Climate

The climate in your area will determine the depth of your pond and the types of plants you should use.  Make sure to find out the extreme temperature ranges in your region.

• Cold Weather
• When water temperature goes below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, move your plants to the deepest part of your pond.  In areas that go below freezing, you’ll need to make sure that your pond is deep enough so that your plants will not freeze.  Depths greater than 18 inches should ensure that your plants do not freeze.  During this time, any fish that you have in the pond will go into hibernation until the temperature again rises above 45.
• Hot Weather
• If your region experiences exceptionally hot temperatures over 95 degrees Fahrenheit, then you’ll need to take precautions to protect your aquatic life.  Provide areas of shade with plant cover for your fish to take shelter from the heat.   Algae growth can be rapid in areas of high heat.  Do everything you can to prevent algae from taking over your water garden.

Water Garden Placement

There are three practical qualities to consider when selecting a prime site for a water garden:

• Pick a Raised Site
• The site you choose should be raised above the level of the surround terrain.  This will keep water from running into your water garden and potentially poisoning your plants.  Fertilizers (most of which contain Nitrates) can be very detrimental to a pond ecosystem by causing an explosive algae growth.  Run off from most lawns contains some type of fertilizer or weed killer.
• Make sure that the run off from your water garden has an outlet to drain away from any buildings or areas that you don’t want the water to go.
• Provide both Shade and Sunlight
• The site you select should combine areas of both shade and sunlight.  This will help to regulate the temperature of your water garden and ensure that your aquatic life is comfortable in all seasons.  If you are unable to provide shade from trees or other overhanging structures, you can create shade by using water lilies and perimeter plants.
• Electricity
• The various pumps, filters, and lights that keep your water garden healthy and enjoyable require electricity to run.  Make sure to plan the building of your pond to be close to an electrical outlet.

Type of Aquatic Life

The quantity of plant and animal species that are available for your water garden is vast.  Make sure to take into consideration the region where you live when purchasing pond life.  All aquatic life is very sensitive to temperature change.  If you are in an area with a large seasonal change, select breeds that are hardy and can withstand wide temperature ranges.  If you live in a more stable climate, you can afford to be a little less concerned with seasonal changes and can purchase aquatic life that are more delicate.

LED Lights

Probably the best light source to use in aquatic settings. LED lighting can be used as a low wattage alternative to older lighting systems. They are brighter and more energy efficient than incandescent light sources. When used as pond lights, LEDs are advantageous for three reasons:

• low energy consumption
• long lifespan
• small size
• color

The size can be particularly useful when trying to squeeze a light source into a small space.
LED lights are generally more expensive than Fluorescent or Incandescent lighting. Their performance is well worth the high price.

Fluorescents

Fluorescent lights should not be used when building your pond. Fluorescent lights work by using electricity to heat mercury vapor producing visible light. These lights are very efficient but mercury is poisonous to most life. If one of these lights were to break inside of your pond, it could be very bad for any of your aquatic life. Stay away from using fluorescent lights as pond lights.

Uses of Pond Lights

• Highlight Water Features
• The most dramatic way to highlight your water features is to include some pond lights. Fountains, waterfalls, and jets all create dynamic displays at night when lit up by strategically placed lights.
• Safety
• Safety is a widely over looked use for pond lights. On a very dark night, it can be hard to see the water’s surface. You can prevent accident and embarrassment for your backyard guests by ensuring that your backyard pond is well lit.
• Always use a professional to install pond lights unless you really know what you are doing. Working with electricity around water can be extremely dangerous.

Light Placement

Pond lights should be placed in areas where the will accentuate the best features of your pond. Waterfalls, fountains, or groups of aquatic plants can all be lighted to make sure that these areas are noticed even at night.

• Waterfalls
• Submerged lights or spotlights can be used to highlight waterfalls. For submerged lights, make sure that you place these at the base of the waterfall. This will ensure that the entire length of the fall is highlighted. Spot lights should be placed behind the waterfall for the most dramatic effects.
• Fountains
• Pond lights that highlight fountains can create some of the most dramatic displays imaginable. Consider adding some colored submerged lights around the fountain to make the water glow in a wide arrange of colors.
• Aquatic plants
• Don’t forget your aquatic plants when lighting your pond. Floating lilies can have a whole new dimension when highlighted with submerged lighting. For your perimeter plants, consider spotlighting them from the interior pond side to make them glow with light.

Pond lights are one of the easiest ways to make your backyard pond really come alive. Remember to consider this when building your pond to save the time and hassle of installing these lights after your pond is complete.

Pond Liners

The first thing you’ll want to consider when building a pond is pond size.  Ponds have virtually no range limit and can be as big or small as you want them to be.  The reason we start with pond size is because this will determine the type of liner you will need to use.

Pond liners can come in three main forms: rigid, flexible, and concrete.  Rigid pond liners come in preformed shapes and are best used in small ponds.  Flexible and concrete pond liners can be used in medium to large ponds but installation and repair costs can increase dramatically with concrete liners.

Pond Pumps 

The single most important piece of equipment to consider, when building a pond, is your pond pump.  It is this device that will keep water circulating in your pond and prevent it from becoming stagnant.  In nature, ponds have a constant input of clean water and output of fish waste and debris.  Pond pumps mimic this action and are thus perform a vital pond function.  A pond pump also powers any water features such as waterfalls or fountains that you may want to build in to your pond.

Pond Fountains and Waterfalls

It is simple and easy to add a waterfall or fountain when building a pond.  Most pond fountains include everything you need to get up and running.  Pump, filter, and nozzle heads are usually included.  Outdoor fountains make a great addition to any pond environment and provide relaxing and soothing sounds.

the other benefit of having a pond fountain or waterfall is that they make great pond aerators.  Aerators oxygenate water by exposing as much surface area as possible to the air.  Oxygen rich water will ensure that any aquatic life such as koi won’t be stressed.  Pond aerators also slow the growth of algae by disturbing the surface of the water as well as limiting the amount of carbon dioxide present in the pond.  Algae is one of the biggest problems pond owners can face.  Anything you can do to limit algae growth, when building a pond, can lessen maintenance later.

Pond Vacuums

If you do have excess plant or fish waste building up in your pond that you just can not seem to get rid of, a pond vacuum may be a necessary piece of equipment.  There are many different sizes and types of pond vacuums but the most important factor when purchasing one for a pond that you’ve built is suction depth.  Suction depth refers to the maximum depth that they vacuum created by the hose can continue to suck up debris.  After a certain depth, the vacuum created within a pond vacuum simply does not have the strength to remove debris.  Make sure that the suction depth of a vacuum you purchase is less than the overall depth of the pond you want to build.

Building a pond is a great way to add a little nature to your backyard.

Signs of a Lack of Oxygen

If you notice the fish swimming to the surface of the water and sucking in air after you have built your pond, that is a major sign that there is not enough oxygen in the environment.  Rampant algae growth is also a sign of a low oxygen environment.  Algae take in carbon dioxide as part of photosynthesis.  Pond aerators distribute oxygen throughout a pond and thereby limit the amount of carbon dioxide.  Less carbon dioxide equals less algae.  Less than 5ppm (parts per million) of dissolved oxygen in your backyard pond is hazardous to aquatic life.

How Pond Aerators Work

In the simplest of terms, pond aerators mix water and air.  Whether an aerator uses paddles, bubbles, or a fountain, the main function is to get water in contact with oxygen.  When a fountain shoots water in to the air, it increases the amount of water in contact with the air.  The smaller the particles of water that the fountain jettisons, the more surface area is exposed to oxygen.  The oxygen becomes dissolved in the water and provides fresh oxygenated water to your pond ecosystem.  The same concept is true of bubble aerators: the smaller the bubbles the more surface area that is in contact with water.

Why is Aeration Important

As oxygen levels in a pond start to decrease, the equilibrium of your pond will start to shift.  In a healthy pond, aerobic processes drive the break down of organic matter.  Fish waste and debris are the primary components of this organic matter.  As oxygen levels deplete, the break down of waste starts to slip to an anaerobic process.  This process is much slower to break down waste material.  Algae levels will rise and fish will begin to die off.  The algae block sunlight from reaching the lower levels of the pond and starve off any beneficial plant life.  At this point, the gas hydrogen sulfide will begin to be released and will contribute to a foul odor that will hang over your pond.

The answer for this depressing state of pond destruction is a simple pond aerator.  Plug in a fountain or install a waterfall and watch your garden pond turn itself around very rapidly.

Other Benefits of Pond Aeration

Pond Aerators can also perform a few other necessary pond functions. Many forms of pond aerators also offer some kind of filtration.  By filtering pond water, you can remove many waste materials and create a clean and habitable environment for fish and other aquatic life.

Many aerators, such as pond fountains and waterfalls, can also provide pleasing sights and sounds that add a stunning visual to your pond environment.  The benefits of pond aerators are many and varied.  When building a pond, a pond aerator is a critical element.

Koi History

Koi are a type of common carp that was originally used as a food fish in Eastern Asia.  In 1820, Japan first began to breed Koi for color.  The story goes that some rice farmers in Ojiya, a town in the Niigata prefecture, were keeping Koi as a food source for the winter months.  The farmers began to notice some irregular pigmentation in some of their Koi.  Instead of eating the odd colored fish, the farmers began to create koi ponds and breed their fish with their neighbors’.  Eventually the Koi began to develop some of the patterns that we recognize in modern koi ponds.  Specifically the Kohaku, a white koi with red marking said to resemble the petals of a cherry blossom, was popularized at this time.  This breed of Koi was said to have originated from the Koi ponds of the Ojiya farmers.

It wasn’t until 1914 that the Niigata Koi were displayed at an exposition in Tokyo.  Popularity for the fist skyrocketed across Japan and, eventually, the rest of the world.  Now, Koi ponds can be found everywhere.

Koi Pond Design

When building a koi pond, the main goal is the well-being of the fish.  Koi prefer being kept between the 59 and 77 Fahrenheit range.  In ponds with long winters where water temperature will drop bellow this range, ponds have a minimum depth of 1.5 meters.

The various color patterns of Koi stand out in a pond.  These color patterns, which we find so attractive, are a severe disadvantage to koi.  Predation is a concern when building a pond.  The bright colors of a koi stand out to a predator like a neon sign.  If you are in an area with predatory wildlife, such as herons or raccoons, the design of your koi pond should keep your fish safe.  Trees can provide protection from aerial predators and any areas that look over the pond should be high enough that mammals can not reach in and grab a snack.

Color Variation and Breeding

Breeding koi is a difficult process.  Because the desired color patterns are essentially a defect, the offspring begin to revert back to their original color.  In the wild, decorative koi will revert back to their original black color within only a few generations.  Breeders use a careful eye to select fry that have the correct color patterns and are not genetically deformed.  The color patterns created when koi mate are limitless but there are some recognized standards.  Much like show dogs, show koi can have strict guidelines governing their desired appearance.  The size and placement of the colors is principle in judging Koi.  If the color appears on the head versus the tail fin and other factors can increase or decrease a show Koi’s value.

Aesthetic Beauty

Where ever they came from, Koi are certainly beautiful fish.  This graceful fish will undoubtedly have a place in backyard ponds and koi ponds for centuries to come.  With the limitless varieties of color and shape, you should always be on the look out for a unique and captivating Koi to call your own.

Pond filters are used to clean debris and biological waste from your pond.  In nature, ponds have a constant influx of fresh water and waste water is pushed downstream.  When you build your pond, however, it will be a closed ecosystem.  There is nowhere for the waste to go and so it builds up and starts to affect your pond environment.  Without proper filtration, algae will begin to feed off of the abundance of organic material in your pond and starve off other aquatic life.

Pond filters can provide biological and mechanical filtration as well as UV sterilization to keep your pond water clean and clear.  The filtration components of a pond filter can also slow down the buildup of algae.

Biological Filtration

The biological filters of a pond filter operate by running water through an established colony of beneficial bacteria.  This bacterium lives and grows within the filter on surfaces such as bio balls or sponges.  As the water filters through the pond filter, the bacteria feeds on harmful waste products (ammonia and nitrite) and break them down into harmless compounds (nitrate).

Mechanical Filtration

Pond filters remove larger waste particles (uneaten food, algae, etc…) from pond water by physically straining the water through a mechanical filter.  Smaller particles are removed by trapping them in a biofilm living within the filter.

Chemical Filtration

Chemical Filtration is typically only used for small aquatic spaces such as aquariums.  The process usually refers to using activated carbon to absorb dissolved organic material from the water.  Activated carbon chemically attracts the dissolved particles and they stick to the porous surface of the carbon.  Because carbon with a large amount of Ash can alter the pH of the water, high quality carbon will guarantee that it will not alter pH.

Types of Pond Filter

There are different types of pond filter available for all different needs.  Any of the pressurized filters can be placed underground and be effectively hidden from view.  External filters are usually very low maintenance.  They typically offer some sort of back flush option that flushes the waste material out the back of the mechanism. The main types of pond filter are:

• External Gravity Pond Filters
  • This type of filter relies on gravity to push the water through the internal filters.
  • Filtration
    • Mechanical
    • Biological
    • Some offer UV sterilizers
• External Pressurized Pond Filters
  • Require a pond pump to operate
  • Filtration
    • Mechanical
    • Biological
    • Some offer UV sterilizers
• Pond Skimmers
  • Require a pond pump to operate
  • Filtration
    • Mechanical
    • Biological
• Submersible Pond Filters
  • Some may require a pond pump to operate while others are included with a pond pump
  • Filtration
    • Mechanical
    • Biological

Outdoor fountains also provide a bathing area for songbirds.  The movement of the water reduces the buildup of bacteria and algae creating a much cleaner bathing source for birds.  These songbirds will provide even more life and sound to your outdoor space.

Sound

Outdoor fountains reduce stress by masking ambient noise such as traffic or other mechanical noise.   When installing your fountain, it is important to consider how much noise you will want it to make.  Depending on the height of the waterfall, the type of material the fountain is made of, and how many levels a fountain contains the volume and quality of sound can change.  For a small quiet space, a softer sounding fountain would be preferable to a louder fountain that could be to powerful.

Appearance

The appearance of an outdoor fountain can come in a myriad of styles, materials, and sizes.  The main concern when selecting from among the many fountains out there is to choose one that fits with the overall theme of your backyard or pond where you plan to display the fountain.  Size is also a concern.  Select an appropriate size outdoor fountain for your space.  Something too big will crowd your space while something too small will go unnoticed or look out of place.

There are two main types of fountains: statutory and spray.

• Statutory
• Statutory fountains can range from classical Greco-Roman styles or contemporary symbols and designs.
• Spray
• Spray fountains are usually fond within a pond or other water source and consist of a pump, head, and nozzle. They usually come with adjustable or alternate nozzles for alternating spray patterns to create different visuals.

Increasing the value in your home

outdoor living spaces can increase the value of your home.  A great way to increase your home’s value and stand out from similar homes in the same price range is to develop a outdoor living area that is private and inviting.  The benefits of an outdoor fountain translate well into this task.  By dampening unwanted sounds, fountains can make your outdoor living space seem quieter than it really is, especially for someone touring your home.  The beauty and elegance of an outdoor fountain will lend some class to your space and hopefully encourage buyers.

Solar Fountains

Most outdoor fountains require very little setup.  Typically, all you need is to fill the fountain with water and plug it in.  With the introduction of solar fountains, even this short process is made simpler.  Solar fountains are powered by the energy they harvest from the sun and are not required to be plugged in.  This can help save a few dollars in energy savings and remove the need for extension cords.  Solar fountains are safer as well.  Without power cords, the danger of electrocution is eliminated.

There is one key term that you need to consider when purchasing a pond vacuum:

• Suction depth
• Suction depth is the depth that a pump can effectively suck up debris.  Once the nozzle reaches a certain depth the vacuum will cease to be strong enough to pull water up through the machine.
• Keep in mind how deep your pond is at its deepest point and shop accordingly.

Pond vacuums come in various shapes and sizes but can be split in to two main categories: powered or non-powered.  The main difference between the two is in the way they create the vacuum that is used to suction water and debris out of the pond

Non-powered

Non-powered pond vacuums are typically used for lighter duty work. They operate by attaching a water source at the end of the vacuum hose and running water up the vacuum pole.  This creates a vacuum just within the head to force pond water and debris out of the pond.  Non-powered pond vacuums can usually be run off of a garden hose but it is important to check what PSI they require.  Smaller models need about 50 PSI to operate.  This is the pressure found in a typical household pipe but you may want to check and make sure you have adequate water pressure before you purchase.

Powered

Powered pond vacuums are better for medium to heavy duty maintenance.  Because they use an internal motor to create a vacuum, they usually have much greater suction depth than their non-powered counterparts.

Other Features

• Filters
• Filters collect the waste materials that a pond vacuum suctions up during cleaning.  This debris is usually made up of decomposing fish waste and plant material and, as such, makes excellent fertilizer.  For the ecofriendly pond owner, it’s a way to clean your pond and fertilize your plants at the same time.
• Vacuum heads
• Most pond vacuums will come with a variety of head attachments.  You’ll want to make sure, however, that you have the right attachment for your pond.  Ponds with lots of small rocks or pebbles at the bottom will want a head that keeps wanted material in the pond and only sucks out waste.

Tips

Make sure that whatever model you purchase comes with a warranty.  Warranties represent confidence in a product and the longer the warranty the more confidence a manufacturer has.  Unfortunately, the warrantied models usually come with a heavier price tag as well so consider your budget.  A pond vacuum is not the most important piece of equipment when maintaining a pond so you’ll want to make sure you have all your other necessities first.  It may even be beneficial to wait until there are signs of a problem before purchasing a pond vacuum.

Aeration

All of the aquatic life in your pond is highly dependent on the dissolved oxygen available in the pond water.  Anything less than 5ppm (parts per million), can start to negatively affect your pond.  The most critical result of low oxygen levels is a fish kill.  Ponds with low oxygen will also start to develop a bad odor.  This is caused when the breakdown of organic waste shifts from an aerobic process to a slow anaerobic process.  Hydrogen sulfide is produced as a result.

Buying Pond Pumps

When buying a pond pump you are looking for two things.

1. The first is the volume of water (circulating volume) the pump can handle per hour.  This is called the pump volume.  Pump volume is typically measured in gph (gallons per hour).  A healthy pond needs to circulate all its water once an hour.  So, for a 1000 gallon pond, you’ll need a 1000 gph pump.
2. The second thing you are looking for is reliability.  Pond pumps have to run 365 days a year 24/7.  For this reason it’s important to get one with a good warranty.  Something above a one year warranty generally indicates a commitment to quality.  Also, some manufacturers will provide a replacement pump while yours is being fixed.  This can be huge and can save you the cost of purchasing a back-up pump. Back-up pond pumps are always a good idea though.  Any time your pump is not running puts stress on your pond environment and especially on any aquatic life.

Pump Head

Pumps also provide power to any additional water features, such as waterfalls and ornaments.  If you are planning on building a waterfall feature into your pond it is important to understand pump head.  Maximum head is a term used by manufacturers to determine the height at which the pump cannot create enough pressure for water to flow.  At this height, your pump is working but no water will flow out.  As you decrease pump head the volume of water flowing will increase.  It is important to remember that by incorporating a waterfall, you effectively limit the gph that your pond pump can circulate through pump head loss.

Pump Head Loss

• The greater the distance your pond water has to travel, and the more bends and fittings it passes through, the harder a pond pump has to work.  A few tips to make friction loss negligible:
  use pipe no more than 1inch thick
• Use pipe no longer than 10 feet in length.
• Ribbed piping is also good to use because it doesn’t restrict flow when you bend or curve it.

Always go for a slightly more powerful pump than required.  It will save you worrying over getting your measurements exact and leave room if you want to add new waterfalls or other features later.

Bog plants

• Bog plants, also known as marginal plants, grow along the swampy edges of ponds or in very shallow water.  Aesthetically, bog plants help with the transition from a terrestrial landscape to an aquatic environment.   These plants need a damp environment to survive and so they should be place either in the top tier of your pond or in a damp area near the edge.

Submerged plants

• You will never see submerged plants but they provide a critical function to any pond you build.  Submerged plants are also called oxygenating plants.  They remove carbon dioxide from the water and replace it with vital oxygen.  High oxygen levels are required for fish to thrive.

Floating plants

• Pond plants in this group float along the surface of your pond and provide shade and shelter.  By covering the surface of the water, floating pond plants can provide a myriad of beneficial activities:
• They control the temperature of the water and keep fish comfortable and relaxed.
• Floating plants provide places to hide for aquatic life which lowers their levels of stress.
• They limit the available surface area for algae to grow.
• It is important to note that, while floating plants provide excellent benefits, they should not cover the whole surface area of the pond.  If they do, they block sunlight to deeper levels of the pond and can starve biological processes that are essential to a healthy backyard pond.

Bog plants, submerged plants, and floating plants all filter carbon dioxide and other materials out of the water.  All pond plants also provide shelter for aquatic life that keeps them relaxed and happy.

Purchasing pond plants

Even within these 3 categories there are literally hundreds of species to choose from and different species will thrive in different environments.  When choosing the plants that are going in your pond, there are dozens of factors to consider.  Optimal growing depth, optimal amount of sunlight, even the alkalinity of your pond can affect how different plants respond.  Most plants will list optimal growing conditions on their label but, just to be sure, it is always best to ask an expert.

Care and Maintenance

Just as with the plants in your yard or garden, each pond plant requires proper care to flourish.  Trimming off dead or dying parts of the plant, fertilizing, and controlling pests are all important to caring and maintaining your pond plants.  Make sure to familiarize yourself with the specific needs of your plants before purchasing.  High maintenance plants are never enjoyed by a pond owner who doesn’t want to spend time pruning and fertilizing his new investment, no matter how beautiful they are.  Be realistic and purchase plants that you’ll take the time to maintain and care for.