Business planning emphasizes strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A Vision and/or Mission are standard fare. However, the most meticulous strategy plan can still derail without the guidance of core values. They are the standards for behavior that define your culture. Defining core values is a critical step. From there, the real work begins.

Two high profile cases offer classic examples. Both companies have carefully crafted value statements. The difference in outcomes lies in leadership walking the talk.

Case #1: Johnson & Johnson Value Statement

We believe our first responsibility is to our doctors, nurses and patients, to mothers and fathers and all others who use our products and services. In meeting their needs, everything we do must be of high quality.

The Tylenol poisoning deaths that occurred in the Chicago area proved to be regionally isolated. Johnson & Johnson’s management took no chances and immediately recalled all product from all store shelves nationally. They acted instantly in accordance with their values. If their statement read our first responsibility is to our shareholders, we might have seen a more short sighted response. Strong adherence to values simplified their decision and not only preserved but strengthened their brand.

Case #2 Arthur Andersen Value Statement

We believe in integrity, respect and always speaking as one firm. We believe in maintaining a passion for excellence in people, service and innovation. And we believe in demonstrating a commitment to personal growth through training and development. In fact, these values are minimum standards for anyone within our organization. Each has roots in the thinking of Arthur Andersen himself. And each guides us toward a brighter future ahead.

Andersen has become an easy target. But, there are lessons to be learned. Integrity was their number one stated value. At some point, integrity was replaced by greed. Andersen developed a cavalier consulting arm to design and build businesses, while its other arm audited those businesses. They successfully lobbied to prevent legislation to limit such conflicts of interest. Are these the actions of an organization that stands for integrity? We witnessed the results, a values domino effect. In contrast to Tylenol’s customers, Andersen clients rushed for the exits, never to return.

Impact on Customers

Who is the number one over-the-counter pain relief brand today?

Who has fallen from Big Three Accounting status?

How did the adherence to core values contribute to each scenario?

Are core values just for big companies?

If you are a restaurateur, what happens when an expensive cut of meat accidentally falls to the floor? What if it was the last serving? Do you maintain the same standards for meat in the kitchen as you do for spoons in the dining room? Core values cannot be conditional.

You are a manufacturer and are potentially late with an end of month delivery. Defective product is discovered as the truck is being loaded. What do you do? Prioritized values provide your people with the answer. If you have institutionalized your values, executive involvement is unnecessary.

What are your organization’s values?

If your business plan was written primarily to impress your bankers and investors, a values statement is likely missing. If you need to check to find out, it might just as well be missing. If your core values are not communicated and understood by all, what are your criteria for decisions in times of crisis?

Sustained Success and Values Driven Leadership When a crisis occurs, your success depends on your people’s ability to make prompt decisions. Will you prosper like Tylenol or collapse like Andersen? Does your organization possess both the values and character it will need in time of crisis? Your customers will sense the strength of your leadership and quickly respond either with deeper loyalty or permanent departure.

Tom Lemanski is the President and founder of Vista
Development, a boutique strategic development firm serving metro Chicago, IL
Tom has served as business catalyst and executive coach in over thirty different
product and service industries. Tom can be reached through any of the sites below or by phone: 847-726-7707

http://www.vista-development.com

http://www.ChicagoExecutiveCoaching.com

http://www.ChicagoSalesCoaching.com

If you want to learn a second language, you should learn French or Spanish. Why? Because French is the most commonly spoken language in the world after English…

French is seen by many as the language of love. I don’t know why but French seems to be a synonym of romance. It is true that Paris is a beautiful place, don’t you want to have a walk on the champs Elysees?

Spanish is also a language that you should consider. French is my native tongue, but Spanish sounds more romantic than French to me.

Something that you will find very interesting if you choose to learn any of these too languages is that once you know one, it will be really easy to learn to speak the other. I said speak, because writing might be an issue.

Suppose you decide to study French for example. Most of the Spanish word are similar to French words because both languages come from the Latin (nobody speak Latin anymore, but you can still study it in France).

Let me give you an example: Let translate the word “photography” in English: in French, this word will become ‘photographie’. In ‘Espagnol’ (Spanish), the word “photography” is said: “fotografía” (note the accent on the ‘i’).

So let’s recapitulate: Photography ==> photographie ==> fotografía.

These words are really close, you don’t think?

Another example: In English, the word ’school’ becomes ‘ecole’ in French, and ‘escuela’ in Spanish.

Again, these words seem to have the same root. There are hundreds of words like these.

So if you are hesitating between Spanish and French, don’t be stuck: Learn French and Spanish, or Spanish and French.

You will feel much better when you master two or three languages, and who knows you may become a professional translator.

By the way, look at this: Translation in English becomes Traduction in French and finally, traducción in Spanish.

There are really hundreds of examples… Another question that you may ask is: is Spanish easier Than French? We will see that in another article.

Franck Silvestre is a French Native Speaker owner of How To Speak French, he teaches people how to learn French online with the right accent. Visit his new blog at: Learn French Online Free.

Most of us want to be more conscious about the environment and what we can do to protect it. It can be difficult to know what to do though, especially when you don’t want to give up comfort or safety to do so. Fortunately, there are ways that we can be environmentally friendly and make you feel good about our lifestyle, too.

You may have heard from friends or family that low flow fixtures don’t work, but that isn’t always true if you know what you’re looking for. The choices available for low flow toilets actually can provide you with a great toilet at a relatively low cost. And the best part is that you could save up to $100 a year on your water bill. Some cities such as Albuquerque, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas are even offering a rebate to those willing to install the toilets. So check with your city’s water utility division to find out if it is offered in your area.

Don’t let what you’ve heard about low flow toilets in the past scare you. Things have changed a lot over the years, and low flow toilets are better than ever. When looking for a low flow toilet, consider a pressure-assist flush toilet, which will relieve the fear of plumbing problems because of a poor flush. TOTO USA is a great place to begin as they carry quite a few good low flow picks from under $200.00. But even though you may be able to get a low flow toilet for as low as $100, remember that you do get what you pay for. This is not the place to skimp on price. A higher quality toilet will cost you more money, but it should pay off in your utility bills in the long run.

Terry Love, a low flow toilet guru, knows all about low flow toilets and recommends TOTO’s UltraMax. And anyone wanting a low flow toilet should consider reading his report for Consumer Reports as Love is considered to be the most authoritative word on leading low flow toilets.

Saving money and protecting the environment aren’t the only piece of good news. Most low flow items apart from a toilet are very easy for the average homeowner to install. In fact, it can be as simple as changing your light bulbs. Replacing your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLS) will only take you a couple of minutes, but will save energy in your home. If you are replacing the whole light fixture in your bathroom, look for energy efficient fixtures, as well.

Change your other fixtures in your bathroom, such as the showerhead and sink faucet to low flow versions, too. Many people worry that low flow fixtures will not provide enough water pressure. Try faucet aerators that provide pressure with velocity and can run as low as $1.50. Just because there is less water, doesn’t mean there has to be less water pressure. Think about getting controls installed that will allow you to adjust the pressure so that you don’t feel as if you can’t get enough pressure from your showerhead. But many good showerheads on the market today will give you enough pressure while saving water.

Being environmentally friendly is easier than it seems. And once you know what products are out there, you can have a beautiful and comfortable bathroom that saves you money and protects the environment.

Chris Brown is a regular contributor to Home Remodeling, Bathroom Remodeling and Kitchen Remodeling websites. Chris also takes pride in many of his own do-it-yourself projects around his own home.

Athletes often wonder what is the most important exercise to increase vertical jump. In this article I’m going to discuss one vertical jump exercise that is considered by some to be the single most important exercise for increasing vertical jump. Keep reading to gain free instant unlimited access to a powerful and effective vertical jump workout program used by over 2000 athletes worldwide that will result in a massive vertical jump increase.

Vertical jump exercises come in many forms ie. plyometrics and/or weight training. One effective vertical jump exercise involves plyometrics and a vertical jump exercise known more commonly as a “depth jump”.

Why this vertical jump exercise results in a significant vertical jump increase is because of what the vertical jump exercise is targeting. The depth jump has the capacity to overload the “falling” portion of your jump, more so than any other vertical jump exercise.

This vertical jump exercises requires you to increase your ability to stop, your ability to power jump (explode) back up and the overall ability to increase your vertical jump power output by harnessing the elastic energy of your muscles and tendons.

You may be familiar with this vertical jump exercise and are already using it in your vertical jump workout. However, if you have never heard of the depth jump and are eager to start implementing it into your vertical jump exercise program it is a relatively simple but very effective vertical jump exercise.

It simply involves stepping onto a box of a particular height drop off and immediately when you make contact with the ground you do a vertical jump back up as quickly and as high as possible.

This simple vertical jump exercise is one of many vertical jump exercises to incorporate into your vertical jump training workout. Be sure to keep reading below to download your own FREE vertical jump workout program that has already helped over 2000 athletes, including Olympians, improve their vertical jump.

Wait! You won’t believe how easy it is to increase vertical jump. I can show you how to increase vertical jump in just days! An increase in vertical leap and an easy step by step vertical leap program can land you the athletic career, lifestyle and money you’ve always dreamed of. Find out how to get all three…click here now http://www.increase-and-improve-vertical-jump.com and get instant access to my free vertical jump workout course ($99.00 VALUE)!

Often times you will here someone say to you, straighten up, don’t slump over (your mother), and when referring to your golf posture you hear, bend from your hips. More times than not it is your teaching professional that is helping you develop a good postural set up when addressing the ball. As you probably have been told, your set up position, that is, your alignment and posture are key components to enhance your golf performance. Teaching Professionals explain that a good spine angle, soft knees, and proper hip position allow your body to rotate much easier during your golf swing.

You may or may not have good golf posture but what you need to know is what happens to your posture when you walk away from the golf swing. What happens when you sit in your car or sit at work? My mission here is to help you understand the importance of good posture in everyday life and how that applies to functional activities such as golf. The influence of our daily lives establishes a He long term effect on our body. You could say that our environment shapes our bodies. If you sit in a car commuting to work, and then sit in a chair for several hours a day, the body reacts and adapts to that stimulus. The result may be that some muscles become short and strong while others become long and weak. Additionally muscle compensations develop whereby one muscle takes over the job of another. This results in a number of dysfunctional positions such as a slumped back, forward shoulders, forward head and tight hips. With this continued positioning over a period of time, you may start to notice back or neck soreness and/or develop chronic pain. This will also result in significant problems for your golf swing.

This is one example of the many ways in which the body adapts and changes to the environment. You may wonder how your own body has adapted and compensated over the years. You can find out simply by standing in front of a long mirror, preferably with few clothes on. As you stand there, look down at your feet. Do they point straight or outward at an angle? Are they directly under your hips or out wide and outside your hips? Look at your knee caps, do they point straight away or off at an angle? Now how about your hips, is one higher than the other or do they seem forward to your shoulders? Are your shoulders level? Or is one of them higher or lower than the other? Again look at your shoulders and arms; do they appear rounded forward and rotated inward? Now stand sideways to the mirror and look at how your upper back is curved. Do you look slouched and curved forward? An excessive curve or slouched upper back is a very common problem that is restrictive to the golf swing.

Hopefully with this little test you are beginning to recognize how your current posture will influence your daily function. If your muscles are not functioning correctly they will pull a hip or shoulder out of position. Not only causing unusual wear in that joint, but also resulting in restrictions to the normal movement patterns of that joint. Then when your teaching professional wants you to move a certain way in your golf swing, your body and brain are saying no, because it does not recognize that movement. When discussing postural correction our goal is to move the body back toward its original design or blueprint of perfect posture. It is quite evident that when our muscles are functioning properly, they keep our bones in correct alignment. It is then not only much easier to move, but we are more coordinated, flexible, stronger and powerful. One of the first steps in developing any exercise program or sport specific training is to begin with posture correction. You must straighten first then strengthen; otherwise you strengthen dysfunctional movement patterns. Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest golfers of all time was know to take this approach to exercise in the 1980’s, and he credits exercises designed to change his posture as a way to keep him playing and delaying his eventual hip surgery.

So if you are serious about your golf fitness program and enhancing your golf performance, you need to work with a PGA Teaching Professional and look for exercises to improve your posture.

Mark Tolle is President of Golf Fitness Chicago and utilizes 18 years of exeperience in rehabilitation & fitness to enhance the performance of golfers. For more information on how you can improve your golf game today visit http://www.golffitnesschicago.com

Amazon has more than 300 reviews of Lance Armstrong’s autobiography, It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life. The reviewers consistently agree that this book is highly inspirational and full of hope.

There are too many messages and lessons in the book to cover them all in this article. However, there are three key strategies that are of particular relevance to the inner game of tennis. In essence, they can be captured by the statement, It’s not about the racquet.

The three key strategies are:

1. Do not let others limit your goals or your dreams

When Lance Armstrong was recovering from brain surgery and aggressive chemotherapy, there were many people who said that he would never ride again. Even one of his key sponsors dropped Lance because he believed that he could never recover from the devastation of cancer and the related treatment.

Lance refused to let others define his capacities or limit his goals and dreams. He was determined to not only ride again but to win the gruelling Tour de France for his first time. Lance Armstrong went on to win the Tour de France seven times!

Even when he was emaciated, exhausted and depleted, he still maintained his goals and dream. So the first strategy is to maintain your goals and dreams even in the face of opposition from well-meaning people.

2. Dig deep into your inner resources

Lance maintains that the key learning for him from his illness and survival is that we are better than we know. We totally underestimate our inner reserves and unrealized capacities because we do not test the power of our minds. It is often only in a crisis that these inner capacities emerge.

One key strategy of the inner game of tennis is to learn to dig deep into our inner resources and tap our unrealised potential. This requires will power, determination and a preparedness to win against all odds. Lance survived his cancer even though the doctors estimated that he had a 3% chance of survival, not great odds!

Here is another pertinent example. The press, globally and locally, decided at the start of the 2007 Australian Open Tennis Championship that Serena Williams had no chance of winning because she was overweight and unfit. They did not allow for her basic underlying fitness or her capacity to tap her incredible inner reserves. Her will power was so strong that her opponents often wilted in the face of her sheer determination even when they were leading in the match.

Hence, the second key strategy is to learn to tap your inner reserves by challenging the limits you impose on yourself.

3. Make every obstacle an opportunity

Lance Armstrong attributes this strategy to his mother who continuously reminded him, even as a child, that in every obstacle lay an opportunity to improve himself. In an interview after his first Tour de France win Lance stated that his illness created the opportunity to improve himself on many fronts. He claimed that his battle with cancer enabled him to become tougher and more patient as a competitive cyclist and more thoughtful, compassionate and responsible as a person, a father and life partner.

Hence, a third key strategy of the inner game of tennis is to improve your game and yourself through every obstacle you encounter.

The inner game of tennis is not about the racquet. It IS about YOU. It is about how you define your capacities and maintain your goals, how you access your inner resources and how you use obstacles to improve yourself and your tennis game.

This article is written by Ron Passfield, PhD, affiliate marketing coach, and author of the Squidoo Marketing Strategies e-Book: http://www.squidoomarketingstrategies.com

View Ron’s Squidoo lens, The Inner Game of Tennis, at: http://www.squidoo.com/theinnergameoftennis

Get your fr^e 7 day email course on how to create and market your Squidoo lens:Squidoo Marketing Strategies e-Course

Copyright 2007 - Ron Passfield. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave the links active, do not edit the article in any way, give author name credit and follow all of the EzineArticles.com posted terms of service for Publishers.

As an athlete or an every day person, buying running shoes is one of the best things you can do for your health. Proper running shoes are critical for a good running or walking experience, and to be able to safely exercise with the right type of support, knowing how to go about buying running shoes is
more important than you might think. Your choice in running shoes can really make or break your workout experience, and if you want to get things off to a right start it is important that you choose your running shoes carefully. Chances are, your sales associate is not as knowledgeable as they sound about how to buy running shoes properly.

Shop at a “Running” Shoe Store

The worst thing you can for yourself is try to shop frugally for running shoes. The clearance rack is running shoe suicide, and more often than not you get a pair of running shoes that are malformed for your foot, too heavy or too light, or just plain do not fit right. This can be dangerous and may even
potentially cause injury to your feet, legs, hips, or even your back-and all because you choose to save a few dollars by purchasing off the clearance rack.

This is not to say that buying running shoes on a dime is a bad idea. You just have to know what you are looking for and what you need in a running shoe. First of all, you are going to need proper support. Make sure that you try on your running shoes and walk around in them in the store. Many people make the mistake of thinking they know their size so they don’t have to try their shoes on at the store. You need to make sure that your shoes are not only the correct size, but also fit you right as well (this is not the same thing).

Determine Foot Type

You also need to know what type of foot you have. If you have ever had to deal with buying running shoes before, then chances are that you probably know what type of foot you have, and that is one of the most important things. Our feet are all built differently; some people have a lower arch and some
people have a higher arch; still others have completely flat feet. All the different types of feet require different types of support in running shoes, so be aware of this when you are buying running shoes.

Additional Considerations

Keep in mind that your feet expand during the day, so if you go out to buy running shoes first thing in the morning, chances are that they may not fit properly. It takes a few hours of actually being on your feet for them to be at their largest, so try to get your shoe shopping in during that time, so you know your shoes will fit even at their largest. Also, if you can fit it in it is best to do your running shoe shopping at a specialty running store. This makes for not only a better selection of running shoes, but more knowledgeable sales associates as well who are not worried about selling prom pumps and running shoes, but can focus in on your particular needs.

Buying running shoes doesn’t have to be a science, but there are some key mistakes that you can avoid to make your running shoe shopping experience as pleasant as possible.

To discover additional little known tips about how to buy running
shoes, check out my FREE guide at target="_new">http://www.therunningadvisor.com/running_shoes.

Choosing a home theatre design can be difficult. While the idea of having their own home theatre often brings a smile to a man’s face, figuring out how to turn that vague notion into a clear mental picture that can be acted upon is an entirely different matter. What makes things more difficult is that a perfect home theatre system for one house may not work well for another because of the design of the room, the acoustics of the area, the way the sound comes through the speakers, etc.

For some individuals the task becomes so daunting that they choose to hire professionals. It is possible to put together a great home theatre design, but there are a few things to consider in the planning process.

One thing right off the bat is to decide whether or not to use a professional. There is nothing wrong with using a professional, in fact this industry has been booming because these individuals are trained to design a home theatre so that the sound and quality is the most efficient. One prime example of how expertise can help is how the speakers are set up.

Most individuals who set up their system have the speakers integrated near the television, as opposed to actually setting the speakers around the room to play surround sound. Many individuals think they have a nice set up, and then jump half way to the ceiling when they hear surround sound for the first time and that creak behind the character sounds like it’s coming from right over your shoulder behind you!

For others the problem with designing a home theatre starts in the beginning during the planning process. One of the most important details that can not be overlooked for a perfect home theatre is making sure to choose the perfect room for it. Maybe you have a furnished basement that works perfectly, or maybe it’s too cramped. The living room sounds like a good idea, but how often is a living room designed well for a home theatre?

The room design for your home theater is much more important than many people might think. Looking good is important, but it’s not nearly as important as having a system that is tuned in perfectly to blow away company with its awesome sound once the DVDs start playing.

The placement of furniture in the room is important as well. The location of the speakers, television, and even the furniture all add to the home theater experience. Where the speakers should be set up is partially determined by what type of chairs or couches you have, and where they are located in the room, as well. Sure you want comfortable furniture, who doesn’t? But make sure they are comfortable and the right size to situate around the room, or else the home theatre you choose will not have its full effect. Designing a home theatre system can be difficult, but if you mind the details and do your homework, the experience will make all the hassles worth the reward.

http://www.hometheatrefun.com brings you the latest on the home theatre. Home theatre’s are very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on home theatre designs.

Louis Pasteur is regarded as the father of the ‘Germ Theory.”

He literally took medicine out of the dark ages into the “realm of science” - or so we are led to believe.

Until Pasteur’s publications, medicine basically consisted of anatomy and physiology combined with a whole lot of potions, lotions, superstition and black magic.

With the advent of the microscope, Pasteur was able to delve into the world of micro-organisms.

Within this new microscopic world, Pasteur found micro-organisms - ie germs, which he reasoned were the cause disease.

The medical fraternity grabbed this theory and promulgated it as the foundation of disease causation and thereby staked their claim for exclusive rights to the art of healing.

During the past 25 years I have been writing health articles based on the laws of science - biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology - and nowhere in these sciences is there a mention of a “germ” causing a disease.

It is understood, and quite rightly so, that germs are the product of their environment, i.e. the mosquito looks for and lays its eggs in a stagnant pond and the developing larvae are nurtured by said environment.

If I were to say to you, however, that the mosquito has the ability to lay its eggs in a clean- flowing stream and that in the process, said stream would be transmutated into a stagnant pond you would think me a bit daft.

Although, should the clean-flowing stream dry up and become stagnant then we might expect that this environment could become a home for the mosquito.

All life forms - including microscopic bacteria - search for and find an environment that is suitable to their proliferation.

These statements are accepted as biological facts - found in the most basic of science courses.

Unfortunately, when we examine the philosophy of medicine in the 21st C we are confronted with archaic and contradictory illusions regarding the theory of health and disease.

The medical fraternity would have us believe that the mosquito causes the stream to stagnate and that each and every germ is the harbinger of disease and death.

To say anything against the bastion of medical and pharmaceutical theories results in an outpouring of denial and cover-ups that rivals the cloak and dagger world of espionage.

Well, the healtheducator is saying this - Pasteur was wrong when he plagiarized the works of Professor
Antoine Bechamp and propounded the ‘Germ Theory’ of disease.

The germ does not cause the disease.

The germ exists because the conditions within the host are suitable for the growth and proliferation of its form - and those conditions are, to say it succinctly - putrid.

If we, as hosts, clean up our environments, the germs will have no recourse but to find another home.

If we want top-flight health then we must put our own house in order.

The taking of a pill, potion or lotion will do nothing but mask the cause - similar to sweeping the dust under the rug.

Oh! and by the way - did you know that on his death-bed, Louis Pasteur recanted his germ theory and admitted that “the soil was everything” - read as: germs exist because of the environment as opposed to creating the environment.

Is that hard to swallow?

All the best in making a clean sweep in your lifestyle.

Kevin Hinton is a renowned Natural Health Educator & Advocator who has assisted a broad range of people to reinvigorate their lives through common-sense Natural Health practices.
He is a trusted advisor to many in the corporate world in Australia and North America who recognize the life-improving value of Natural Health habits.
His experience in the field reveals that adopting practical Natural Health habits usually helps drive success in other areas of life.
Visit Kevin at: http://www.thehealtheducator.com and sign up for a FREE world class newsletter.

Plant or “Veggie Filters” are very popular with many pond keepers. I have been using this method for pond filtration for a few decades (long before the term veggie filter became popular). There are two basic methods (that I am aware of), the more popular method nowadays is a separate pond filter. This is not my preferred method, however both work very well (I will discuss each latter). Any plant with a good root structure that grows fast and has the majority of their leaves above water is a good candidate to start with. I recommend water iris for their strong root structure, fast growth, great nutrient absorption, and a great place for baby fish (fry) to hide feed and grow.
I prefer my plant filters within the pond as these look more attractive in my opinion and give the fish fry a place to hide (except in the case of the waterfall or cascade plant filter).
The area of the veggie filter should be relatively shallow as well to force water movement over and through the roots
There are many other excellent plants as well such as Sweet Flag, Parrots feather, Bluebells, Umbrella palm, Papyrus, & bull rush. Make sure these types of plants (plants with roots in water and leaves above) are planted in an area of good, but not strong water movement. This ensures that they will do their job as plant filters.

VEGGIE FILTER METHODS:

[1] Corner;
Place your plants in a shallow corner of the pond with ½” -2″ rock under the plants to allow the roots to better establish themselves, do not use sand or soil. The water depth is best if the roots are barely covered by water. Add a slow to moderate (200- 600 gph) separate water supply (a diversion from your main pump or a separate pump) to these plants make sure the water passes through the plant roots, not just over them.

[2] Constriction;
Similar to above, place your plants in a shallow corner of the pond with ½” -2″ rock under the plants to allow the roots to better establish themselves, do not use sand or soil. The water depth is best if the roots are barely covered by water. In this case, allow the water to move from one pond to the other thru this constriction area in a manner that maximizes root exposure to the water flow (again, not high a flow)

[3] Waterfall;
In this method the plants are in the waterfall or cascade area of the pond. Again place your plants in a shallow corner of the pond with ½” -2″ rock under the plants to allow the roots to better establish themselves, do not use sand or soil. The water depth is best if the roots are barely covered by water. This method can be combined with other methods. The downside to this method if used by itself is it does not give the fry a place to hide and often water flows and water depths are harder to control for maximum efficiency, however this method still works especially when used in combination.

[4] Separate Veggie Filter;
This is a more popular method lately, although my least favorite.
In this method you would use a container such as a tub or small pool and pump water into these “Plant Filers” then water flows back into the main pond. I have seen nicely set up separate veggie filters where they are actually constructed into the ground or into a terrace, these do look better than the tub methods (these are more similar to the waterfall method). My problem with this method is similar to the waterfall method in that flow around the roots and water level (just above the roots) is hard to control to maximize benefits of the plant root structure. You also loose the benefit of a place for fry or breeding adults to hide as in the first methods.

CONCLUSION;
A Veggie or Plant Filter is an excellent compliment or even stand alone pond filter depending on the volume and filter (root) area and exposure of the plant filter.
A compliment to a simple Hydro Pond Filter is what I would recommend. The Hydro Pond IV can be connected to your Pump as a pre filter (these are rated up to a 1500 gallon pond), then a UV Sterilizer in line (best if used at slower flow rate) would further compliment this system. As for the pump, I recommend the ReSun King Pumps as they are a good combination of state of the art impellers (ceramic shaft, stainless steel sheath) and value.

For my Full article about Pond Veggie Filters (including pictures), please visit this link: “Pond Plant Filters (Veggie filters); Different methods and how they work”

By Carl Strohmeyer

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/