furthermore, highly attractive roller blinds check unwanted noise from entering into the room and also maintain coolness and cleaning of office and corporate houses.

Roller blinds are effective for kitchen and bathrooms because waterproof roller blinds also available in the market. Before the advent of roller blinds, all of us were using old, outdated and traditional kinds of curtains that fail to prevent dust and unwanted noise and could not give the complete privacy to users. Today, roller blinds are favored as it occupies less space and look trendy as compared to conventional kinds of curtains. These roller blinds are made to fit your windows. They are not only providing privacy to your bathroom area but also ensure that your roller blind fabric is complete waterproof and the fabric doesn’t spoil from frequent splashes.

There are a wide rage of roller blinds are available in the market which are panel blinds, velux blinds, conservatory blinds, venetian blinds, roman blinds, blackout blinds and many more blinds to choose the perfect according to your requirement, theme of the wall of home, kitchen, bathrooms of office and corporate house. You can also choose the roller blinds according to your budget that suit you.

Choosing simple and plain roller blinds will not be advantageous because these blinds can be spoiled by water as these blinds are not waterproof therefore always use waterproof roller blinds for kitchen and bathroom. It also has the quality to offer the complete privacy to customer who have own these waterproof roller blinds. The other options are available to waterproof roller blinds, like the Venetian roller blinds that are also water resistant and give an alternate option for your bathroom windows.

The waterproof roller blinds are available in both with manual operation and motorised. Motorised blinds run on the electricity the help of remote control. You can choose one from either as per your requirement and budget because motorised blinds are little bit expensive. The plain and waterproof roller blinds are available in various colours such as gaudy orange, maroon, blue to sober cream, beige, and lilac. Choose the colours or roller blinds as per theme of your home and office.

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Home Improvement

Alliance of Bathroom baths and showers caters high spirits

The bathroom area is one place of refuge and rejuvenation and hence calls for creativity while designing it. The designer bathrooms are a rage these days. High glamour quotient of the place makes it a special room or rather glamour room these days. Considering luxurious bathrooms, one can accommodate a spacious bathroom bath along with shower. When a combo of bathtub and overhead shower comes into existence, the whole idea of luxury shower gets manifested.

A spacious bathtub with large XL overhead shower is a dream come true and rejuvenates one to the core. Submerged in water and still experiencing the droplets one feels enchanted. The whole set up is magnetic and allures one to get a relaxed and prolonged bath. The charm and magic of such a shower creates a remarkable bathing experience. The whole idea of XL showers for the large bathtubs is aristocratic in the feel.

In this structure a lighted shower lamp would add startling effect. The lamp gives that additional oomph factor to the bathroom space. Closing all other lights and bathing under the colored shower lamp light would be resplendent and enigmatic. A mesmerizing time would be the resultant of this bath and shower lamp combination. Magic and fantasy coming to life with this wonder generating bathroom area. The very exciting idea of relaxing in bathtub with illuminating beam of light filled droplets falling on you is a total splendiferous feel. Also putting on some light soothing music is like adding to the extravaganza.

The very glamour toned bath area oozes spunk and guarantees an unforgettable bathing experience. Add a little fragrance in water and just ponder on that self pampering spa adventure. This would be a total get together of comfort, relaxation and therapy all packed in glamour package. Wow! This certainly is mind-blowing and innovative to the hilt. The wonderful part is what wonders it formulates in the moods and emotions. It definitely alleviates one’s state of mind and takes one on a self elucidating trip. One amazing way to get over with the stress and hardships of the world, this bathing bonanza is a gift for the self.

So what are you waiting for? Treat yourself a calming and relaxing time with the aid of bathroom bath and large overhead bathroom shower. Just let water make you feel special and enjoy your ‘my time’ away from the hustle bustle of routine and ennui life. Take a plunge in beating the boredom with this wonderful bath. Just dive in and pamper yourself!

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Home Improvement

Questions To Ask Before Buying Double Glazing

When it comes to buying double glazing, it is often the sales representative rather than the customer who is control of the ordering process.

There are many reasons for this, not least that the topic of double glazing is a rather esoteric one, and people often do not know which questions to ask when looking into the many different options that are available. The companies, both local and national, know this fore well, and often deliberately mislead people into making the most expensive purchase possible.

Here are some questions that you can ask of the double glazing company which you are looking into, or of the salesman who is offering you the quote.

How much is the deposit?

Often, double glazing sales people try and get as large a deposit as possible upfront. This can leave you exposed if, when the work is completed, you feel that the contract has not been fulfilled to your expectations. For this reason, look to pay no more than 25% of the total cost of the window fitting as a deposit, and be extremely wary of any incentive which works on you paying more – for example ‘special rates’ if you pay a very high deposit.

How will you pay the deposit?

In the UK, any purchase made with a credit card protects you against a breach of contract, as it is the credit card company who become jointly liable with the firm who have done the work.

For this reason, it is advisable to pay your deposit on credit card, as this will offer you a level of protection should the work not be carried out as agreed.

In addition, there are numerous cases where salespeople have taken deposits for businesses that are about to go bankrupt, or which go bankrupt prior to the contract being fulfilled. By paying on credit card you offer yourself a level of protection, as claiming money from a liquidator can often be a difficult process.

Is the company FENSA registered?

There are over 9000 FENSA registered companies in the UK, and it is advised to go with a company who do use the FENESTRATION – SELF ASSESSMENT as a means of measuring their work against UK building regulations.

FENSA are currently on a drive to convey to homeowners the benefits of using a registered installer, and whilst opting for a company which is registered does not guarantee a hassle free installation, it does indicate a level of achievement on behalf of the company. Considering the costs involved in installing new windows, this should give you, the customer, some piece of mind in knowing that you are about to use a trustworthy firm.

Can you see examples of the company’s work?

Most, if not all, companies will be happy to show some of their work if you ask them to. But be aware, they are unlikely to take you around a project which has not gone smoothly. For this reason, you could ask your friends and family for their experiences, or check online to see feedback on the firm. When using the internet to check up on a company, keep in mind that people are more likely to report negative experiences than positive ones – a sad fact of life – and, especially in the case of UK wide companies – this can generate an appearance of incompetence where really the overall picture is actually of decent work.

In addition, as with everything on the internet nowadays, companies will use forums to both mislead potential consumers in regard to their successes, and also try to discredit the work of their competitors.

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Home Improvement

How To Find A Good Decorator

Many are attracted by the idea of redecorating their home from time to time. And when these people consider that, they usually buy into the idea that it is worth hiring a professional. Not just because it is generally conceded that a professional decorator can usually be depended on to do a better decorating job than the average Joe who lacks specialist knowledge in the field; people who have hired decorators before have testified that the option to hire a professional saves time and money and other than in minority of cases a professional decorator can usually achieve a much higher quality of ‘finish (as it is known in the trade) than a DIY decorator. (Of course, a proper professional decorator would know which products are best for a given circumstance – obtaining the best result possible is often about more than just doing your best to take care as you work with whatever it is you have got in your unsparing efforts to get it right first time!). It often comes down to years of day in, day out experience on the job so to speak. Something which often, only the professional decorator who has been decorating for his whole career can claim to have.

All over the web, authors of comparison websites and other websites are quick to point out that a professional decorator is not just someone who is simply capable of doing the job to a satisfactory standard. Rather, such a person is time and time again designated as someone who turns up on time and finishes the job when they say, without charging too much. Finding such a person can seem a particularly frustrating challenge sometimes.

But even the customer should know that, even two decorators of good repute are not always the same and equally worth considering. It has been commented that painters and decorators come with a variety of skills – some are merely experts with paint and wallpaper, who can always be trusted to produce a result that is not uneven and ugly; while others may be able to boast additional interior design skills and they may be apt at helping you choose accent colours or redesigning a room from scratch. No-one would want to know that they had been responsible for inadvertently wasting someone’s time; so when you go looking for a professional decorator, be ready to provide a reasonably well-detailed account of what you actually want done. Given the scope of decorating jobs as a whole, a particular pair can have significant variations and differences; and not just the size of the job.

Even web article writers recommend speaking to friends, family members or work colleagues when it comes to asking about professional decorating services. The British Decorators Association lays down a Code of Practice to promote reliable professional decorating services.

If in doubt, it makes sense to go to one of the online sites which have recently popped up which save you the time and trouble of having to scour the telephone directories waiting for decorators who may or may not ring you back to give you a quote and who then in turn may or may not turn up to do the job. It is better to get free quotes in a few clicks than spend your valuable time waiting on tradespeople. If you do use a free quote site then it always important to submit a review of your decorator. This means that for a few minutes of your time when your decorator has finished your job you can give your opinion on him and if it is a good review he will win more work from other potential customers looking for decorators on the comparison sites. If it is a bad review you have warned off any unsuspecting customers who might have otherwise been taken for a ride by your rogue decorator.

Everyone wins.

Good luck with your decorating project and we hope you find a good decorator. If you do, don’t forget to right the review so that everyone else can benefit from his or her services.

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