Water garden ponds faq
The wheres, whens, and hows of water garden ponds.
Where should I locate my garden pond?
Though there are many factors to consider, the main one is hoow you intend to use your water garden pond. Water garden plants will typically require about six to eight hours of sunlight, so you'll want to choose a location that facilitates that. However, too much sun is harmful to some plants and can also promote unwanted algae growth.
Water garden ponds should be built in areas free of utility lines. It's also prudent to consider ground height when locating garden ponds to avoid drainage issues. Level ground is also important, and try to avoid getting too close to deciduous trees that will drop debris and foliage into the water.
But above all, select a location that's visually pleasing, easily accessible, and allows you to enjoy your garden pond whether you're indoors or out.
What size should my garden pond be?
The answer to this question is also determined by usage. Garden ponds designs should take into account your needs and also the needs of fish and wildlife. The commonest mistake made with garden ponds is building them too small. It seems counter intuitive, but larger water garden ponds are easier to maintain.
Water lilies require a depth of about 18 inches, while goldfish or koi require two feet or more. Koi garden ponds are necessarily larger in volume than goldfish ponds. Deeper water garden ponds help fish to stay cool or warm during seasonal weather, but garden ponds that are too deep will decrease the likelihood of ever seeing fish. A depth of about four feet should be sufficient to protect and enjoy your fish so long as you keep algae levels low.
How do I get rid of green water?
Just as building too small is the commonest mistake with water garden ponds, dealing with green water is the biggest problem. Green water is caused by algae eating available nutrients. There are many possible reasons for this, from an insufficient number of plants, to too many fish, to fish overfeeding or too much sunlight. Nor are all algae bad. Algae appear naturally at certain times of the year, and almost always in newly built water garden ponds until a proper balance of plants and animal life has been established.
There are many ways to combat excessive algae growth in water garden ponds:
- Add floating aquatic plants that shade the water and deprive algae of sunlight and underwater plants that use up nutrients.
- Keep debris down by using drains and biological filters.
- Install a properly sized water pump.
- Avoid building water garden ponds in locations that receive rainwater runoff.
- Use a net to physically remove floating debris from the pond.
- Install a UV sterilizer.
- Add bacteria and enzyme products such as Microbe-Lift.
Should I ever change my pond water?
Yes and no. A complete water change is not recommended for water garden ponds unless done to eliminate a toxic chemical. Garden ponds require time to establish a natural balance, and completely changing the water will cause that process to start from the beginning, enabling an explosion of algae growth.
However, periodic partial water changes can be beneficial for garden ponds, particularly for the fish that occupy them. Make sure you do not use chlorinated water. Tap water will destroy the good bacteria in garden ponds and chlorine can be deadly to fish. Always use a dechlorinator or carbon filter when adding tap water to water garden ponds.
When should I add fish to my pond?
We recommend waiting a month before adding fish to garden ponds. This will allow time for bacterial colonies to get established. Liquid bacterial starters and dechlorinators are available that can enable you to add fish to garden ponds sooner, but time and nature put you on the safe side.