More Pond Tips
- If your water turns green within a few days, talk with your pond professional about remedies. This is one reason you should seriously consider using a filtration system. Filtration systems are easy to install, and well worth the time and extra money.
- It is essential to clean and rinse ponds before using it since fish and other water plants are sensitive to contaminants. "Curing" concrete ponds combined with water changes, scrubbing, filling, and painting with vinegar is also important.
- Allow chloramines and chlorine to dissipate especially if you used tap water to fill the pond. You can also utilize a commercial chlorine neutralizer from pet shops to solve this problem.
- Ensure that all equipment such as fountains, waterfalls, filters, and lights are working satisfactorily before adding the fish and plants.
- It is best to allow at least one week for the plants to settle in the pond before adding the fish.
- Clean up the pond regularly for dead leaves as this will add unwanted excess nutrients to the water and decay it as well.
Observe Proper Maintenance
- Keep the pond clean of fallen vegetation and dead leaves. The frequency of cleaning will depend on the amount of vegetation falling into the water and on the time of the year. Do the cleaning at the beginning of Spring before the temperature of the water starts to rise.
- Do not feed your fish more than they can eat. Start by feeding them smaller amounts during a feeding until you see them stop eating. Fish eat very little if any during the Winter.
- Clean the filter and pump periodically.
- If water evaporates, add water in the pond periodically. A normal garden hose will do. However, if you are using tap water, no more than 10-20% should be added at any time because of chlorine levels.
In Summary
What should a well-designed water feature include?
- Mechanical and biological filtration
- Pump and plumbing, if there is a waterfall
- Sturdy liner and underlayment
- Rock work, or brick
- Underwater lighting, if you choose
- A berm
- Waterfall(s)
Electrical source8
To operate any electrical equipment near a water garden, use an outdoor outlet. If your pump cord will not reach to an existing outlet have an outlet installed set at least 6 feet away from the water and use only an outlet that is equipped with a ground fault interrupter (GFIC) for safety. These devices will cut off the power the moment water is detected in contact with the wiring. Your cable should be protected in a conduit, a plastic tube for electrical wires, so you won't dig into it accidentally. Extension cords with an integrated GFIC can be used for shorter distances. You can hide them under stones or mulch.
It's really not that hard to build a garden pond, you just have to decide you're going to do it, and then jump in - not to the pond! - to the project. If all of this seems to much for your budget of time, and you don't want to undertake the project yourself, many landscaping contractors also offer water garden construction services. When hiring out work, get several competitive bids and always ask for and check out references.
