1. Swimmers prefer the feel and taste of water treated with the ECOsmarte system over salt water pools by an overwhelming margin.

2. ECOsmarte systems work within a calcium hardness range of 200-2,000ppm. Because it converts calcium to bicarbonate, the ECOsmarte will eliminate and prevent calcium scaling on pool walls and rock features. Salt water pools do not control calcium scaling and will only work within a calcium range of 200-400 ppm.

3. Since salt water pool systems produce chlorine, the sanitizing effectiveness of the system is impacted by changes in temperature, bather load, sunlight and rainfall. Changes in any of these factors may require additional “shocking” of the water to prevent an algae outbreak. The effectiveness of Ecosmarte is not significantly affected by these factors. An ECOsmarte owner does not have to be concerned about doing anything different to treat their pool if they have 20 kids in the pool all day. The pool water will still provide bacterial and algae protection for a full week or more.

4. Vinyl liners, automated pool covers and solar covers may become damaged from the use of chlorine or salt water pool systems. Since the ECOsmarte system does not require the use of harmful oxidizing chemicals, these expensive pool components can be expected to last their normal life expectancy.

5. Salt water pool systems will use an average of 500 watts of AC power for a 20,000 gallon pool. ECOsmarte systems will use an average of only 40 watts of DC power to treat the same amount of water.

6. Salt water pool systems and the ECOsmarte system both use a chamber in their process. The difference is that a salt water pool system’s cell may need to be replaced in 3-5 years at a cost of over $400. The copper bars in the ECOsmarte chamber cost less than $100 to replace and they should last 4-7 years. The ECOsmarte chamber is warranted for 5 years and should last indefinitely.

7. The backwash discharge from an ECOsmarte treated pool is safe for use on lawns and in gardens since it does not contain any salt or sodium. Backwash from pools treated with salt water systems can kill plant life, sterilize soil preventing plant growth and is prohibited in many municipalities in the United States and Australia (where salt water systems were invented).

8. ECOsmarte offers six days per week of toll-free support at 1-800-ION SWIM to consumers, dealers and service personnel. No such support is available by any manufacturer of salt water pools being sold in the United States.

For more information on Ecosmarte Products, Visit
http://Ecosmarte.net/

Alex Lum
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/8-reasons-why-ecosmarte-is-preferred-by-pool-owners-over-salt-water-pools-53218.html

Tired of looking at the same old backyard everyday? Do you want to have that special area where you can sit and relax after a hard days work? A pond will create a tranquil and serene environment that is sure to have your curious neighbors peeping over your fence.

However, one thing to keep in mind is that pond equipment and installations can cost several thousand dollars when contracted out to a landscaper. They can be extremely expensive investments! Wouldn’t you like to obtain all the supplies that a contractor normally would, at their wholesale price? Well, now you can buy a professional-quality pond kit directly from Algreen Products!

New for 2007, Algreen’s Professional Pond Kits include a pump, liner, underlay, filtration media, and both a skimmer and bio waterfall filter! These kits come complete with a whole load of accessories to help transform your backyard into a spectacular work of art. The new Professional Pond Kits come in 3 sizes which range from 4’ x 6’ liner kits, to the 6’ x 6’ liner kits, to the larger 6’ x 11’ kits (which includes a pump that moves over 12,000 gallons of water per hour).

Leafs, twigs, and other debris use to make ponds look dirty and were a hassle to clean up. Not any more!! With the introduction of Algreen’s new pond skimmer, pond debris is skimmed off the pond water surface and filtered regularly so that you have a clean, clear, and beautiful looking pond anytime of the day. The skimmer is specially manufactured to operate with ponds containing up to 5000 gallons of water.

The skimmer’s Trap Basket has a large filter that is easily removable for cleaning and maintenance. There is also a secondary filter mat used for secondary filtration prior to reaching the pump. The kit comes with a special pump that creates a natural flowing waterfall. The pump is uniquely housed within the skimmer so it’s completely hidden from view.

Your fish will thank you with Algreen’s new Biofalls Filter, which includes both removable biological and mechanical filters, and 2 activated charcoal pouches. The charcoal filtration units have an extremely high surface area and when placed in the water bind, and thus remove harmful chemicals such as bacterial toxins. Poisonous toxic molecules physically adhere to the activated charcoal and stick to it until they are completely destroyed.

Keep micro bacterial agents such as algae and bacterial colonies from developing in your pond with the Bio Waterfall Filter’s special fish friendly filters and pond solutions. The filters include six separate filtering actions to ensure that your pond water is in healthy condition.

These new Professional Pond Kits are a lovely addition to any area they are placed in. They are proudly manufactured in Canada and are accompanied with a lifetime warranty on both the skimmer and waterfall filter enclosures!

I know what you’re thinking. With this great value, the price must be through the roof. WRONG!! Compared to the leading competitor’s prices, Algreen’s Professionial Pond Kits give you a savings of more than 25%. The leading competitor has a 6’ x 11’ kit retailing close to $1300, and it does not even include all the specialized filtration media and pond solutions that Algreen provides. In addition to Algreen’s great package, you also get a free thermometer, so you can keep an eye on your fish during those hot summer days. Algreen gives you everything you need, other than the shovel and landscaping materials; even then, the largest kit is still priced under $1000.

Be the trend setter this year on your block. These pond kits add value to your home, are great conversation starters, and make a great place to relax next to while enjoying your drink. They come with easy to follow installation instructions and are customizable so no pond looks the same. Best part about the kit is that the instructions give you the flexibility of doing-it-yourself, with helpers. Alternatively, the kit also provides you with a low-cost, professional pond kit, so that you can hire a contractor to complete a cheaper, more affordable pond. Come visit gardensupermart.com today for more information about our Professional Pond Kits.

Gerry Fung
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/a-professional-pond-liner-kit-at-an-affordable-price-98568.html

I have always loved aircrafts and long haul flights. We boarded award winning Singapore Airlines in LAX with about 30 hours of travel time ahead of us. With 8 magazines, 6 movies, 4 meals and a sleeping pill, the time went quickly and I arrived relaxed and ready to explore. American airports are not very people friendly. Singapore’s ultra-modern airport invites you to linger with free internet terminals, a cinema, rooftop swimming pool, aromatherapy spas, oxygen bars, indoor nature garden with waterfalls and koi pond.

I’m part of a group of 28 singles. This was a smaller group than expected, but I understand several people dropped out claiming fear of bird flu. I could sense I was part of a quality entourage of seasoned culture-vultures.

We began with an orientation tour at the top of Mt. Farber and its spectacular views. The group was impressed by this sparkling metropolis located between Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore is the leader of S.E. Asia, a bustling port that was modernized by the East India Trading Company and the British Empire. It’s called the Lion City and inhabited by 4 million souls. 76% are Chinese and the other minorities all blend harmoniously. Singapore is a city, state, capital and country all in one and draws 8 million visitors per year, yet few Americans have yet discovered it.

We checked into the opulent Regent Hotel of The Four Seasons. I’m given a suite and swear this hotel wins the award for the most gracious staff on the planet. We’ve arrived at a perfect time with the “Great Shopping Festival” on full swing. There’s nothing like “retail therapy” to soothe our jet lag minds. Orchard Road, like a tree lined Fifth Avenue, was only a block away and center of all life. Shopping is the national obsession here and bargain hunting a blood sport.

There are 150 mega-malls with some that never close. I’m a label slave and purchased a used authentic Rolex with documents, for a fraction of its original cost. We had only 4 days here. So I had much to do, it’s like Hong Kong on steroids. The Arts Festival was on with many venues from painting and sculpture to music and dance. At night Clarke Quay on the river became party central with its trendy clubs rocking until dawn.
We had an astute and friendly guide named Farida who showed us all the sights with a wonderful sense of humor.

We visited the lush National Orchard Gardens with its 60,000 orchids, China Town with its markets and temples and Little India with its intense aromas and vibrant colors. Then we went to the ultra-contemporary financial district, Merlion Park with its landmark fountain and the historic colonial area that was established by Sir Stanford Raffles.

We stopped to sip a Singapore Sling at the famous Long Bar of Raffles Hotel where rooms start at $700 per night. Our other tours included Jurong Bird Park and the Night Safari at the zoo, considered the best in the world with its free roaming enclosures for 2500 animals.

In our free time, we rode rickshaws around town and took the cable car over to Sentosa Island.
Some of us opted to head back to the zoo for a Jungle Breakfast with the Orangutans. At night Terry & I dinned on jumbo chili crabs and rice cakes.

This vibrant island-state of Singapore is glistening clean with purple bougainvillea bushes lining the highways. All cars are equipped with alarms to sound if one exceeds the speed limit. No graffiti, no gangs and in this tightly “controlled democracy”, it’s the death penalty for drug traffickers. We all made jokes about getting caned for chewing gum or jay-walking.

It was a nice leisurely visit here. I usually feel like Jack Bauer on the TV series “24″ on my trips with non-stop itineraries. Here I felt well rested as I boarded for our 3 hour flight to Vietnam.

Arriving in Hanoi is like stepping into another world with rice paddies, sampans, lotus blossoms, coconut milk and noodle soups. It’s like a time machine dropped us back to the 15th century in this graceful land steeped in history. It was far poorer than I anticipated. There was however, an alluring charm which was found in the gentility of the people with the sincerest of smiles.

I’ve always been a fan of the Third World. Whereas Singapore was dynamic, Hanoi was culturally stimulating. The city was studded with lakes and shaded by tamarind trees. It was a dichotomy that bustled with Chi-energy and yet was tranquil at the same time.

We checked into the deluxe Sheraton Resort, an oasis of calm amidst the chaos. Our fabulous guide named Hong was with us for 6 glorious days.

His first lesson was to teach us how to cross the streets. The traffic here is horrendously busy with 7 lanes packed with 2.4 million motor scooters. “It’s called the Chicken Game” he explained. “Don’t run, don’t stop, just walk slowly so the drivers can predict your direction. They will miss you!” That afternoon I stood in fear stranded 20 minutes curbside realizing this “lesson” went against every one of my survival instincts. Entire families passed by on a single scooter; I understand this is called the “Vietnamese sandwich.” Everything was transported by these mopeds, 8 piglets, a dozen chickens upside down, a TV, a tree and more. The pollution was thick and heavy. The inner city looked tired and worn. Suddenly there was a monsoon downpour. People draped ponchos and it became raincoat city. The traffic never slowed. I ducked for cover. It dissipated as quickly as it began, life went on and the air was temporarily washed clean. I finally crossed the street by walking slowly at an even pace. Everyone missed me.

The sun shined every day on our tours which included the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, the French Quarter and the Ho Chi Mihn memorial. We lined up with hundreds of people and entered the tomb where Ho Chi Mihn’s preserved body is visibly encased just like Lennon in Moscow. Armed communist soldiers commanded us to remain in silent reverence, no cameras, umbrellas, sunglasses allowed and arms at our sides at all times.

Later we visited Hoa Lo Prison, or the Fiery Furnace. Built by the French in 1896, thousands of political prisoners were tortured here until 1954. We viewed the dungeons with leg irons, torture equipment and “head cutting machines.”

In the 1960′s the Vietcong used it as a prisoner of war detention center for American pilots shot down during the Vietnam War. It was our captive pilots that sardonically named this place “The Hanoi Hilton.” We also did a walking tour through the Old Quarter where each narrow lane was named for its ancient craft: Silk St., Coffin St., Grilled Fish St., etc. Hong led us to a food market with turtles, sea slugs, pig heads and other unmentionable creatures for sale. “Thit Chow” is dog stew which is considered peasant food here and “country rat” is ceremoniously served at all birthday parties. They say it’s much healthier than “city rat.”

Most of our meals were included and thankfully rodents were never offered. We enjoyed elaborate American and Japanese breakfast buffets and 10 coarse lunches. Every restaurant was affordable. One evening my dinner menu presented salad of jellyfish, deep fried eel, ginger crickets and sticky rice with tender roasted pigeon. It seems the Vietnamese will eat anything that moves because it all “tastes like chicken.”

We attended the Water Puppet Show, an ancient art form unique to Hanoi. This blend of music and dance on water was has been the source of entertainment of villagers for centuries.

We then scattered to explore the city, Asia’s oldest capital. Some went for massages and pedicures at prices that couldn’t be resisted. Some shopped for souvenirs while others had clothes tailor made for them. I had an embroidered silk dress cut to my body in 4 hours for only $45. We also visited the handicraft villages for bargains in art. Want a “Monet?” No problem, just $25. Be careful, it’s wet. There were also ceramics and beautiful lacquerware. The currency was a great challenge for us as $10,500 Dong equals 65 cents. We felt like millionaires, yet it was disheartening to learn that the annual per capita income is just $320! We tipped generously throughout.

Vietnam’s pulse is found in its cities whereas its decorous grace is found in its villages. We headed out through the countryside for a full day cruise on Halong Bay. The air was fresh as we passed rice paddies, duck and prawn farms. It was rice harvest time and hundreds of rice farmers were laboriously bent over their ponds. Timid children smiled and waved as we drove by.

We arrived at this natural UNESCO World Heritage Site and boarded our private wooden junk boat. Quietly we sailed into a peaceful dreamscape that looked surreal with 3,000 islands of sheer limestone cliffs emerging from the calm emerald sea. There was a timeless, haunting quality to this scenery. Nat. Geo. called it “magic in stone and water.” We enjoyed a fantastic seafood lunch with fresh caught crab and prawns. It was a perfect day in the sun in the land of escapism and serenity.

The highlight of the trip for me was our group’s cyclo-tour through Old Hanoi on the last day. We turned a corner downtown to find 28 bicycle-rickshaws lined up to peddle us individually for an hour through the narrow scooter filled lanes of oncoming traffic. There were some near-misses at the red lights which were always ignored. We all laughed as the locals stared. Terry at 6’4” is considered huge even in America. Here he looked like King Tut seated on a throne as his 90lb. driver peddled him effortlessly in line with our group.

Later we went our separate ways for independent exploration. After several hours, I found myself lost in an area of town with no taxis. I had to get back to join others for dinner. I had no choice but to hire a ride on a scooter. Dressed in a skirt with my arms full of bags, I mounted the tiny seat and off we went. On the highway, I wrapped my arms and legs around my driver like an octopus. He laughed the entire way to the Sheraton.

We flew back to Singapore for a good nights rest at the Le Meridian before our long flight home to Los Angeles via Tokyo. I reflected on journey well done with new insights gained on history and culture. It was like visiting two different planets within one vacation. The contrast of this trip is evident in our photos from the contemporary garden paradise of Singapore, to the new renaissance of traditional Vietnam. This is certainly an Asian affair to be remembered.

Susan Davis
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/sparkling-singapore-ancient-vietnam-trip-journal-118762.html

How to use fresh flower arrangements around the house. How you can pick the right one for any occasion. Buying fresh flower arrangements on line.

You use flower arrangements for the special occasions in your life such as a party, a wedding rehearsal or wedding reception, or a welcome home party or a baby shower. Flower arrangements add that special touch to a room that makes you know something wonderful is happening. Why not add that special feeling to your home at other times? You can now purchase flower arrangements on line from sites such as Teleflora. You know you have a huge selection of arrangements and your flowers will arrive when you want them. Ordering your flowers on line will guarantee that. If they are for a party, you want them there just before the party so they are fresh and will last; if you are ordering them to decorate your home, perhaps you want them on Friday afternoon so you can enjoy them all weekend when the family is around.

In addition to floral arrangements, Teleflora offers other gifts of this nature on line. You can have flowers in vases, plants in pots, or combinations of flowers and plants. If you shop on line, you can browse through the many arrangements they offer, or you can design your own arrangement. If you pick from their on line catalog, you can be sure you will be sending the exact arrangement you see before you on the screen. And of course, they will arrive fresh and on time.

If you are ordering flowers for a party at your home, you can choose an arrangement that will match the theme of the party. Perhaps spring bulbs to match a spring garden party, or if it is a baby shower, you can get a floral arrangement of pink and blue flowers. Flowers make the perfect central accent to build your party theme around. Get a number of arrangements in matching or similar colors and place them on the main table, in the entrance hall, or, if you have company staying over, in the guest rooms. In addition to looking beautiful, flowers add a lovely scent to the home.

The reason that arrangements from Teleflora are so fresh and last so long is that they are arranged when you order them, not before. If you are planning wedding events, such as the shower, the reception or the rehearsal dinner, you can order the flowers in advance and have them delivered on the exact day you need them. Choose a coordinating flower, such as tulips for each event, but in different colors, or choose different flowers such as yellow tulips for the springtime bridal shower and yellow roses for the summer wedding! Once you see the incredible range of choices you have from Teleflora, and know that you can have flowers fresh and on time any time you want them, you will become a customer.

Mr.Andrew Caxton
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/using-flowers-in-interior-decorating-111015.html

I have been preparing for a summer wedding all year but now I will not be able to have my wedding until late October, early November 2007 because I can’t get my fiance here until then because of visa technicalities. I was wondering what kinds of plants and flowers are available for that time of year? I know florists can get you just about anything but I am working with a smaller budget and was thinking about buying potted plants and flowers from a nursery to add greenery and color. The wedding will be outside so I need some plants to liven up our garden that will be mostly dormant by that time. This has been very last minute news and I have no idea what to do. Any suggestions?

If you’re in North America, the California Cut Flower Commission lists product availability for the major fresh cut flowers. I’d use that as a guide, then contact your local florist for the arrangements. Most florists can work with any budget and they would likely be cheaper than buying potted plants out of season. Congratulations and good luck!

I am desperate looking for "Nymphaea" AKA watter lilies, i would even set up for lotus.

I need to find a florist that can arrange a bouquete of this flowers, and ship it to manhattan, kansas i will pay anything for it. i have being trough several sites but i have only found dead ends. please help me.

Given enough notice, a florist can arrange to have almost anything made and delivered on time. Best advice is to talk to your local florist for options and prices.

Good luck with your problem.

My girlfriend and I are looking to build a koi pond in our yard after we get our own place, so we’re planning all of this stuff out ahead of time, so everything goes over as smooth as possible.

We’d like to know what kind of fish can be mixed with the koi, if any (we’d like variety), or if we can’t mix other types with koi, what other types of fish thrive well in a koi pond environment?

I’m a fan of the bitterling ( picture: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=830+836+1602&pcatid=1602 ) because it looks like a goldfish but doesn’t poop as much. Goldfish are extremely ‘poopy’ fish; they require more filtration and more frequent cleanings than other fish. The bitterling looks just like a common goldfish but you don’t have to change the pond filter as often.
The American Flagfish is nice, too, since it’ll eat your algae and is shiny. Picture: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=900+1499+2776&pcatid=2776
Avoid mosquito fish because they’re mean. They often pick on other fish and make your pond environment more stressful for koi.
And goldfish mix well with koi. My Dad put a fantail goldfish in his koi pond and it grew to be very large.

Some advice for your fish pond:
See if any of your local roofers are willing to donate an old roof lining to you. That stuff is excellent for ponds because it’s basically two inch thick waterproof rubber and makes a great lining. I got some for free from a roofer friend of mine and, since I dug my pond myself, the whole pond project was very inexpensive. You can make your own pond filter using a water pump, some tubing, a tall garbage can, and bags of pumice or lava rock or sponges. I like sponges the best. Anyway, ponds don’t have to be expensive. I dug mine, lined it with an old roof, built my own filter, and made my own pond railing bench out of two by fours so you can sit on the edge of the pond and look down in it. The whole experience was great and only took a weekend or two to accomplish.
A hint for your pond: Build it in an area that receives shade for most of the day. I built mine in a mostly sun area and it wasn’t until I added some shade that I got my algae under control.

Here are some pond fish and plants for you to browse through: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=900

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=900+1499

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?liveplantsp

http://aquabid.com/

I have a Catfish Farm of 8 ponds and I wish to grow Water Lettuse in them to extend the use of the pond water. I have not found the water lettuce plant or its seeds to serve my purpose. I shall be pleased get a good contact from where I can order this plant seeds

You realize of course that this plant is a menace to our waterways. many States have banned it having spent millions of dollars on intensive clearance of this menace. it is spread by water borne seed, mainly from private gardens.and clogs up rivers and streams. So check with your town/city hall to see if it is legal. I would not advise its use, but if it’s legal where you reside, it’s your call. Conscience is a strong emotion.

The hydrogen atoms are on one end of the molecule, so each molecule is polarized, with a positive and a negative end. That allows it to form hydrogen bonds with other polarized molecules, as well as with ions, which in turn means it acts as a solvent for those substances. Meanwhile, non-polarized molecules such as lipids are repelled by water for the same reason – the water molecules have greater attraction to each other than to such molecules. These properties, combined with water’s ability to remain liquid through a wide range of earth-normal temperatures and pressures, means that cellular structures behave in predictable ways in water. Cellular membranes have water-phobic lipid tails that always point away from the water, and water-philic heads that always are nearest the outside of the membrane where the water is. Thus the water causes the membranes to keep their shape. Similarly, different parts of proteins are water-phobic and water-philic, and this causes them to fold so that the water-phobic parts are on the inside of the crumple farthest from the water. Proteins function because they are a particular shape, and they take that shape because of water. Finally, the cytoplasm inside the cell is mostly water, and because it’s liquid many molecules can float around in it and interact with each other to carry on the basic processes of life.

Are there any flowers that grow well indoors? It’s difficult to grow them outside during the winter season, so I would like to plant flowers I can start out by growing indoors then when the weather gets better it will grow outside.

i would definely reccomend amarillys,they are big bulbs,they have beautiful flowers,and you can gro them inside in the winter from october to the end of april,in fact i have one in my house wich i planted a week ago and is staring to came out,they take from 6 to10 weeks to bloom,this is more like an indoor plant