Lining a Pond

One of the most crucial aspects of constructing your pond is ensuring that you have enough pond liner. Having too little pond liner means you will need to rethink the size of your pond or you will have a pond that is not always watertight.

When measuring your pond you need to consider not just the length and width that you pond will take on the ground, but also the depth of the pond into the ground i.e. you need to know the pond’s volume.

A good rule of thumb is to measure up then add a couple of feet to both measurements. This will allow your rubber pond liner to sit slightly proud of your hole in the ground ensuring that your pond is fully watertight and that your pond water does not seep away.

Pond Filtration

Another essential part of building a pond is a good filtration system. If you look for pond filtration on the net you will find a good selection to choose from.

But what is it you need out of a filtration system? To achieve an efficient biological surface you must ensure that the water that enters the filtration is rich in oxygen. This helps the friendly bacteria oxidise the waste products through the nitrogen cycle. This is called aerobic filtration. Filter systems must fulfil the following criteria:

• The filter volume should be at minimal 10% of the ponds volume.
• The flow rate you should aim to achieve is to turn over at least half the ponds volume once per hour.
• The filter should have several chambers which can be which can be kept separate and emptied individually when cleaning. And a vortex should be included.
• The biological surface area should be at least one square metre per ten cubic metres of pond water.
• An ultra violet clarifier should be installed to eliminate single celled algae, which causes green water.

There are two main types of filtration. The first type of filter is called a gravity feed where water is removed from the pond via a bottom drain. Gravity then forces it through the filter which is sited buried in the ground close to your pond so that the water level in both your filtration and pond are the same. The water is then returned to the pond via a dry sited pond pump through an outlet in the side wall of the pond below the waterline. At this stage it is important to use a venturi on the outlet to oxygenate the returned water as the biological surfaces will have depleted the oxygen during oxidisation of the waste products.

The second main filtration type and probably the more familiar is a pressurised feed filter. This involves an internal solid handling pump at the deepest part of the pond pumping water through a flexible pipe up to the filter which is sited above the surface level of the pond, which allows the water to return by the forces of gravity.

Water Pumps

Without a good pond pump, a water garden is at the mercy of bacteria, lack of oxygen, and the settling of dirt and debris. In circulating and oxygenating water continuouslyd a dependable pond pump can do wonders for maintaining a healthy environment and balanced ecosystem in your garden pond. The water pump also plays an important role in safety by helping to prevent unwanted pests from breeding and infesting the area. You can find a wide variety of pond water pumps to fit every small pond application from good aquatic and water garden retailers.

If you are serious about having a garden pond whether its for wild life or koi, have a look round for pond and aquatics retailers that not only sell you the product but also provide good advice and after sales assistance.

A Landscape Masterpiece

A backyard pond is the kind of structure that can turn your average backyard into a landscape masterpiece.The pond is sometimes considered to be the centerpiece of a yard. As garden ponds have become increasingly popular, their expense has come down quite a lot, which has made them a lot more popular among the general public. Backyard ponds were a luxury for only those who could afford it in the past. These days however, with the current kits available, and with a little bit of work from homeowners, getting that perfect backyard pond of your dreams has become a luxury that most people can afford.

With the big rush for homeowners to integrate ponds into their home landscaping though, many do-it-yourself landscapers have made mistakes. Installing a garden pond in your backyard is not quite as simple as what everybody makes it out to be. During the construction of the pond there are several things that you need to take into consideration. The following are some guidelines on how to build that perfect pond the smart way. Remembering and utilizing these tips that I am providing, will help you to cut down on the amount of mistakes that most do-it-yourselfers make.

Tips and Tricks

The number one thing is to let your backyard make the decision. The first question that comes to mind is where to make the pond? In most other cases, your typical homeowner will just find an open spot out in the yard and immediately start digging a hole. The effect? Simply just the plain backyard with the pond. Home owners have to integrate the pond into their existing landscape. Failing to do this could result in the pond just being an eyesore in your property instead of what you wanted. Ponds that don’t blend in  can actually diminish from the beauty that they were supposed to instill.

When considering  constructing a pond, take the time to pick out a design and suitable spot that will flatter the over all design of the yard.Don’t just go grab a shovel and start digging in the first place you come across. Take the time to do your research, and if you still feel that something might be missing in your judgment, or you are just having trouble finding that right design, seek out some help from your friends or family. Two heads are always better than one.

Second, you should consider the highlights that are in your backyard now. If you want to breed Koi for example, you definitely will want to think about placing the pond in an area that gets plenty of sun. Warmth is an important element in maintaining fish population. If you put your pond next to a tree, you might find yourself having to clean up a mess of leaves out of it on a regular basis. All the elements that are in your backyard can have a huge impact on the amount of maintenance you have to provide as well as on the appearance of your pond.

In conclusion yes with ponds  size does matter. You need to make sure that the size of the pond will meet your goals. Some may build a small pond and place a variety of aquatic plants and animals only to find out that the pond cannot satisfy the necessities of the plants and fishes. Another thing to consider carefully is the depth of the pond. You really need to pay attention to this if you live in a colder climate. Your pond could likely freeze all the way through if it isn’t deep enough. Proper depth should also be considered when talking about size.

Building a backyard pond in you home can definitely make it more attractive. It is a fantastic way of making your outdoor living a lot more colorful and enjoyable. If you put it in correctly, it will add a lot of beauty that will raise the value of your property. However, if done poorly, your backyard pond can be incredibly stressful.

Read more on how to install a garden pond