Preparing for Fall

• Switch koi and pond fish to cold weather diet when water temperatures drop to 65° F (18° C) and below. Fish digestive systems are controlled by the temperature of their environment and need a food formulated for easy digestion and absorption of nutrients. Also, decrease the frequency of feeding to a couple times a week gradually as the temperature drops.
• Stop feeding koi and pond fish when water temperatures drop to 50° F (10° C). The fish’s metabolism shuts down to a near hybernation state in the coldest temperatures. Feeding them will cause food to “stall” in their digestive tract, which can lead to high stress, infections and disease or possibly death. Do not feed them again, even if the water warms up, until spring has clearly sprung.
• Monitor the temperature of the pond using an in-pond floating thermometer. Pond owners that are serious about feeding their fish should keep a close eye on the water temperature. Using a thermometer is the only way to confidently monitor the water temperature because it can vary widely from the daily average air temperature and every pond changes temperature differently.
• Protect the pond from falling leaves and other debris. Leaves and other debris entering the pond over the fall and staying to decompose through the winter can cause major algae headaches come spring. Covering the pond with a net is the easiest way to keep autumnal debris from entering the pond and disrupting the ecosystem. If a net is not employed, even the pond skimmer will not remove all debris from the pond, so pond owners should diligently remove debris from the pond with a hand-held net on a nearly daily basis during the fall.
• Switch to a cold weather bacteria. Some brands of biological clarifiers are only effective in warm water temperatures. When the weather cools, pond owners should have a bacteria that tolerates cold water. Such blends include AquaOne™ from Alpha-Bio Systems, OneFix® from CrystalClear® and Microbe-Lift® Autumn/Winter Prep. A bacteria blend designed to help break down solid organic debris that builds up during the fall and winter is also a good additive to consider in the fall such as Sludge & Odor Remover by AquaOne™ and Microbe-Lift® Sludge Away Liquid.

Complete Aquatics is your source for fall-related water garden products. We carry a selection of Formulated Koi & Fish Foods, Pond-Cover Nets and Hand-Held Nets, Floating Pond Thermometers, Cold-Weather Biological Clarifiers and more. Don’t forget to stock up on de-icing products for your customers to have on-hand come frosty weather. These include pond aerators, recirculating pumps or floating deicers; each of which Complete Aquatics has ready to supply.

Have any other tips or suggestions to help pond owners through the fall coming into winter? Please comment on this blog article to share your information with everyone.

It’s Early-Order Time!

Complete Aquatics releases their 2012 Early Buy & In-Season Discount Program

Complete Aquatics just completed their Early Buy Discount Program for 2012. It’s the one time of year to save really big on your water garden department purchases. Plus most Early Orders receive June 1, 2012 dating. Here are some examples of the great deals we will be offering to save you money and gain margin in the 2012 Season:

• Alpha-Bio Systems (Aqua One™) – a whopping 26% off any Early-Buy Order
• Atlantic™ Water Gardens –up to 22% off plus an extra 5% on pumps
• Ecological Laboratories (Microbe-Lift™) – up to 20% off plus spiffs
• Matala® – up to 20% off
• Airmax® Ecosystems – up to 15% off
• ALL Complete Aquatics Brand Products – great products at great prices up to 15% off
  • Complete Aquatics Waterfall Foam (DIY) boasts a 16 oz can size and features a unique trigger-activated applicator.

Also, ask us how to save up to 10% and more on In-Season purchases. Preview details about the the 2012 Early Buy Program by downloading this document.

Don’t delay, orders must be received by November 18, 2011 to qualify.

Call 888-743-6688 or email info@completeaquatics to receive our 2012 Early Buy Program packet.

The Temple University Ambler Arboretum is going green! A complete SustainRain® Rain Harvest System will be installed for the Arboretum’s Research Greenhouse to capture and store up to 12,000 gallons of rainwater from 6,600 sq. ft. of roof space. These systems will supplement the water requirements for the greenhouse operation. This industry event will take place over two days, with a project overview and networking social on the evening of the first day and a complete SustainRain® educational build on the second day.

Water conservation and stormwater (rainwater) management have become important elements in every landscape design. Complete Aquatics has developed the SustainRain® systems to help you design and install landscapes that are water-conscious. The SustainRain® Rain Garden and Rain Harvest systems provide a method of managing and capturing rainfall for use throughout the landscape.

Event Overview
Join us for some industry fun on Wednesday evening. Take this opportunity to network with other industry professionals, review the Temple University Ambler project and gain some insight on what makes the SustainRain® product line unique.
The main event of the second day is the installation of a complete SustainRain® 2500 Rain Harvest System and conducting a walk through of the total Temple University project. We will also review the details of SustainRain® Rain Harvest System being installed, along with discussing the reasons, opportunities and methods available using the Complete Aquatics SustainRain® Systems. The SustainRain® product line is a great way to introduce your customers to the world of water conservation and stormwater management.

Space is very limited, so sign up today!

For more information or to sign up call 888-743-6688

or email edpa@completeaquatics.com

HOTEL INFORMATION:

We have reserved a special group rate at the Hilton Garden Inn Ft. Washington from (check-in) Oct. 4, 2011 to (check-out) Oct. 6, 2011. The rate is for $129 per night per room and includes a free breakfast for up to two per room. To reserve a room at the hotel using our group rate, either follow this link or call the hotel asking for the group rate for Complete Aquatics using the code “COAQ.” IMPORTANT: Special group rate is only available for reservations made on or before September 26, 2011 or when the reserved block of rooms is gone, so be sure to sign up and reserve your rooms early!

To Temple University Ambler Arboretum:

To Hilton Garden Inn Ft. Washington:

The organizers and leaders of the SustainRain® Rain Harvest System Build-Day in the courtyard at the Spring-Ford Intermediate School in Royersford, PA. From left to right: Dacia Williams from Spring-Ford Intermediate, Stevie Senn & Stephen Senn from Senn Landscaping and Joel Kammeraad & Roger Sears from Complete Aquatics

Royersford, Pennsylvania – July 19^th, 2011 – As part of an educational seminar for landscape and construction experts, Complete Aquatics, LLC installed a 1,250 gallon SustainRain® Rain Harvest system in the courtyard of the Spring-Ford Intermediate School in Royersford, PA. The project was made possible by a grant for the school from Pennsylvania American Water and the support of Senn Landscaping, a local contractor from Eagle, PA. The purpose of the event was to give professionals hands-on training in designing and constructing rainwater management structures into the landscape. The rain harvest system at Spring-Ford Intermediate will be used to maintain a pond and vegetable garden that are also on site.

The morning began with a brief lecture-style discussion about the interaction of rainwater with the landscape. Joel Kammeraad of Complete Aquatics led the discussion. “Education is our main goal,” he reported. “The management and conservation of rainwater is becoming an integral part of land development. We want to help landscape and construction professionals get on the leading edge of efficient and reliable methods of handling rainwater.”

Following this discussion, the group took to the school grounds. Using the SustainRain® System, they installed a 1,250 flexible liner reservoir into the ground. The system will capture rainwater from a downspout from the roof, filter it through a SustainRain® Filter basin and store it in the underground reservoir. Overtop the reservoir the group laid a permeable paver patio plus three core-drilled bubbling rocks. The bubbling rocks spill right onto the patio which drains into the reservoir, keeping the water circulated and giving the appearance of a disappearing spring.

Dacia Williams, a math & science teacher in charge of the environmental education facilities, explains how the project came together. “The school administration said we couldn’t use an auto-fill system on our pond. In the hot summer the pond needs filled daily, but no one is at the school to fill it daily. So I asked Steve Senn, who helped install the pond, what we could do. He suggested we hook the auto-fill to a rain harvest system and we applied for funding from Pennsylvania American Water.

“Now, not only will we be able to keep the pond topped off, but we have a renewable source of water for the kids’ vegetable garden and new usable space in the courtyard,” she said indicating to the permeable patio and bubbling rocks. “Both the pond & garden are used in the science and environmental education programs here and the students are actively engaged in caring for and using them. The rain harvest system will also provide a teaching tool when discussing resource conservation with students.”

Steven Senn of Senn Landscaping is a landscape contractor from Eagle, PA and has directed seven community pond-builds for the school district on their various campuses. “I’ve put in seven ponds for these guys,” Steve says. “The kids, parents, teachers and administrators love them, and they’ve generated some pond jobs for my business.”

Mark your calendars for July 12^th & 13^th and reserve a spot, Complete Aquatics is holding a combined information event and instructional Rain Garden Installation at the The Little Red House Adult Day Care Center in Spring Lake, MI. In the late afternoon of July 12^th, we will have an open-house style seminar reviewing the SustainRain^® Rain Garden and Stormwater Management Systems from Complete Aquatics, along with a project overview and refreshments. Then on the July 13^th, we will install the SustainRain^® Rain Garden System with a hot lunch in the middle of the day. You can attend one or both events. Please contact Complete Aquatics to sign up.

The Little Red House Protecting the Environment with the SustainRain® System

The Little Red House, Inc provides adult day care service in a home-like environment to northern Ottawa and southern Muskegon Counties. Early this year during the planning cycle for their project, they teamed up with Complete Aquatics to help them provide an innovative approach to water conservation and stormwater management on the site of their new garage.

Water conservation and managing stormwater (rainwater) correctly is becoming an important element in every site or landscape design. Complete Aquatics has developed a line of SustainRain® products to help you do just that! The SustainRain® Rain Garden and Rain Harvest systems provide a method of managing and capturing rainfall to be use throughout the landscape.

During this event we will be installing complete SustainRain® System to manage the stormwater from the new garage at The Little Red House. We will discuss the reasons, opportunities and methods available using the Complete Aquatics SustainRain® Systems, with a focus on the SustainRain® Rain Garden. The SustainRain® product line is a great way to introduce your customers to the world of water conservation and stormwater management.

Space is limited, so call or email us today to reserve your spot!

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Complete Aquatics has teamed up with Senn Landscaping in Eagle, PA to install a SustainRain^® Rain Harvest System to be used as an environmental science teaching tool at the Spring-Ford Intermediate School 5/6 Center in Royersford, PA.Watch the video embedded below (after a short advertisement from the video provider) to hear from the teachers at Spring-Ford and see how excited they are to bring hands-on experience into their classroom. The environmental program at Spring-Ford already enjoys an Ecosystem Pond and an organic garden as part of their program and the Rain Harvest System will be used to supply both of them with water.

The installation will be a training event for interested Landscape Professionals that wish to get some hands-on experience and education on rain harvesting and stormwater management. The event will be held July 19th, 2011. Stay tuned for details of the event and sign-up information.

Mark your calendars for June 21, 2011 and reserve a spot, we are holding an educational build event at the new Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery in Halifax, PA. Don’t let the wet spring prevent you from developing your business. Join us for a full day of education, industry interaction, food and fun. As a bonus, a tour of the winery will be available at the end of the day!

Space is limited, so call or email us today to reserve your spot!

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Complete Aquatics’ technical support representative Roger Sears explains to the class an overview of the installation process for the SustainRain Filter Basin and SustainRain Rain Garden System.

Complete Aquatics LLC, a Selinsgrove, Pa.-based manufacturer and distributor of pond equipment, held an educational seminar in November. During the educational seminar, Complete Aquatics lead current and future landscape professionals in the construction of a rainwater garden at the Blackhawk Homestead Wild Animal Shelter and Nursery in Centre Hall, Pa.

The educational seminar began with a discussion about the interaction of rainwater on the landscape, focusing specifically on the impact of increasingly developed countryside on natural freshwater systems and how ecologically minded landscape installs can greatly reduce those impacts. The group, which was composed of landscape professionals from across Pennsylvania and high school students from the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, also explored industry and government data on household water usage in traditional landscapes.

Following the discussion, the group built a self-sustaining rainwater garden in front of the log cabin at the Blackwater Homestead. The rainwater garden project entailed installing a SustainRain Filter Basin to collect, filter and divert rainwater from the roof of the cabin to the SustainRain RG625 Rain Garden System. The water stored in the rainwater garden’s underground reservoir will be pumped through a weeping hose to keep the garden irrigated between rain events.

The rainwater garden project included the installation of a 40-inch-tall bubbling basalt stone water feature to aerate the water.

“Education is our main goal,” said Joel Kammeraad, Complete Aquatics’ general manager. “We want the people who are designing and building landscapes to think about how their work is going to impact the surrounding and regional environment. Only through proactive practices can we begin to tackle the problems facing our natural water systems, and water is the foundation of all life.”

In addition to manufacturing and distributing pond and water feature equipment, Complete Aquatics provides technical support and training.