By welcoming birds, insects and a variety of mammals to visit and live in your garden, you will not only get a huge sense of joy as you watch them thrive, you’ll also be able to control any garden pests by encouraging natural predators. Children and adults alike will enjoy educating themselves about the local creatures that’ll come, allowing you all to connect with nature like never-before.

At 95cm wide and deep by 35.5cm high, this compact bit of kit would work well in any size garden or patio space. The pool volume itself comes in at 190 litres, which is 42 gallons.

Included in the box is everything you need to build the feature, with click-fit resin panels, it can be built in under an hour. Inside you’ll also find a Liberty solar-powered floating fountain to help oxygenate the water, in the right position to attract full sunlight, this pump can produce 180 l/hr of waterflow. Alongside the fountain are a range of detachable heads to create different water displays. The step-by-step guide will show you how to also install the bathing beach, that a range of birds will no doubt adore and an integrated wildlife ladder, which allows smaller creatures the ability to enter and exit safely. As part of the pool itself there’s a pocket where you can add pond plants to create a biodiverse garden. You can shop our range of pond plants here

Create a successful eco-system in your back garden and attract all sorts of wonderful creatures. Sit back and enjoy watching frogs, dragonflies, birds and more.

Available in our stores nationwide and on our website, click here. 

So we thought we’d share our knowledge in this blog post on how to look after your aquatic plants. 

Ensure you have the right set up - Before you choose which plants to keep, check that your aquarium is capable of growing your chosen plants. Is there enough light and space? Do you need any soil? Fortunately Tropica have made this task a lot simpler for us all with their details Easy, Medium and Advanced labels to ensure compatibility. 

Shop at World of Water - We guarantee that you will receive the freshest plants available. The healthier the plant is to start, the better chance of success. 

Dedicate the time - Learn to fall in love with this “chore” and then it won’t feel like work. The more you love them, the more they will love you back. Follow influencers on Instagram, watch YouTube videos and speak to our experts in store to expand your knowledge and skills. 

Check your water - Plants like a slightly soft water aquarium with the Ph level of between 6-7 ideally, some will tolerate different parameters. 

Feed your plants with a good quality liquid fertiliser - We recommend Tropica Premium Nutrition for aquariums with more fish and less plants, and Specialised Nutrition for heavily planted tanks with fewer fish. 

To learn more about our aquatic plants and to browse our extensive range, pop in to your nearest World of Water store or visit our website page.

Plant keeping can be challenging when you are looking at different species. So to introduce you to this fantastic world and to get you on your way to having your very own underwater garden, our expert’s have recommend their top 5 aquatic plants you could start with. 

Cryptocoryne Wendtii– simple to grow, this beautiful plant presents vivid green leaves and thrives in almost all conditions, even in the shadow of larger plants. 

Miranthemum Monte Carlo – a popular option, this compact carpet plant simply needs suitable lighting and fertiliser liquids to maintain its health. 

Anubias Barteri Nana – ideal for small aquariums, this slow growing attractive plant has the ability to flourish in all conditions. It can be attached to a stone or tree root but also does well in substrate and fertiliser liquid. 

Staurogyne repens– position in the foreground of your aquarium, this easy to care for hardy plant needs good lighting and fertiliser liquids for growth. 

Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis - this undemanding plant boasts bright green leaves which can turn a beautiful red-brown in the right light conditions. If the plant grows too tall, simply trim the top and re-plant it in the substrate to grow again. 

To learn more about our aquatic plants and to browse our extensive range, pop in to your nearest World of Water store or visit our website page. 

And here’s why; our top 7 reasons you should add plants to your aquariums… 

Replicating their environment - Many fish, snails and shrimps would naturally be surrounded by aquatic plants in their natural habitats.

Shelter - Aquatic plants can be a great source of shelter and security for your tank’s inhabitants. Many fish will display their natural behaviours and vivid colours when they feel safe. If you have fry, they will also take refuge amongst the leaves and stems. 

Mindfulness - Nurturing your plants and watching them grow can be a rewarding and therapeutic task. You can completely lose yourself in these “chores” as it’s enjoyable to reap the benefits of seeing your plants thrive and feeling connected to nature. 

Education - Planted aquariums can teach children a sense of responsibility by changing the water regularly and maintaining the plants. It can give them a chance to be creative with aquascaping and learn about science and nature, exploring topics such as photosynthesis and hydrodynamics. 

They look stunning - You just have to pop into one of our stores to see a display or watch George Farmer’s YouTube videos with Tropica to be mesmerised by the beauty of an underwater garden. 

Choice - There is a plant to suit any aesthetic need, from Marsilea Hirsuta carpet species  to the beautiful heart shaped leaves of Anubias Barteri Caladiifolia.

Bye bye algae - Healthy aquatic plants are algae’s biggest nemesis. If you look after your plants and they are happy, the less nuisance algae you will experience. 

To learn more about the benefits of our aquatic plants and to browse our extensive range, you can pop to your nearest store or visit our website.

Peter co-founded World of Water and today is proud of all of the nationwide centres and mail order department. He would like to thank you all for your support and custom over the years.

On his visit we managed to ask him a few questions about World of Water:

When did you start World of Water?

Technically we opened the doors to what was Romsey Water Garden Park back in 1984. So I guess the business is soon to be 40 years old!

What was your mission at the start?

We wanted to demonstrate water gardening in a show garden form and to make it accessible for everyone. Inspiration from Chelsea Flower Show but on a smaller scale.

What has been your proudest moment of the business?

There’s been a few over the years but a highlight that comes to mind is when we won the best show garden at Hampton Court and were awarded the prestigious Tudor Rose. This was in 2000.

If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out in business, what would it be?

I could chat for hours on this but you obviously need to put in A LOT of hard work, I mean a lot! And be persistent, the journey is like a rollercoaster so dig in and stay positive when times are tough but keep going…! 

But garden enjoyment shouldn’t stop once the sun goes down. With our wide range of lights, you can bring your pond or garden features to life at night, extending pleasurable evenings outside (with or without guests).

During the day, ponds and water features are often the focal point of most gardens but when lit up there is no doubt they will always steal the conversation.

By shining light on water you will refract light in a myriad of ways which will beautifully enhance it. You can be as dramatic or subtle as you wish!

If you’re lighting around the pond or submerging lights in it, you’ll be able to watch your fish swim majestically at night as they weave through the illuminations. Much better than watching the telly if you ask us!

Night lights also offer a security factor, which is ever so important to avoid any unfortunate accidents. A reason itself to install them!

So what are you waiting for? Here’s a round-up of great products at great prices that you don’t want to miss out on!

Our range of energy-efficient Pontec Pondostar LED spotlights can be placed around the side of your pond, submerged up to 1 meter under the water or positioned around your garden. The lights come on a weighted swivel based and can rotate to your desired spot. Made up of 12 small cluster lights, you can choose between 3 or 6 white LEDs, or 6 colour changing lights which are controlled by a remote. Please bear in mind that these lights will need an energy source and come with cable spacing between each spotlight.

Oase’s Pontec Pondostar LED Ring is ideal for illuminated water fountains and jets, giving that dramatised affect. 

The question is will you choose to submerge the lights or place them around your feature? (Or you could buy a few packs and do both!)

Adored by the family and commented on by many guests, our Genoa Cascade Solar Powered Fountain is a great focal point in the garden. However, as you can see from the pictures it has been needing a clean as there was a build up of green water and slime.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean your self-contained water feature and how to use Blagdon’s Feature Algae Control Treatment 250ml to keep future unsightly and foul-smelling problems at bay. Ideally you should change the water once a month and add in the treatment in then too.

Unplug from the source/remove from the solar panel to stop the motor running for the time being.
2. Empty your water feature thoroughly.
3. To clean the feature, use a fresh cloth and wipe away any slime. I added a small dose of the Algae Control Treatment to some fresh water before delicately scrubbing. (Be careful not to use any cloths that may damage your feature, a soft sponge is fine.)
4. Remember to rinse the sponge filter in the pump out too.
5. Once clean, fill the feature back up with fresh water.
6. Now it’s time to add the Algae Control Treatment which has a built in measurement feature to dispense the 25ml doses directly into the water. Each dose will treat 62.5 litres of water, so one 250ml bottle is enough to last quite a while. Make sure you distribute evening over the water surface.
7. And *ta da*, your feature will look as good as new and you now have peace of mind knowing the water will remain clear with this effective treatment solution, if you dedicate less than 10 minutes a month to this job.

*Please note -Feature Clear is toxic to aquatic life so should only be used in free standing water features which do not use a pond as a water source. The product may also cause damage to plants present in treated water feature. 

*Another thing to note - It is important to drain your feature during the winter and dry it by covering it, or move it into to storage. This is because ice in shallow water may damage the paint work or crack the feature.

Pond life requires oxygen-rich water to remain healthy but is starved from it during the hotter days. Even if you have oxygenating plants in your pond, don’t be tricked into thinking that this is enough as they only produce oxygen in the day and consume it at night.

You’ll need to add aeration to your pond to increase oxygen levels and oxygenator air pumps are a great way to do so. During the warmer days of summer, we’d advise you keep your pumps on 24/7.

Not only do oxygenator air pumps dramatically increase oxygen levels in warmer weather, they prevent stagnant water and help aid pond life after using treatments. They’re also handy in the winter too as they prevent freezing and the build-up of toxic gases. But don’t worry, they run at a low cost.

You can find out more and buy online here

If you’d rather opt for a eco-friendly option, there’s a great solar air pump by Blagdon which soaks up the sun’s rays to produce power and all surplus energy fills the back-up battery.

Another way to increase oxygen levels in your pond is by adding a cascading water feature, which bring much needed aeration by the movement it creates.

Oase’s range of easy to install waterfalls are made from high quality, non-rusting stainless steel and look ever so stylish. Check them out here.

The tumbling water from a fountain jet also breaks the surface, thus oxygenating the pond in the process. Set to reach great heights, these dazzling fountains from Oase are a great option too.

With warmer weather also can come advanced algae growth, such as blanketweed. We’ve dedicated a blog to this subject, so please click here to have a read.

It’s also important to keep an eye on water loss and to remember to top up your pond during the hot spells. Excessive water loss will cause distress to fish in your pond and can expose them to predators. Your plants will also suffer too, if water levels aren’t kept an eye on.

And finally, if there’s not enough shade provided over your pond, too much uv exposure can lead to fish getting sunburnt! Around the edge of your pond, plant Gunnera Manicata which has the largest leaves of any plant grown in the UK. 

And floating pond plants, such as Water Lettuces and Phyllanthus Fluitans, help to add additional surface cover for shade and are great at reducing unwanted algae.

For more on how to keep your pond healthy during the summer, please see our blog post. 

Pick up a copy in one of our stores with a purchase or download here.

Products purchased:

Oase Fountain Nozzle Schaumsprudler 35-10E

Oase Aquarius Fountain Set Eco 7500

Oase Alfalol PVC Pond Liner 4x5m 

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