Video: 11 Things To Know When Setting Up A Pond
2024 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:30
A pond is a good addition to your garden. If you settle fish or other animals in it, it will help you brighten up more than one hour. So that the arrangement of your pond does not bring too much trouble - you need to plan everything correctly: location, shape and depth. These are very important factors for creating a reservoir. You should also stock up on the necessary literature on this topic.
© Photo by Zhanna Velichko
1. Change of landscape. To create a body of water, you need to change the landscape, and this affects your property, and may require permission from the competent authorities. Most authorities will require you to fence off the pond, although a fence around your property should be sufficient. If you have children or your friends and neighbors, you should take extra precautions. Careful observation is necessary, as well as a fence around the reservoir and a gentle slope, in case animals or children accidentally fall into the reservoir.
2. Launch costs. Proper installation and careful planning can help you save a lot of money in the future. The installation of a reservoir implies where and how to dig a pit, which filters and equipment to use, and much more. Make sure you represent all the required costs before contacting contractors.
3. Service time. To keep your reservoir in good condition, you must constantly monitor the chemical composition of the water and keep the filters clean. Once you set up the pond to your liking, you will spend much less, but the pond will still need your attention. Depending on where your pond is located, you will periodically have to remove fallen leaves and other debris.
4. Location. Choosing the right place for a body of water usually comes down to choosing the only place where you can place the body of water. Ideally, you can position the pond so that it is lit for 5-6 hours a day, and you can enjoy it. You can plant grass and bushes near the pond to decorate it to your liking. Trees will provide excellent shade, however, and add to the problem of harvesting fallen leaves.
5. Size … Now let's decide why you need a reservoir. Do you want to keep fish or plant plants? Swim or just admire him? Since it is easier to maintain the biological balance in a large reservoir than in a small one, it is a good idea to create the largest and most convenient in size reservoir. Be aware that most pond and pond owners regret that they are too small. To breed fish, you need a reservoir of at least 60 cm deep. You can also populate frogs, snails, newts or turtles in your pond. Plants and goldfish are a good mix, however if you plan on keeping plants with animals make sure they get along. For example, koi will destroy all plants. If plants are more important to you, create a plant pond with a minimum of animals.
6. Depth and climatic conditions. Your body of water will probably include 3 zones with different depths. Swampy zone around the perimeter, shallow water and deep part of the reservoir. Launching a reservoir in an arid climate will require much more time and equipment than one in a temperate climate. Observe the neighboring ponds, and then arrange your own.
Climatic features and seasonal changes in your climate must be taken into account even before you create your body of water. For example, if you are going to keep fish in a cold climate, then you need a reservoir with a depth of 60-90 cm. As a rule, the colder the winter, the deeper the reservoir.
7. Form. Giving the reservoir the necessary shape will also entail costs. At your choice, there are reservoirs with a clay bottom, or for example, cast in a certain shape. It should be noted that a reservoir of a simple oval shape will cost an order of magnitude cheaper than a reservoir of irregular and intricate shape. Waterfalls will give your pond an aesthetic appearance, however, this is another cost item. To create a waterfall, you can use the soil and stones left after digging a pit.
8. Water and drainage. Even the closest to natural body of water will periodically require water changes and cleaning. Therefore, a source of fresh water should always be at hand. You also need proper drainage. You do not want your body of water to overflow after the rain.
Article on the topic Digging a pond (reservoir)
9. Biological filtration. Fish waste products and decaying plants release ammonia. Ammonia is extremely toxic to all aquatic life and can easily kill your fish and plants. However, nature has found a way to deal with ammonia: as soon as the level of ammonia in the water rises, bacteria begin to multiply that decompose ammonia into nitrites. Nitrite is also poisonous. And already with an increase in the level of nitrite in the water, other bacteria convert them into harmless nitrates. Colonies of beneficial bacteria are your biological filtration system. After the reservoir is installed, it is biological filtration that will take most of the load. However, you need to constantly monitor your acid-base balance and ammonia levels to avoid trouble.
10. Electrical equipment. A large reservoir can function quite stably, but a small one will require mechanical filtration and water changes. And accordingly, you will need an air pump, as well as a water pump to pump out water from the reservoir if necessary. And in addition to all the equipment, you will need an independent power source.
11. Service. You may have to backtrack on something considering the quality of the water. You will constantly have to monitor the level of ammonia and nitrite, clean filters, use water testers. All this is necessary in order to maintain the water quality in your reservoir at the proper level. A properly equipped pond will provide you with pleasure for hours. Moreover, just a little time spent on planning will help you save money and avoid many problems in the future.
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