The Basics of Fish Pond Maintenance

Keeping your fish healthy requires that you regularly maintain their pond’s environment.  The basics of upkeep for a fish pond are similar to the routines of maintaining a swimming pool and an aquarium, just with different variables.

 

Filtering and Pumping

 

Just like with a fish tank inside, you need to filter the water.  This means you’ll need a pump of course, and you can probably make the pump pull “triple duty” by also taking care of the aeration and running a waterfall or fountain.  This may require a slightly larger pump, but since you need aeration anyways, there’s no loss.  Depending on the types of filtration you opt for, mechanical or chemical or both, you’ll need to keep it clean and ensure the chemical filter doesn’t get used up.

 

To avoid possible disasters, you should have your pump or pumps connected to a high quality outdoor surge protector.  The last thing your fish need is their oxygen supply to cease due to a thunderstorm or other electrical problem.

 

Feeding

 

Make sure your fish get enough food, of course.  But you also don’t want to overfeed for several reasons.  An obvious reason is that many fish don’t stop eating until the food is gone, and can die from overeating.  Another, though, is that excess uneaten food can basically rot in the water, turning it into a waste dump instead of a fish pond.

 

Breathing room

 

As your fish grow, you’ll need to ensure they don’t run out of room.  Just as it’s important when first introducing the fish, you’ll need to keep an eye on how much physical space they have.  As they grow, your filtration needs may also increase as a direct function of the fish growth.  They end up eating more, so you end up with more waste to filter out.

 

You also need to ensure that your growing fish have enough oxygen.  This means your aeration techniques need to be up to the job for your larger fish.

 

Fish Wrangling

 

When handling your fish, you need to be aware of possible problems you can cause.  Fish have an outer coating of a slimy substance which is actually vital to their health.  It protects them from diseases and pathogens present in the water.  Holding a fish with dry hands can remove part of this barrier and increase the risk of infection.  It’s also important to not damage their scales, as they can lose nutrients which can lead to heart failure.

 

Wet your hands or use a wet cloth to handle the fish.  Also cover their eyes with the cloth to calm them down, preventing self-injury.  It’s probably best to wet the cloth with the same water they live in, as well.

 

pH and Temperature

 

The pH level of the water is very important to fish health.  Just like with a fish tank, you need to monitor and control the pH level to keep it at the right levels for your kind of fish.  Temperature is important as well, especially for fish who require a narrow range of water temperatures.  If it gets too cold, and is impractical to heat the pond, you may need to have a backup plan for bringing the fish indoors.  Cooling the water can be done with waterfalls and fountains.  But again, if the water gets too hot, you may need to bring them inside.

Controlling Pond Algae

The water garden or pond are areas of growth for plants, fish, yourself, and for many other forms of life as well. Algae will grow where water is, but you can learn to balance and control the algae in the water so your water is clearer and cleaner.

Controlling algae is more of a problem for new pond owners who are learning to experiment and balance the water, as well as the spring months, when the water in the pond is not year fully balanced after a winters cold. One important factor that will have an affect on cleaner and clearer water is the pump you use in the water garden. Using the proper equipment in the pond is going to have an affect on how easily you can control the algae from growing in the water garden.

full text of Controlling Pond Algae here

Starting a Water Garden is Easy!

Water Gardens are great sources of interest, entertainment and relaxation in your yard.  Water gardens can consist of vast ponds with extravagantly detailed trim and décor.  But they don’t have to be large or complex to be enjoyable.

 

Dig a hole

 

Building your first pond can be almost as easy as digging a hole.  If you can “operate” a shovel, then you can build a pond.  Just decide how large your pond should be, and where you want it, and dig a hole there in the shape you prefer.  You can keep it simple with just a circular or rectangular shape, or be more adventurous with kidney-bean or other more exotic shapes.  But since this idea is just hand-dug, keep it to a moderate or small size.

 

Once you have the shape dug out, make sure it’s smooth and flat, take out any rocks, roots, or other debris that may puncture the liner.

 

You also want to make sure that the top edge of your new hole is the same elevation all the way around.  Use a long board with a level to verify it.

 

Silver Lining

 

Okay, it’s not silver, but it’s a lining that will be part of something nicer than mere silver.  Liners are typically black sheets of PVC, basically like a really big trash bag.  Get one of sufficient size to line your whole pond hole.  They’re not too expensive in small sizes.

 

An alternative is to use a solid plastic pond liner, which is similar to a kiddie size swimming pool.  The limitation here is the need to dig the whole to match the shape of it.  An advantage is it is likely to be more durable against puncture hazards, but it also has a disadvantage of possible cracking.

 

Rock it

 

Next you need some rocks to go around the edge of the pond.  Any rocks will do, it’s entirely up to your personal preference.  Flat rocks, round rocks, pebbles, whatever you want.  You don’t even have to go around the entire edge.

 

That’s it.  You now have a pond.  Of course, you will want to keep growing your pond by adding things to it and around it.  Plants are an obvious first choice.  You can get some pond lilies to add some personality to the middle of your pond, and all manner of plants around the edges, whatever kinds you like.

 

Then you can consider adding fish, or even a water fall or fountain.  Both fish and waterfalls add a great ambiance and relaxation factor to your new pond.

 

By taking on the pond idea one step at a time, you can see that it’s really quite easy to get started with a water garden.  Then you can further increase the size and complexity of your water garden with more ponds, even interconnected ponds.  As long as you take it a little bit at a time, it will be a very rewarding experience that will last many years to come.

A backyard waterfall

Backyard waterfalls basically consist of two parts. One is the cascading arrangement of the rocks on which the water is to flow and second is the whole water pumping system, which actually makes the waterfall work. Getting the right rocks might become a little tedious if you don't plan properly. You have to let your creative juices flow and create an image of the waterfall you want in real. Once you are sure of how it should look, you can easily find the right kind of stones for creating the structure of your waterfall. You can easily find these rocks in your garden or along a natural pond or shore or you can simply buy them too.

The second component is however the crux of the waterfall. You have options here however. You could let the water flow into a pond from the waterfall or you could also go for pondless waterfalls. Both have their own advantages and fallouts. Whichever you choose, you can get readymade pond kits as well as pondless waterfalls’ kits.

Light Up Your Water Garden

Night time is perhaps the most enjoyable time to be in and around your water garden.  The cool air combined with soft ambient sounds make for a wonderfully relaxing treat.  But it’s hard to enjoy it at night, if you can’t see it.  And poorly implemented lighting can also make it a bid bland or dull.

 

On the other hand, properly and tastefully installed lighting can add even more enjoyment to your water garden at night.  There are two main categories of lights to be concerned with when planning to light your water garden:  wet and dry.  Of course that just means the lights in the water and the lights on the land.

 

For the most part, the dry lights can be set up just like you would with an ordinary garden.  This includes small pedestal lamps along the pathways, subtle spotlights on trees or backlights on fencing or walls behind features.  But there’s also the interaction with water to consider, of course.  The land mounted lights can also be directed at the various water features in your garden to drastically enhance the ambiance of the experience.

 

Here are a couple examples of this concept:

 

Reflections can be intentionally created on the surfaces of your ponds by placing garden lighting in just the right location across from the common viewing areas.  It can create a look similar to that of a cityscape reflecting on a lake, river, or bay.  Smaller lights of varying color – subtle colors, not like Christmas lights – can make the scene even more inviting.

 

Waterfall and fountains can also be enhanced with ground based lighting.  Spot lights mounted in hidden locations pointing only at the above-surface spray of an upward fountain can create a very dazzling effect.  The flow of water down a waterfall can create eye catching effects with a spotlight from just the right angle.

 

Wet lights

 

The real fun, though, is in the underwater lighting.  So many interesting things can be done with the lights mounted under the surface, it’s not possible to cover them all here.

 

One very fun example is the “source-less” light.  This is the effect of seeing the light radiating out in the water from an indeterminable location.  You can see the light, but not the lamp itself.  Only the radiating color from the lamp can be seen.  The lights can be mounted under any ledge around the edge of the ponds, or underwater plants can be used to obscure their locations.

Colored lights can be great underwater.  While you might not want much color variation in your dry lights, it’s much more interesting to use different colors under the water.  You can even try lights that change color slowly over time for a very fascinating look.

 

But one of my personal favorite ways to light up the water is the fountains.  Similar to the spotlight idea above, but now the lights are pointing up at the point where the water breaks the pond surface to rise into the air.  This can be especially interesting if you have a fountain which shoots water higher into the air.  Combine this idea with color changing lights, and now you’ve got a genuine light show in your water garden.

Algae in the Water Garden

Your water garden is going to be home to many different plants, fish, and tiny creatures that you might not even realize are there. Your water garden is going to revolve all around the water and caring for the water quality, the clarity of the water is important for the life long gardening in the water garden. Algae in the water garden can hurt your plants or fish, depending on the extent of that it is growing.

Your plants are going to be an important function in cleaning the water and controlling the amount of algae that is growing in the water garden. If you are starting a water garden with out plants at all your water is going to turn cloudy, dark and green with the build up of algae in the water.

the algae excitement continues here

What Kind of Fish For Your Pond?

Having fish in your garden pond adds another element of relaxation and decoration, and even makes it more interesting and provides entertainment.  But what kinds of fish can we have in a back yard pond?  What will survive?  What’s allowed by law?  Can they live in it year round?

Most of these questions are subject to change based on where you live.  Other concerns like birds of prey may or may not be a concern as well.  If you live near a bird refuge, you might have significant trouble keeping your fish from being eaten.

 

In some areas it’s illegal to protect your fish with a net or screen, because of protections of the birds.  One innovative solution is a motion activated sprinkler to scare away the birds if they approach your precious pet fish.

 

Koi Fish

 

Of course the most loved pond fish are koi.  They’re beautiful, can grow quite large, and have widely varying colors and patterns.  But koi can be significantly more expensive than other fish, and in some areas there may be laws restricting whether you can have them in your pond.  Some koi cost as much as $100 each!

 

Koi can grow as large as three feet if you have enough room and food.  They typically can thrive in a very wide range of water temperatures, from about 36 F to 90 F.  If your winters bring the water to near freezing, then you’ll need to take measures to either heat the pond (quite a challenge for a large pond) or bring the fish indoors.

 

Goldfish

 

Fancy Goldfish are a popular, easy and less expensive alternative fish to keep in your pond.  They are also available in a variety of colors and patterns, even black and white, or dark purple!  Fancy goldfish require much warmer water than Koi, however, with 65 F being the minimum, and the max is only around 75 F.  Their maximum size is around 10 inches.  Most climates will be either too warm or too cold for part of the year, so you will need a means to bring them indoors during off seasons.

 

Shubunkin

 

Shubunkin are originally from China, but are now available worldwide.  Larger than fancy goldfish, but smaller than koi, they have a high range of water temperature tolerance, with the same acceptable temperature range as koi fish.

 

Shubunkin are quite colorful, some might even consider them on par with some varieties of Koi, but they are less expensive than most Koi.

 

Sarasa Comet

 

The Sarasa Comet is another great pond fish choice, with a wide temperature range like Koi, 36 to 90 degrees F.  They have a striking appearance, with a bright orange-red over white, thus the name “comet”.  The Sarasa Comet can grow up to 14 inches, and requires a larger space than Goldfish, similar to the Shubunkin.

 

There are many varieties of fish that can be kept in a pond, specifically whatever fish are native to your region.  Even catfish can be kept in a pond, if you desire.  But it’s very important to check local laws to be sure that whichever kind of fish you want to keep won’t get you in trouble with the authorities.

Build it Yourself or Hire a Contractor

For many people, the idea of building their own water garden is a big part of the fun.  But for others, it may not be feasible to build it themselves for various reasons, maybe they just aren’t good with their hands, or don’t like the physical labor.

 

Of course, building it yourself may be very rewarding for several reasons.  You get the personal satisfaction of creating something yourself for one.  You also get to choose every single detail of every aspect of the garden.  From exactly which kinds of plants in what locations, to the exact rock styles and even ensuring your waterfall is perfectly shaped to your desires.

 

There can be significant cost savings in building it yourself as well, as you might expect.

Particularly for artistic type people, building their own waterfall can be the ultimate form of expression.  Artists tend to be able to have a very vivid image of what they want to create, and then the ability to actually create it.

 

There are several drawbacks of building it yourself, though.  For one, it can take a long time, especially if it’s just you or you and your spouse, and you have a very big planned garden.  You also may not know where to find certain materials that a contractor has easy access to, or not even be able to get them at all without a contractors license.  One of the biggest reasons can be expertise, as certain parts of the project may require skills that most people just don’t have.

If you do decide to hire a contractor to build your dream water garden, then there are many things to be aware of.  First, make sure you hire a contractor that’s very experienced in building not just water gardens, but the style of water garden you want.  Make sure you see previous examples of what they’ve built.

 

Since hiring a contractor is already a large project, you should be sure to get what you want.  Save up a little longer, if needed, to get everything done just right the first time.  Alternately, you could divide the project, if it’s big enough, into separately achievable pieces.  That way you can have each section done, as you can afford it, without skimping any details that are important to you.  A small but perfect diamond shines much brighter than a large shard of dirty glass.

 

There are actually certifications available in the realm of water garden construction contractors.  It may be of interest to you to seek out a contractor certified for building your water garden the way you want.  Especially if you’ve identified certain products you want installed, if the manufacturer offers their own certification for the installation of them.

 

Disadvantages of hiring a contractor include possibly a much higher cost.  It also may be hard to find contractors experienced in building water gardens in your particular area.

 

Whatever course you choose to take, your water garden will most certainly be a source of enjoyment for years to come.

Birds: Good or Bad for Your Water Garden?

Birds can be exciting to watch and have around, but what about in our water gardens?  It really depends on the kind of birds, and whether you keep fish.

 If you enjoy keeping fish in your water garden’s ponds, you may have an issue with birds.  Some larger birds are likely to eat up all your fish!  Depending on where you live, this might not be an issue.  But if it is, then you have to figure out a way to keep the fish safe.

The most common way to keep the birds out is with a net.  This is usually sufficient, but might be tricky to do in a tasteful manner that doesn’t detract from the ambiance of the garden.

However, you may also have to add a secondary concern that you might not be allowed to take some obvious measures against the birds.

 In some areas, you may not be allowed to use any sort of net to keep birds out, because of the potential for the birds to get caught in or injured by the nets.  You then have a unique challenge of trying to keep large birds away from your fish ponds.  One unique idea I’ve heard of, when I lived near a bird wildlife refuge, is using a motion detector rigged with a sprinkler system.  It would immediately turn on and spray over the pond in a way that would immediately send those birds of prey flapping away.  It may have been a challenge, but this fish owner had very valuable koi to guard.

 However, if you don’t have fish in your garden, you obviously don’t have to worry about birds eating them.  Or maybe you are interested enough in certain bird types that you’d like to add some feeder fish, if you have a larger pond, to attract the bigger birds.

 On the other hand, if you live in an area where there are no bird species who like to prey on your fish, then birds can be fun to invite to your garden.  They also can prove quite useful in many cases.

 There’s also a big potential advantage to having birds around, they can eat up hundreds and hundreds of bugs!  Birds are a natural and organic pesticide.

 It’s quite simple to attract birds to your garden.  The easiest way, of course, is to install some bird feeders.  You can also set up a traditional bird bath, but a more exciting alternative is to provide a flat area within a waterfall to act as a bird bath.  The birds may even find this more exciting as well.

 Another way to attract birds is by providing them with shelter.  You may already have a good amount of bird shelter in your hard, in the form of trees, shrubs and bushes.  Expanding on the shelter is to provide nesting facilities for the birds.  You should first find out what kinds of birds are likely to nest in your area, and provide nesting facilities that will work for the kind of bird you’d like to attract.

Waterfalls

Waterfalls are a genuine part of a natural water setting, the stream, and creek and often in water ponds that are created naturally. Including the formation of a waterfall of some type in your water garden is a feature that you are going to truly enjoy. The soil that you remove from where you are going to build your water garden can be used to build up a back or side of the water garden to create a waterfall. Many types of water garden pond liners that are premade, fabricated will include some type of lip on the pond liner that you can use to allow water to flow into the pond.

To create a waterfall you need to have a source of water, this could be a hose taken from the pond, up through the soil and then pumped back into the pond if you like. This source of water could be another pool of water, or it could be a natural stream or spring that leads into your water garden.

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