Raised Window Ponds Support

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Position & Build your Raised Window Pond – Half Moon

Are you wandering how to build the Raised Window Pond Half Moon? Our team have recorded a build and include hints and tips for an easy set up.

A Raised Window Pond is an extremely versatile way to introduce water to the garden without the limitations of a sunken pond. Other than a flat, clear and level area, the pond can go almost anywhere. The Half Moon lends itself very well to being positioned against a wall or fence. The ponds can go on most surfaces (including gravel) but ensure the ground is free from protruding, sharp objects, and that the underlay is used. Position the pond where it won’t get knocked or banged, i.e. in a thoroughfare or behind a door as this would scare and traumatise the fish. Get the most pleasure from the pond by putting it where you can also see it lit up at night.

For step-by-step construction instructions, follow the instructions manual or watch the video.

Position & Build your Affinity Octagon

Although building a Raised Window Pond is straight forward, we have filmed the build and show you some tips to make it even quicker and easier.”]

A Raised Window Pond is an extremely versatile way to introduce water to the garden without the limitations of a sunken pond. Other than a flat, clear and level area, the pond can go almost anywhere. The Octagon lends itself very well to being positioned in a central location i.e. on a deck or patio, but is flexible enough to go in a corner, or against a wall. These ponds can go on most surfaces (including gravel) but ensure the ground is free from protruding, sharp objects, and that the underlay is used. Position the pond where it won’t get knocked or banged, i.e. in a thoroughfare or behind a door as this would scare and traumatise the fish. Get the most pleasure from the pool by putting it where you can also see it lit up at night.

For step-by-step construction instructions, follow the instructions manual or watch the video.

Position and build your raised window pool View Half-Moon

Are you wondering how to build the Raised Window Pond View Half Moon? Our team have recorded a build and include hints and tips for an easy set up.

A Raised Window Pond is an extremely versatile way to introduce water to the garden without the limitations of a sunken pond. Other than a flat, clear and level area, the pond can go almost anywhere. The View Half Moon lends itself very well to being positioned against a wall or fence. The ponds can go on most surfaces (including gravel) but ensure the ground is free from protruding, sharp objects, and that the underlay is used. Position the pond where it won’t get knocked or banged, i.e. in a thoroughfare or behind a door as this would scare and traumatise the fish. Get the most pleasure from the pond by putting it where you can also see it lit up at night.

For step-by-step construction instructions follow the instructions manual.

Fill and top up the water

There will be several occasions that you add water to your Raised Window Pond:

When you first build your Raised Window Pond you will fill it completely. You can do this via a hose from the mains water supply. It should not take too long but will depend on your water pressure; our Octagon took about 40 minutes. It is essential that you add a measured dose of tap water conditioner to the water to make it safe for aquatic life when you start to fill the pond. Tap water contains Chlorine which is extremely harmful to fish and aquatic wildlife.

Ensure the liner is positioned so the windows and panels line up and the creases in the liner are flattened out. This will not be possible once the pond is full. Leave the hose running until the pond is filled to just under the level of the fixing screws. Leave the Pond to settle for about 48 hours before adding any fish.

A water change for ponds with fish

Because fish live in their own waste, toxic products build up over time. The filter will clean the water, but dirt and toxins can build up so it is good practice to refresh the water from time to time. To do this you can either siphon out the water with a hose or use the fountain to effectively pump out the water (remove the fountain head and turn up the flow and point it out of the pool). This water is fine to use on the garden.

A regular water change would consist of replacing about 25% of the pond volume about once a month. BEFORE you begin to top back up with the hose, add the measured dose of tap water conditioner directly to the pond. Ensure the flow of the hose is very slow as the water temperature may be different to that of the pool. Sudden temperature changes will stress fish and can trigger illness.

Water changes are required when the pond is in its early months and the biological balance has not been established yet. If there are few fish and a lot of plants, regular water changes can be reduced after the first three months. See How to…Introduce fish successfully for further information on water quality and fish.

Topping up with water

In hot weather you may experience some water evaporation, which is very normal. Also, if you have a windy day and the fountain is running too high you may get some water blowing out of the pond. If either of these happen just top up with the hose, again adding tap water conditioner before you add the water and ensuring the hose flow is slow (as per water change guidelines). Adjust the fountain height if required to reduce water loss.

Getting to know your Inpond

Your Inpond is the ‘life support system’ for your pond. It includes: the pump to move the water through the filter and to the fountain/waterfall, the filter to trap dirt and clean the water and the LED to enhance the display in the evening. It is easy to clean and look after but it is worth understanding yours.

If keeping fish, the pump and filter must be run constantly. Water movement from the pump (via the fountain or waterfall) increases essential oxygen in the water for the fish. The friendly bacteria within the life support system that maintain a healthy pool (see How to…Introduce fish successfully) also require a flow of oxygen rich water to live. If the ‘life support system’ is turned off for more than a couple of hours, oxygen levels will drop and the population of friendly bacteria will reduce.

Clean and maintain the Inpond

Cleaning the Inpond is a straightforward procedure that only needs doing occasionally, and will only take a few minutes. A sign that the Inpond needs a clean is when the flow of the fountain/waterfall is visibly reduced or the water is not clearing completely. If you have several fish, it can need a quick clean approximately once a month. It is essential to only ever clean the foams and media with pond water scooped out in a bucket as tap water will damage the bacteria that live in these media. At the same time as you clean the Inpond replace the Polymer Wool Pad in the cartridge. Pour out any sediment from the bottom on the Inpond body, again rinse off with water if required.

Always turn off the power before maintenance. The pump motor can be permanently damaged if run dry. Only ever lift the unit using the handle.

Always keep and refer to the instruction manual that comes with your Inpond (see support page). This has detailed instructions for occasional maintenance, such as replacing the LED lamp or the pump impellor, also see:

Carry out occasional maintenance – Inpond

Occasional maintenance includes:

Cleaning and changing the Impellor in the pump

Replacing the LED lamp

Replacing the UVC lamp

Add the waterfall

The Half Moon Pond comes with the rill waterfall. You can run the fountain and the waterfall together, or just one or the other. Watch the video for instructions for installing the waterfall (styles may vary slightly to the one used in the video)

Clean the viewing windows

The viewing windows are made from strong, shatterproof PVC. The nature of the material means that it is essential to clean the windows (both inside and out) with the cleaning pads to avoid seriously scratching the surface and permanently damaging the window.

The inside of the window will get a light layer of soft green algae which is perfectly natural in any water feature. Gentle wipe this away using a fresh cleaning pad. If the outer needs a clean, rinse the surface dirt with a little water first to remove larger particles, then wipe gentle with a clean cleaning pad, if necessary. Never scrub, or use abrasive cloths. Never use cleaning chemicals on the window pond.

Plant the Pond baskets

It is advisable to attach the planting baskets to the frame when building the pond. Therefore to add a plant you should remove the plant from the pot it came in and push it into the basket pouch. Fill the surrounding void with specific Pond Plant Compost, firming in carefully. This should be loam based compost and have no added fertilisers.

To prevent the compost floating away and to prevent the fish ‘digging’ in the compost it is advisable to top the basket with a handful of clean pea gravel.

Deal with Green Water and Algae
‘Green water’Blanket Weed
when the water turns pea greenthe green, stringy cotton wool algae
The UV clarifier in your Inpond will destroy green water. If you are still getting some green replace the UV lamp, this should be done every spring, and more often in high sunlight areas. Another way to reduce algae is to introduce plants to your pond.Blanket weed can be removed by hand then will need to be treated with a suitable blanket weed treatment, available in stores.

FAQs

Top FAQs

I need a cover net for my Raised Window Pond, do you sell them?

We are sorry to inform you that unfortunately we do not sell a specific cover for the Raised Window Pond. We recommend that a pond net is placed over the top of the Raised Window Pond, pulled tightly, then either knotted or weighed down.

I can’t put my Raised Window Pond panels together?

The pool can be hard to be put together because the panels are packed away at particularly low temperatures, which result in them becoming less flexible and less stretchy.

We subsequently recommend warming the weave panels in hot water while assembling and this will then give you the correct tension and enable the brace bars to be fitted into place.

I have lime scale on my Raised Window Pond windows what can I do?

We would recommend the water be emptied to below the window level and then a natural way is to gently rub the window with either lemon or white vinegar, taking care not to spill any into the water.  You may wish to remove any livestock before so as not to increase their stress levels.  The windows would need to be wiped clean to remove any traces of the lemon or vinegar before re-filling and returning the fish to the pond.

How do I check if my Inpond UVC lamp is working?

To check that the UVC lamp is operating, open the filter unit and remove the filter foams and polymer wool cartridge. Positioned on top of the yellow contact chamber is a round viewing window where you should be able to see a faint blue light. This operation should be carried out at dusk.  Turning the lamp on and off may aid visual identification.

If you do not have the viewing window, we would advise that a white piece of card is held against the UVC contact chamber inlet, you should see a faint blue light reflected on the paper.

What do I do with my Inpond during winter?

We would advise that the Inpond can be run during the winter, however care should be taken to make sure it is fully immersed and cannot freeze solid.  If you do not wish to keep the unit running during the winter, please follow the annual maintenance procedure in the instruction booklet and store frost free in the house or garage until spring.

How do I clean the bottom of my Raised Window Pond?

Agitate the water in your pond and use a very fine net and sweep the water, if you do not have a fine net, we would then recommend filling the net up with polymer wool.

Can I put stones or sand at the bottom of my Raised Window Pond?

Stones and sand can be placed in your Raised Window Pond, however please be sure that there are no sharp edges on the stones that could damage the pool’s liner.

Won’t the water get too hot in the summer?

The problem that does occur in hot weather is the lack of oxygen as this is used up much faster in warm conditions. In warm weather, ensure you have your fountain/waterfall running day and night which helps to oxygenate the pool. If you are concerned about the fish, or they are ‘gasping’ at the surface then you can add a Pond Air system to help introduce more oxygen to the pool. You can also do a partial water change.

My water has gone green, what shall I do?

Green water (or pea green water) is a type of single celled algae and is common in the warm, sunny months of the year and after starting a new pond. The presences of green water is not a failing of the product or equipment but is a completely natural process. Because of the tiny size of the algae cells they do not get caught in the filter.

Will the Raised Window Pond survive the winter?

Yes, Raised Window Pond has been designed for outdoor use, all year around in the UK. The water may freeze to a certain level (depending on the outside temperature). You can prevent the surface from closing over completely by using an Ice Vent Heater or Pond Air pump. Our UK test pools have coped with some harsh weather over the winter (without any heaters!) and the liner, surround and the fish all survived well!

Another option to help prevent freezing is to add a product such as Pond Guardian Tonic Salt (never use regular table or sea salt). These carefully balanced salts decreases the freezing temperature of water and are also an added benefit to the fish as they prepare for winter.

How much power will Raised Window Pond use?

The Pump in the Inpond has a 10 watt motor, and LED light (when on) uses an extremely low 0.76 watts.

How do I clean the pond?

To clean the Inpond, please refer to our ‘How to… Clean and Maintain Inpond’ film.
The inner liner of the pool and the windows will get a fine build up of soft algae. This is perfectly natural and can be left on the liner. The windows should be gently cleaned by wiping with the Raised Window Pond Window Cleaning Pads (never use any abrasive materials to clean the windows as you risk scratching them).

The outer surface of the panels can be rinsed off with a gentle hose and a clean sponge, or a can of plain water. Do not to get this water in the pool as tap water is not safe unless Tapsafe has been added. Never use any cleaning products, detergents or chemicals on the pool or windows.

Scoop out any debris that falls into the pool i.e. leaves, using a pond fish net. This helps to avoid them sinking and breaking down as waste in to bottom of the pool.

What are the windows made of, and how do I clean them?

The viewing windows are made from strong, shatterproof PVC. The nature of the material means that it is essential to clean the windows (both inside and out) with the Raised Window Pond window cleaning pads to avoid seriously scratching the surface and permanently damaging the window.

The inside of the window will get a light layer of soft green algae which is perfectly natural in any water feature. Gentle wipe this away using a fresh cleaning pad. If the outer needs a clean, rinse the surface dirt with a little water first to remove larger particles, then wipe gentle with a clean cleaning pad, if necessary.

Never use chemicals or cleaning products on the windows, or the pool.

How do I remove water from my Raised Window Pond using the Inpond?

You can use the pump to remove water by removing the fountain head and tipping the top of the pipe out of the pool, or by attaching a hose to the top of the riser pipe and taking that over and out of the pool.

Will Raised Window Pond attract wildlife into my garden?

Raised Window Pond will act as an oasis in your garden and could attract a large variety of wildlife. Birds may visit for a drink or a bath, and a whole selection of water borne fauna will be attracted by the addition of the pool.

Is it safe to have strongly rooted plants, like Waterlilies, in my Raised Window Pond

Yes, the liner in the Raised Window Pond is 1mm, fibre reinforced PVC, thicker than the average pond liner, which are usually 0.5mm. You should not be concerned.

Where can I put a Raised Window Pond?

Select a flat, clear and level area, other than that, the pool can go almost anywhere. The Half Moon lends itself very well to being positioned against a wall or fence and the Octagon to a central location such as a deck or patio but it is your choice. Raised Window Pond can go on most surfaces (including gravel) but ensure the ground is free from protruding, sharp objects, and that the underlay is used. Position the pool where it won’t get knocked or banged, i.e. in a thoroughfare or behind a door as this would scare and traumatise the fish. Also avoid placing it where it will get a lot of waste falling in i.e. under a tree.

Get the most pleasure from the pool by putting it where you can also see it lit up at night.

What do I need to do to prepare the area for my Raised Window Pond?

Ensure the ground is solid, level and free from sharp objects that would damage the pool liner. Always use the liner underlay to protect the liner, even on smooth, flat ground.

What tools will I need?

The Raised Window Pond is a complete kit and comes with everything needed to build the pool, which includes a specially designed multi tool for looking all the plugs! We do not recommend that you use powered tools to build Raised Window Pond due to the risk of damage to the aluminium structure.

If the site is not already level, the only suggestion would be a spirit level.

How long does it take to build?

A Raised Window Pond should not take longer than 2 hours to build – precise timings depend from size to size

How long will it take to fill with water?

It very much depends on the water pressure, if you are filling from a hose on the mains water supply and the size of your chose pool. We have found the Mocha Octagon (400 litres) has taken about 40 minutes, the Grand Octagon (708 litres) could take up to twice as long as this.

What do I do if the liner gets damaged?

If you damage or puncture the liner at any point, it is possible to firstly try to fix a small hole in the main body of the liner with a ‘pond liner puncture repair kit’. If the damage is too large for this then you can replace the entire liner.

I am struggling to get all the corner screws in my Half Moon, what shall I do?

If you are finding it tricky to use both corner screws, it is acceptable to leave one of the screws out. The other screws are sufficient to hold the liner in place.