Frequently Asked Questions
This page covers a range of FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) as well as product manuals and installation guides.
If you can't find what you are looking for or have further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us or head to our blog for more How To guides.
What are you looking for?
Installation Guides
Ponds
Plants & Fish
Pumps
Filters
Pebble & Stone
General Info
Installation Guides
How to: install a Bowl & Plinth feature?
How to: install an Urn water feature?
How to: install Pond Liner?
How to: install a Pre-Formed Pond?
Ponds
How many litres does my Pond hold?
Calculate (in metres) the width x length x depth x 1,000 (W x L x D x 1000) = capacity in litres
Do I need continuous water supply feeding my pond or water feature?
No, pumps recirculate water over and over. That being said, continuous water supply systems can be beneficial if the pond will be left unchecked for long periods of time.
How do I get rid of Mosquito larvae?
Fish eat Mosquito larvae, however, if you dont have or want fish there are pond treatments that are effective for Mosquito and Blackfly larvae, such as Mozzie Dunks or Feature Clean. Moquitos like still water, so a pump with a fountain nozzle attachment or a waterfall will also discourage them from laying.
How do I locate a leak in my pond?
An easy way to find a leak is to completely fill up your pond and switch off the pump (if applicable) for at least 24 hours to a week. See where the water level drops to, that will inform where your leak is. For example, if the water level drops to halfway, the leak will be about halfway down the pond, if the water almost completely drains out, the leak will be near or on the bottom of your pond.
How do I fix a leak in my pond?
First, find where the leak is originating from.
A hairline crack in a concrete pond can usually be repaired with pond paint. Larger cracks may require epoxy mortar to fill the gap/s, follwed with pond paint. Small punctures to pond liner can generally be repaired with the repair kit.
Depending on the size of the crack/puncture, the pond may require full replacement. If you're not sure or you want our advice, feel free to email us with a photo.
What is the legal pond depth?
Up to 400mm (40cm)
How many litres to a gallon?
1 Litre = 0.26 Gallons
100 Litres = 26.4 Gallons
How much pond liner do I need for my pond?
Calculate the following (rememeber to allow extra for corners or holding the edges down):
(Pond depth x 2) + Pond length = Required liner length
(Pond depth x 2) + Pond width = Required liner width
For example, if your pond is 2m long x 1m wide x 0.4m deep (2Lm x 1Wm x 0.4Dm):
(0.4m x 2) + 2 = 2.8m long
(0.4m x 2) + 2 = 1.8m wide
You will require a liner approximately 3Lm x 2Wm (remember to allow extra for corners or holding down the edges).
Plants & Fish
Why had my water lily died?
Your water lily may not have died! They go dormant over the winter months, with new growth appearing in spring. Head to our blog for more information on winter plant care.
Water lilies and other pond plants with leaves that float on the pond surface, can only breathe through the upper surface of those leaves. Water continuously splashing from fountains or waterfalls can suffocate the leaves, and therefore the plant, causing them to yellow and die.
How many aquatic plants do I need?
It is recommended that about 70% of the pond surface is covered with plants, they provide natural filtration, shelter for inhabitants, and a healthy ecosystem within the pond.
How many fish will my pond accomodate?
The average calculation is one fish (fully grown) per 200 litres of water.
Fish start small and grow to the size of their environment. Fully grown fish can reach about 200mm (20cm) in length. Having said this, if your pond is too small it will stunt the natural growth of your fish.
How do I protect my fish from predators?
A good deterrent, that is also beneficial for your pond, is a pump with a fountain nozzle. The moving water deters birds and cats while aerating the pond water. Plants, rocks, and driftwood are great shelter for fish to hide amongst, and also help maintain the ecological balance of the pond, provide food, and a place for spawning fish to lay their eggs.
Are bonsai trees easy to look after?
Yes! Bonsai are easy to maintain as long as you provide sufficient water and sunlight. Check out our bonsai care blog for more info and tips.
Pumps
What size/capacity pump do I need?
As a general rule a suitable pump size will be the same capacity as the pond (e.g., 1,500 litre pond = 1,500lph pump). However, working out a suitable pump will depend on the complete set up. For example, if you have a pond and goldfish with a fountain nozzle, a suitable pump would be able to turn over the water once an hour. If the pump is to run a cascading rock water feature, suitability would be worked out off the total length, height, and occassionally the width, of the feature. Please Contact us for more information or for assistance in choosing your pump.
How do I know if my pump needs replacing, or a replacement part?
Generally, if the pump makes a rattling or rumbling sound it will require a replacement part/s, such as an impellor or shaft. If the pump is switched on and there is no sound or movement, it is likely an electrical fault. If the pump is low voltage, it may just need a replacement transformer. If you are unsure, or want further information, please Contact us.
Are pumps suitable for chlorine or saltwater?
No, chlorinated and saltwater corrodes the pumps' internal system very rapidly so they should only be used in fresh water.
Can pumps be run off a battery system?
In short no. Our electrical pumps run off an AC (alternating current) system, while batteries are DC (direct current).
How much power do pumps use?
Our most common pumps (approx. 2000lph), tend to be less than a light bulb to run.
Can the electrical cable be extended?
Yes, we have low voltage extension cables available for most of our products. Your electrician will be able to extend 240V cables. We suggest checking with your electrician about 240V or low voltage (some products are only available in 240V or LV).
Are your pumps submersible or in-line?
All of our pumps are fully submersible. Our Pondline pumps are also able to be run in-line, although submersed is preferred. If running your pump in-line, always ensure the pump is lower than the water level.
Pondline Pond Pump. Get the manual here
Boyu Filtration Pump. Get the manual here
Boyu All-in-One Pump & Filter. Get the manual here
Filters
What size pump and filter do I need for my pond?
As a general rule, a suitable filter will be around double the capacity of the pond. This will vary depending on if there is a water feature being run and what size the feature is. An easy way to work this out is to simply multiply your pond's capacity in litres by 2. For example, a 9,000 litre pond: 9,000 x 2 = 18,000. You will want a pond filter that is suitable for ponds up to 18,0000 litres.
Boyu UV & Bio Filter. Get the Manual Here
How to: Filter Maintenance
Pebble & Stone
How much pebble does a trailer hold?
A standard trailer can hold up to half a cubic metre (0.5m3) of stone. Twin axle and braked trailers can take more.
How many bags of pebble are in a m3?
15ltr/25kg bags: there are 64 bags per m3.
How much pebble do I need for my garden or path?
To work out how much pebble you require for an area, calculate (in metres) the following:
Length x width x depth (in metres) = m3 required
The most common depth is 0.05m (50mm/5cm) though this won't apply to all stone sizes; larger pebbles will require more depth to account for the pebble thickness. For example, calculating the amount needed of an 80mm grade pebble using a 50mm depth will be severely underestimated as the pebble itself is almost double the size/thickness of the depth.
General Information
What are your open hours?
We are open 7 days (during winter Albany will be closed on Fridays).
Our Mt Wellington branch is open 8am-5pm on weekdays, 9am-4pm on weekends.
Our Albany branch is open 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am-4pm on weekends.
You can view all our hours here.
Do you provide installation services?
No, Stone and Water World does NOT offer an installation service, or on-site consultation. However, we can provide the information for contractors who are regular visitors of our stores and are familiar with our products. See 'Contractor Referral List' below for more information.
What is an IP rating?
IP = Ingress Protection. The IP number rates the protection provided against intrusion, including water. The most common IP for our electrical products (transformers) is IP44. An IP44 means the item is 'splash proof', but not waterproof. We recommend placing transformers in a dry, well ventilated place.
What is an electrical current?
'Electrical current' refers to the flow and amount of electricity flowing through a circuit. AC = Alternating current, DC = Direct current. In a direct current, the voltage is always constant, and the electricity flows in a certain direction. In an alternating current, the voltage periodically changes from positive to negative and negative to positive, and the direction of the current also changes accordingly.
What is GRC?
GRC stands for Glass Reinforced Concrete/cement. It is a blend of cement mortar that is reinforced with glass fibres. The glass fibres being incorporated enhances the strength of the material while also significantly lightening its weight. It is designed to be long lasting and have a much lower impact on the environment that traditional concrete or stone.
What is Terrazzo?
Terrazzo is an environmentally friendly material that combines extraordinary design potential, optimum durability, and low maintenance. It is a composite of marble chippings set into cement, originally created as a way to reuse marble stone offcuts which were otherwise discarded. Learn more about Terrazzo here.
Contractor Referral List. Get the List Here