Garden Fish Pond Selection Advice And Tips | FAQ & Answers Part 3
Welcome to part 3 of my FAQ's & Answers Newsletter series. Today I am going to try to answer some common questions relating to garden fish ponds and keeping ponds in general ...
I Want a Garden Fish Pond. What Do I Do?
The first thing that you need to do is to find a reliable source of information and products to ensure that you get what is adequate for your budget, size of garden, size of pond, type of fish to be kept etc.
A bad installation can be expensive to fix and also costly to maintain.
If you are not sure ask someone who can give you good advice. If the advice is sound and makes sense and can be backed up by example or published information then it is probably good advice.
What Do I Need To be Aware Of When installing A Pond?
The actual installation of the pond is often the most difficult part of the project. If you know what you are doing then this shouldn't be a problem.
However if this is your first pond then I would recommend getting help from an expert who has experience in installing ponds and landscaping in general.
Your local garden centre is normally a good starting point.
If you decide that the DIY approach is for you then take your time, get the pond to fit well into the excavated hole, create good back fill and edging support where necessary.
The majority of small ponds are usually preformed liner ponds. Make sure that the pond is level in the hole using a spirit level. Failure to do this will definitely result in a lopsided pond once water is added.
Medium sized and many large ponds are constructed from black plastic liner with butyl rubber and EPDM rubber being amongst the best materials to use. Look for a long guarantee; at least 15 years or more.
Click here to buy EPDM Rubber Pond Liners with 20 year guarantee ...
How Much Does A Pond Cost?
This is an impossible question to answer as it depends upon the size of the pond, equipment to be used, labor costs etc. As a rule of thumb go for a smaller pond and spend the rest of your budget on an Economical Pond Pump, reliable Biological Pond Filter and UVC Light.
That way you are less likely to be disappointed with the final outcome.
A small pond around 300/400 litres including all the relevant equipment can be installed within a day by unskilled people for around £300 - £400.
You should be able to get a pond of about 5,000 litres including equipment for around £600 - £800.
These garden fish ponds incur minimum running costs and require fairly low maintenance, if installed correctly. It is not vital that the brand of equipment we offer is used so long as you opt for high quality, economical alternatives.
What Should I Do before I Install A Liner Fish Pond?
There are a few things that you need to be aware of ...
- Avoid complex shapes.
- Remove sharp objects from the excavated hole.
- Line the excavated hole with old carpet, news papers or underlay before placing the liner in the hole. Liner is relatively thin (300 and 500 microns) and may be pierced by sharp stones that haven't been removed.
- Don't be concerned by the liner pleats that will inevitably remain in the pond.
- A dog is man's best friend but you may find yourself loosing patience should Fido's sharp claws puncture the lining if he or she decides to go for a dip.
What Are The Types of Garden Fish Pond s Available To Me?
This is a matter of personal choice but your available options are preformed rock like fibreglass, black plastic liners and concrete ponds.
My advice however would be to stay away from concrete ponds unless you are planning on a really large pond in which to house large fish including Koi.
Concrete ponds are expensive to build and do properly. Large Koi ponds for example need additional bottom drains and pipe work to be fitted. Leave this to the professionals.
For smaller ponds of up to 800 litres the easiest option is a rock effect fibreglass preformed pond. They are the simplest to install and are fairly low cost.
The cheapest construction material is black plastic liner. However this is more difficult to install than a preformed pond but on the other hand is more flexible in terms of the final pond shape.
How Do I Know How Much Water My Fish Pond Holds?
This information is very important as it will be a determining factor in the choice of pond pump, biofilter, UVC and many other factors, including how much of a particular chemical to add, should this be needed.
As stated in a previous article I don't believe that chemicals should be added unless absolutely necessary.
If your pond is square or rectangular and is the same depth throughout it is very easy - Length x Width x Depth in metres x 1000.
Example ...
For a fish pond that is 2 m length * 2 m width * 1m deep the volume of water = 4,000 litres.
If your pond is not a simple rectangle or square then you have to approximate. To make this job easier check out my Pond Calculators ...
Where Should I Locate My Pond?
Situate your pond where you can see it and sit close to it. There are a few things to look out for however:
- Avoid full shade but avoid full sun also. Partial shade is the best location.
- Don't place it near to trees that shed their leaves. Also be aware of planting near to poisonous trees or plants.
- Keep away from flower beds that you often fertilize as the fertilizer may leech into the pond.
- Don't place it near to your bedroom window as you may find the noise keeps you awake, tempting you to switch the pump off.
Remember! NEVER switch the pump supplying the biofilter with oxygenated water off, except for routine maintenance.
What Is The Best Advice Before I Get A Garden Fish Pond?
If you intend to keep fish in the pond and you want crystal clear water then please don't skimp on an Economical Pond Pump, reliable Biological Pond Filter and UVC Light.
These 3 pieces of equipment, correctly specified will remove 90% of possible pond keeping hassles.
If you are considering installing a pond, water garden or wildlife pool then check out the following article before you do ... It will give you some pointers and ideas ... What Do I Need To Know Before I Build A Backyard Fish Pond ...
