THE POND PAGE

Many people have always wondered about ponds, or wanted ponds to have in their back yards, or even indoors. What is a pond? At first glance it looks like nothing but a hole in the ground filled with water. Most people think that a pond is a simple thing to create, but most end up only to find that their "pond" turned into a dissapointing body of green water with all the visual appeal of a car wreck.

Ponds are a rather complex biological system that varies in many ways, depending on their locations and specific characteristics. In order to begin to enjoy your backyard ecosystem, you don't have to absolutely know the balance between water volume, surface area, plants, fish and a host of other lifeforms, but you should at least be aware that the very act of "breaking" these biological realities will create unexpected problems if you aren't careful about planning your outdoor water project. In other words, simply digging a hole and adding water does not, a pond, make.

FROM THE GROUND UP: A BEGINNERS GUIDE

So, let's start from the very beginning, and work our way up shall we?

The size, shape, and location of a pong are all essential factors that control how well your pond will turn out. This means we need to consider the importance of each factor listed above, and how they tend to relate to eachother. It's not that complicated.

LOCATION: The first thing to consider is location. Where do you want to put the pond, and is this spot actually the best place for one? The location will control the size of the pond in terms of basic length and width, and possibly it's shape. The rule that applies to aquariums- the more water there is, the more stable the aquatic environment-also holds true to ponds. But you don't want to achieve a greater volume by increasing depth to compensate for a limited amount of surface area. Remeber, changing one factor is likely to have consequences with other ones. Of course you want the pond to be in an asthetically pleasing spot in the yard, not in some obscure corner where no one will notice it, or properly appreciate it. Ideally it should be placed in a spot that can be viewed from the window and also when sitting outside. This isn't always possible, but you should at least get give some consideration to these things. Stand in the spot where the pond might go and look around at the following surroundings. Are there any trees, fences, or other things that will affect both the amount and duration of sunlight? If you want water lillies, then you need at least six hours of strong sunlight each day. But this much light may cause the water to heat up considerably, particularily with smaller ponds, and may also create problems with excessive algae *yuck*, and even green water. Keep in mind that the sun changes paths over the course of the year, and the pond might be in the shade more during one part of the year and more in the sun during the other. You can't control where the sun is, but you can control it's seasonal path when chossing a spot for the pond. Trees can provide shade, but will also drop leaves or needles into the pond, fouling it, causing more hassle of maintenance. The pond should not be placed at the lowest spot in the yard, for any chemicals such as fertilizer, insecticides, or otherwise will most likely drain into it, contaminating the water. It will also cause the pond to overflow. It is always better to have the pond at the highest part of the yard.

SIZE/SHAPE: Both size and shape of the pond are critical to success. The surface area and depth qualities both have crucial affects on the quality of your specimens, both plant and animal. And the appearance, or appearance of the pond can also be greatly enhanced by giving careful thought to its shape. Round ponds are just plain ugly, and you'll never see the fish because they'll be hanging out in the center, far from the edge. Remember that you want more surface area, not depth, to allow plenty of gaseous exchange ( the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases). An irregular shape can make the pond look more natural, but be careful about creating areas where they are isolated from water movement. These areas can become stagnant and unsightly. Some variation of the basic kidney shape seems to balance appearance, surface area and biological health nicely, although you certainly aren't limited to this shape.

A pond, just like an aquarium, must have water flow or surface movement to allow plenty of gaseous exchange to ensure the survival of your specimens.

Most pond keepers use a pump that feeds a filter and/or waterfall that create both water flow and aeration. In theory, you can never have too much water movement, but water lillies won't do well if the water is too agitated. A waterfall with many small steps is much more effective at aerating the water than one with a large drop into the pond, and the sight and sound of the water is nice to listen to when there are numerous steps over which water can flow. When laying out the pond you may want to include room for a waterfall, or even a stream, if possible. And don't forget, of course, that you'll want to have a place for the pump and filter, although you don't necessarily need a filter if the fish stock is very low or you only want a water garden. Be sure you place the pump where the least amount of effort will be required. You don't want to make it a chore to get to the filter to clean it.

DEPTH: How deep should a pond be? There are several considerations when it comes to depth. The most important thing in many parts of the country is freezing. The deeper the water freezes, the deeper the pong must be if you want your specimens to survive the winter. Not that keeping the fish in the pond over winter is a good idea, but many people prefer to do this than to moving the fish to another pond or aquarium indoors.

Pond fish are "cool" water fish. Although they may sometimes be called cold water fish, this statement is misinforming the beginner pond aquarist. Although the fish may survive in water just above freezing, it isn't good for them. But, if you can't be moving the fish every winter to some indoor enclosure, then the depth of the pond is critical to the survival of the fish.

NORTHERN CLIMATES

In more northern climates, such as canada, or northern United States, the pond should be at least 5-6 feet deep to allow a layer of undisturbed (or water that won't freeze) water to remain at the bottom of the pond where the fish can live throughout the winter months.

MID CLIMATES

If the winters are milder, then the pond would only have to be around 4 feet deep. Milder climates tend to have ice that doesn't freeze too thick.

SUNBELT CLIMATES

If you live in the lower region of the continent, or the "sunbelt", then the pond should only need to be 2-3 feet deep. I don't think that the water freezes very thick in the southern states, such as Florida, during the winter months. But if the ice does freeze thicker, then be sure to make the pond deeper.

If you do live where the winters are most severe, like in Canada ( I should know....), and can't dig your pond 5-6 feet deep, then your fish may not survive through the winter. I guess you could use a trough heater to keep the water warmer and from totally freezing in the winter, but i am not sure how warm they keep the water, probably just above freezing. If you wanted to find out exactly, you could probably ask any local hardware that sells these type of things, or farm supply places.

A deeper pond has it's advantages in the summer for sure. The heat of the sun can raise water temperatures significantly. By having a deeper pond you allow a "cool zone" or spot at the bottom of the pond where the water remains dark and untouched, a nice cool place for the fishies to dwell during the hotter days if there is limited shade over your pond.

PROS AND CONS TO A DEEPER POND

The deeper and smaller the pond, the steeper the sides most likely will be. If you have a large pond, then most likely you will not have to worry about steep sides. Steep sides are both a pro and a con:

PRO: -A deep pond with steep sides will allow a place for your fish to take cover from natural predators. The problems with wildlife getting to your fish will be greatly minmized.

-A cool place is created for the fish during hot days

-The fish will most likely survive through severe winters.

CON: -If you have small children or the yard isn't fenced in, then there are risks of a child falling in and drowning.

-You can't necessarily have plants unless there are spots or "shelves" cut into the pond ( most plants need to be a foot or less below the surface).

To avoid possible problems, you should make the depth of the pond vary. Have some shallow spots, where plants can be placed and where small water creatures can dwell.

PLANTS: If you are going to have plants, you want them potted in pots. This is because you don't really want to put dirt in the pond because this can lead to suspended dirt floating around in the pond. Also, the addition of dirt will reduce the volume of the pond. Some plants will also need to be brought indoors during the winter, having them in pots makes them easily removeable and also will restrict plants from overtaking your pond. Sorry that no plant species are listed here as of now for ponts, i will try to get some soon.

TO FILTER OR NOT TO FILTER: Do I need a filter? You ask. Most likely, but it depends on the number of plants and fish you have in the pond. The more plants and less fish you have most likely will not require a filter, but a filter will keep the water more clean. The more fish you have, the more the water will be dirtied. A filter will help maintain livable conditions and also help prevent sick fish or fish deaths from ocurring. But, a filter can become clogged, so extra care is needed to maintain a clean, fully operational filter.

A pond with lots of plants can eliminate the need for a filter and the stress of maintaining one, but if you don't intend on having a fully planted pond, then by all means get a filter. There are many types out there to choose from. Ask for advice on which one has proven to be the best and most reliable. Don't be afraid to shop around and ask questions on different types you come across.

Of course you don't have to have fish in your pond, but then why would I bother putting on this information. After all, this is a site for all fish enthusiasts! You could make a garden pond, but what's a pond without the fishies? Well, anyways... whatever you do decide to do, i hope this little segment helps you out in your quest for the perfect pond. And let me be the first to wish you good luck on your pond project! (dont' forget the fish).

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