Ponds

Number Of Factors

There are a number of factors to consider for designing of a good fish pond including placing the pond in a place where it is assured of getting at least six hours of sunlight during the day, and if you have Koi fish, then they will especially relish the sunshine that will be apparent from their increased vitality as well as will supercharge their appetite as well as metabolism. If the weather is especially warm, you should prefer deep water areas so that there is no excessive warming and it also helps in decongesting the pond so that the fish can swim about relatively freely.

Another important design feature that must be adhered to is to keep away deciduous trees as well as conifers from the fish pond area since they can ruin the quality of water every time their leaves or pine needles fall into the pond. It will also prevent the roots from the tree to impinge on the pond, if not immediately, then at least sometime in the future. Also, the best fish pond designs include ponds that are block rendered and have resin sealed design, which will allow for bottom drains, pipe work as well as pond filters.

Once you have your fish pond in place, you will also need to maintain it since your work does not end with having a fish pond, but extends into also routinely cleaning as well as taking care of it. You must remember to use the proper liner so that debris as well as soil nutrient does not enter the pond. It is also worthwhile having plants in the fish pond, as there are certain water plants that can help control the algae, and of course are a good means of decorating the pond as well.

For the well-being of the fish, there are a few things to consider when installing Koi fish ponds, such as the size of the pond needed for the number of fish planned to live in the pond. As a general rule of thumb, for every inch of fish, a cubic foot of water is needed and since the fish will not stop growing until they are ready, extra space is recommended. Koi fish ponds also need to have at least one spot that is at least two-feet deep. Three or four feet would be better, but two-feet is the minimum acceptable depth to give the Koi somewhere to go.

One of the unique qualities of Koi is that they have no stomach. In its place is an alimentary canal that draws nutrients out of their food and because of this, they should not be fed. The bottom-feeding fish will keep algae out of Koi fish ponds and will feed from live plants in the ponds.

Plan Koi Ponds For Future Growth

Koi fish ponds should be planned for future growth, as they will breed when the female gets to be about 10 to 12 inches long. She will show signs of carrying eggs by her growth in the stomach and the males will show excited signs of interest. There should be lots of plants in the water in which the eggs can be laid.

Males tend to be extremely aggressive and will slam the female against any rocks in the pond. Spawning mats, made of soft fiber materials, can be placed in the bottom of Koi fish ponds for the female’s protection. Females breed in the spring and a single healthy female can lay over 45,000 eggs at one time, although other Koi in the pond will eat most of the eggs.

Choices For Do It Yourself Ponds

When determining choices for your own do it yourself ponds, consider a few essential questions.  How big of a space is available for the pond?  Specific types of ponds need more space.  Koi ponds for example, not only need to be deep, but they also need to be large enough to hold at least 900 gallons of water.  Another consideration is how many hours a day of sunlight does the area receive.  If your do it yourself ponds is going to be mainly made up of plants, it is important to discover how much sunlight there is.  Some plants require all day sun, while others can go with as few as three to four hours a day.

Once the area has been selected, lay out the shape of the pond with a string or draw it on the ground with spray paint.  One of the best ways to create a do it yourself ponds is to dig the area out and dig a shelf on the outside of the pond about a foot wide.  The pond itself can gradually slope down; with shelves created every few feet. These shelves can be used to place water plants.  The outside shelf is used to house the plumbing for the filters, pumps and skimmers that are used in the pond.

A lining for the pond will be needed.  These can be purchased at almost any home improvement store.  There are even one piece pre fabricated liners that can be laid into the ground.  It may be a good idea to place old rugs or rocks underneath the lining to help support it when the water is put in.  Rocks can be used to hold the liner down.  Pots are needed to plant the underwater and marginal plants used in a pond. Floating plants do not need to be potted.  Specific plants have different soil needs.  Follow directions for planting the water plants for best results.   

A filter and pump are two important pieces to a do it yourself ponds.  This will help maintain the pond, keeping plants and fish healthy.  Without a filter and pump the do it yourself pond will become filled with algae and turn colors.  Plants will no longer thrive as oxygen is not being circulated throughout the pond.

Additional features such as a waterfall can also be added.  Home improvement stores carry easy to install pumps to make waterfalls.  To spruce up the outside of the do it yourself pond, place stones of varying sizes and plants.

Those looking to really dress up their large yard may want to consider installation of landscaping ponds, many of which can be installed as a do-it-yourself project. Whether a small pond of six-feet square to large landscaping ponds as big as 20 by 25 feet, there are kits that include everything needed to turn a section of the yard into a fascinating focus of attention. Everything that is except the labor of installing the kit, and maybe some gravel to buy locally, but once size is determined the yard work can begin to the planned installation.

Turning a hill behind or beside the house into a waterfall flowing into a fish-filled pond can be an exciting project in which to get the entire family involved. Although for the digging of the hole in which to place the landscaping pond’s liner most of the working group disappears, marking the area and depths to be excavated may require two or more people.

However, once the liner is in place, covering it with stones and rocks can be fun by arranging them in specific fashion. Washing the rocks before placement can help reduce the amount of dirt in landscaping ponds the first time it is filled, but expect the water to get dirty.

Plan To Keep Hills In Place

If the hill for waterfalls had to be built from dirt excavated from the pond area, building a retaining wall from natural stones or larger rocks may help prevent erosion and help add a more natural appearance to landscaping ponds. Once the pond has been filled with water, perimeter landscape can be added without fear of getting the water dirty as it will most likely already be fairly murky. May as well get all the dirty work done at one time.

It can take up to two weeks before the water clears completely, and for the sake of any aquatic life planned to inhabit landscaping ponds they should not be added until the water has begun to establish its own ecosystem.

Water is the source of all life.  You can live for thirty days without food, but not more than three days without water.  Water also is soothing, beautiful and is a gathering place for wildlife.  Water on your property can also greatly enhance its value.

We all have different reasons for wanting a little more water in our lives and properties.  Men have been making lakes and ponds for thousands of years to mimic ones made by nature.  Geologists argue whether even those lakes and ponds are natural, but only accidental water containers, as all land-locked water tries to connect with the sea.  Man made lakes and ponds fit into the environment just as readily as natural ones.

Do It Yourself?

Unless you have done a lot of landscaping and have a strong back, it is probably best to hire professional contractors to build lakes and ponds for you.  You need to be sure the lakes and ponds put in on your property will stay there for a long time, so the wildlife, or any fish you may want to stock in it, have a chance to move in.  It is less expensive to pay somebody to do the job right the first time rather than keep having to repair your leaky lakes and ponds.

Building and managing lakes and ponds is its own industry.  You will be spoiled for choice of contractors.  You can ask anyone you know that has a pond, “Who did your pond?”, or even ask national parks or arboretums who did their lakes and ponds.  Perhaps you went to a university that had a man-made pond.  Ask your university what service they use.  You could also ask your bank if there are any contractors that they recommend.  This will smooth things in advance if you need to ask your bank for a loan.  You could even check with the Better Business Bureau for names of contractors in your area to avoid.

Before You Take The Plunge

Creating a home water feature is a great addition to any yard.  Water features are a fun way to add an exciting element to an ordinary location.  Enjoying the sound of the water can be a relaxing way to enjoy an evening by the pond.  Take some time to find out what kind of ponds and pumps are needed to make that enchanting garden pond.  

Looking Into Ponds And Pumps For A Water Feature

Now that it is decided that a backyard pond would be the next step in the yards development, now comes the fun part.  It’s time to select what type of pond is the best for a specific yard.  There are quite a few choices to be made when building a pond. Location may be the first decision that needs to be made. Be aware that some areas may not be the best choice for a pond.  If the area has little sunlight, this may not be the best place for a pond that will have lots of plants.  This may be a better choice for designing a pond with a large water fall.  It can still be a beautiful pond, but without the worry of selecting plants that will thrive with little sunlight.   

Will the pond have fish; and, what type of fish?  What about plants, or even a waterfall.  All of these decisions need to be made before construction on a pond can begin.  All of these items can change the course of a ponds design, and have an impact on what type of pump will be needed.  Ponds and pumps go hand in hand.  A water pump helps circulate oxygen in the water; which fish and aquatic plants need.  Ponds and pumps are a match when a water fall or spray is desired.  A pump pushes the water creating the nice and inviting sound that many crave.  

Different ponds and pumps used can change the look and feel of a water feature.  Pumps that are stronger and capable of pushing more water can create a fast stream feel.  For larger ponds, bigger pumps are needed to keep the water moving and create more oxygen.

You will appreciate that using ponds on a property will help enhance its landscape and this is something that more and more people are finding to be worth trying out. Today, you will find architects as well as builders and also property owners finding much pleasure as well as obtaining more financial rewards from adding a pond to the garden.

Property Value Appreciates

With such a water feature incorporated into the design of a garden, you will find that your property value will appreciate and that you will have a competitive advantage over others with similar properties. The water element, when added is also the second most important element found on earth, and without it, you would not be able to support life as its importance is next only to that of oxygen.

Of course, you will end up paying anything from one hundred and fifty to fifteen hundred dollars for your pond. You may also end up paying more, but it will all come back to you over the years in the form of additional revenue, and it also plays an important role in becoming your trademark and thus an important source of income. This is best seen when your property appreciates in value that will certainly help pay back the cost of having professionally constructed ponds in the home.

Ponds will also enhance the charm of the place and will thus attract prospective buyers as well. Also, most homes in the United States are tract homes with most of them looking very much the same. So, adding a feature such as a pond will help give the home a distinguishing feature, which will help play an important role in convincing buyers who want to buy a good property.

Besides the appreciation in value of the property, ponds also help in enhancing the esthetic value of the home and are ideal for providing a calm, relaxed as well as alluring effect that sets the mood when staying at home. There is also entertainment, education as well as emotional relaxation that ponds offer to the owner of the property, and they are very much like having your very own “Discovery Channel” in the back yard. You could also prefer to stay at home and enjoy yourself at home rather than spend a lot of money on an expensive vacation to some exotic location.