| Frequently Asked Questions |
Q: Do you deliver?
A : Yes we deliver any where in Australia (
free within Australia ) and internationally.
Q : What's the "modern composite" material you refer to? A : We use a material called "polyresin" in many of our products, which we refer to as a 'modern composite' material. Poly literally means "multiple" and resin refers to a group of materials which act in many ways like some plastics. The difference with a polyresin is that when two resins are mixed, the result is a third material, a compound, that is 'locked' - can't be re-melted, therefore making it a sturdy material, giving great strength for its weight, being consistent in texture - allowing us to design an excellent level of detail into our products, as well as weather resistant and compatible with some dressing - such as the hand-finished painting we use on occasion. We say modern in relation to our polyresin because we can also mix in additives to further enhance the material things like UV stabilisers, decorative effects and other materials to increase strength, reduce weight and so on. Polyresin allows our designers to produce a huge range of different finishes that are, in many cases, part of the material, rather than painted on later. Q : What are the advantages of polyresin? A : As described above, polyresin offers great strength for its weight, longevity, incredible detail, compatibility with paint and metallic finishes, as well as UV and heat stability. Polyresin versus 'traditional' materials:
Q : Do you use metal, glass and stone in your products? A : Yes, we make use of high quality traditional materials in our products where we judge those materials that will create a higher quality product than we can achieve with polyresin. Q : What about the finishing? A : Most of our decorative and water feature products are individually hand finished. What this encompasses varies depending on different products, but in many cases our products feature hand painted textures or features. As such, some minor variations may occur but like leather these are indicative of the uniqueness of the product and are a feature in themselves. Q: Do you deliver? A : Yes we deliver any where in Australia ( free in Australia only ) and internationally. Q : How much water is in my pond? A : To calculate the amount of water a pond holds is a simple process. Measure the length, width and depth of the pond at the longest, widest and deepest points. Multiplying each of the measurements will give you the area in cubic metres which is then multiplied by 1000 to give the number of litres. E.g. a pond measures 2 metres long, 1.2 metres wide and .75 metres deep. 2 x 1.2 x.75 x 1000 =1800 litres. This system will almost always give you a quantity greater than the actual volume as the sides of the pool are normally sloping and the ponds are not usually a perfect rectangle. It is better to over calculate as the filter will then be more than adequate. Q : Do I need a waterfall? A : It's a good idea to have a waterfall for the following reasons: to add oxygen to the water for the benefit of any fish in your pond and the filter, to add character and charm to your pond feature and to enjoy the sound of running water. When building your waterfall you can reuse the soil that came out of the ground from installing your pond. Q : How much water will my waterfall need? A : This is like asking “how long a piece of string is”. The amount of water required for a waterfall is determined by the width of the overflow and what each individual desires. Some people want a small trickle and some want “ Victoria Falls ”. The easy way to establish the volume required is to test the waterfall with a garden hose. Turn on *the tap and allow the waterfall to start overflowing and then adjust the tap until the flow is how you would like it to be. Without adjusting the tap again take the hose and fill up a 10 litre bucket and time how long it takes. If it took 30 seconds to fill the bucket you had 20 litres per minute over the waterfall. Q : How much water does a fountain head use? A : Most fountain heads use between 10 and 20 litres per minute depending on the type. A normal three tier fountain uses about 10 litres per minute. Q : What size pump do I need? A : Question 3 and 4 will, in most cases, have given you the answer. If a filter is going to be used you will need to add the required flow for the filter. As a basic rule of thumb a pump should pump the total volume of the pond every two hours. This allows the entire water content of the pond to be circulated 12 times per day. This flow rate is ideal balance between the needs of the plants, fish and the filter in a pond system. Remember to take into account the height of your waterfall as this will affect pump performance. Q : What size hose should I use? A : Unless the pump is very small the minimum recommended size is 19mm. If a smaller diameter is used it will restrict and may damage the pump. Even with the smallest of pumps at least 13mm should be used. Q : Do I need a filter? A : As a general rule if fish are to be kept in the pond the answer is yes. Not only will the filter help keep the water clear it will also help control any toxins which may be harmful to fish. Q : Can we purchase a product from another country and have it delivered to someone here in Australia , and how long does delivery take? A : Yes. Please allow up to 14 days, 90% will be delivered within 7 days. Q : Is filtration necessary for my pond? A : Ponds without filters are usually green and not pleasing to the eye. It is possible to create a clear pond with the use of water plants which add oxygen to the water, however most pond owners find this system unsuccessful and have problems with plants removing oxygen from the water during night time hours. A biological filter is the way to solve the green water problem. * For more information on filters, water care and more ideas for your water features, please refer to the sections on Water Care and Water Filtration on this website |