How do you take care for ponds?

Question

Garden has pond so i need information how to care for it and the fish/plants within it. Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

i have 2 water ponds, my largest is 10x12 and has 60 plus fish in it. have had my ponds for over 15 years and yes they are fun. I change out my water yearly, the fish and plants I have in it stay there all year long. I put in floating water heaters over the winter to keep the ponds from freezing over, and i leave the waterfall running all yer long as well. i have a canopy over my pond as so the sun isn't directly on my pond all day long. my fish are healthy and seem to enjoy the water. I have a double filter system including a UV light that the water all passes through. i have a filter system that I have a sump pump that sits in. this filter is a 5 gallon bucket with a lid, at the bottom you cut 4 holes about 2inches in diameter,then inside along the bottom I have hardware cloth, which is a wire fencing of sort. then in a bag I have aquarium gravel, then the pump sits on this , with the lid you have to cut a slot for the hose and cord to run out of.  once you have all this together you should be able to really enjoy your pond for many years to come.  have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

Answer 2

I have a 700 gallon pond with a waterfall, plants, and fish.  I installed it myself 2 years ago.  My personal tips?

1.  Ponds need 6 hours of sun daily.  Yours is already installed, so you can't control this.

2.  Ponds need plants.  I use water lilies http://www.flickr.com/photos/21211516@N0... and water hyacinth.  Plants shade the water and oxygenate it.

3.  Ponds need fish.  Fish eat algae.  They also look nice!  Snails are good too.  (I get my snails from the pond in a local park!)

4.  Ponds need aeration.  A waterfall, bubbler, or sprayer helps put oxygen into the water and keep it moving.  Stagnant water = bacteria and mosquitos.

5.  Ponds need filtration.  I use a biofilter.  Sounds fancy, but it's a big plastic tub with foam blocks at the top of my waterfall, disguised by plants.  Take the blocks out, rinse them, put them back in.

6.  You Must Fight Algae.  Some people buy UV lights to attach to a filter, or inside a filter.  I use Pondzyme tablets; they're beneficial enzymes that "eat" sludge and bacteria.

7.  If there is a chance that critters (frogs, turtles) can get into your pond and drown, you may need to put a stepping stone near the edge.  I put a milk crate upside down with a stepping stone on top of it.  My fish like to hide in the milk crate, so they're protected from predators.

8.  If you use pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, please make sure they cannot wash into your pond with rainwater or sprinkler runoff.  These can be deadly to fish and plants.

9.  If your pond freezes in the winter, your fish should be OK if it's deeper than 18 inches.  Keep a hole on top of the ice open, but don't bang on the ice.  You can set a pan of boiling water on the ice to melt a hole.

All the above sounds complicated and tiresome.  It isn't.  Most of the purchases are one-time, and once your pond is balanced, it takes little maintenance.  Most of these supplies can be bought at home improvement stores or hardware stores; I get my stuff from Lowe's.

My sides and bottom are covered with green algae, but the water is clear.  Sometimes despite your best efforts you will get green sludge.  I've had to drain my pond once and refill it when this happened after a week of rain and high humidity.

Please feel free to contact me if I can be of more help.  Owning a pond is fun!

Answer 3

I have a "frog pond" that's surrounded by plants/flowers and a rock border. It has a small waterfall to help with filtration. You will need to take care about trees near your pond, birds will eat fish. I have set up a "bird area" with feeders, houses, and a bath in separate part of my yard to help my tadpoles survive. Don't get to stressed out over your pond, it will take time for plants to establish, but in a year or two you should have a flourishing spot. Good luck and enjoy.