A Pond From Scratch
Getting it right from the start - Location and size of pond...
The location:
A vital consideration for a healthy pond is choosing a suitable
location. Therefore, plan carefully where you would like to
construct your pond.
Choose an area in medium shade that is open to the south and
west with approximately 4-6 hours of sunshine a day, The north
side of the garden is therefore less suitable.
A architectural pond can be constructed close to the house. A
biotope however should be situated in a quieter area of the
garden. An area underneath trees is not really suitable due to the
shade and the falling leaves.
When you decide on a location for a pond you should also
consider your neighbours: The noise of a fountain or watercourse
can irritate some people after a while and has caused more than
one argument between neighbours in the past. Frogs can sometimes
create an incredible level of noise that can rob people of their
sleep. Last but not least you should consider the important
subject of safety i.e. for children.
A further important factor to consider is the water supply and
the disposal. The pond water can be tap water, rainwater or water
from a well. Pure, sterile tap water is not recommended for fish.
However certain additives can change the water quality so that it
provides a good medium for fish to live in.
You should never use rainwater for the initial fill of the
pond. It lacks minerals and carries pollutions from the air.
Therefore it should never be used directly but only for topping
up. It is unavoidable that rain will enter the pond. Hence it
should be treated regularly to compensate.
Well water is not suitable either for the initial fill.
Generally it lacks oxygen and carries substances from various
layers of the soil, which could be harmful to occupants in the
pond. Therefore check the water quality before the initial fill.
Finally you have to account for the use of filters and pumps
right from the start. To provide plants and animals with an ideal
living environment it is important to choose the correct location
for the filter and pumps to enable effective operation.
If you plan to install lighting systems you need to consider
the need for power supply, cable and switches. Don't forget you
will need to use and approved RCCD (Residual Current Circuit
Device).
So in brief:
- Choose an open and sunny location with an average exposure
to sunlight of 4-6 hours.
- Do not construct your pond underneath trees.
- Choose a quiet place for a tranquil haven for wildlife
- Ensure the availability of a water and power supply.
- Check the location for the pond, i.e. back garden or close
to the house (personal choice)
- Are you planning to keep fish ?
- Decide whether you want to use a pond liner, a pre-formed
pond or to build one ...
Continued: for the benefits of our webmaster ...
The Pond Size:
Teh decision for the size and shape of the pond should be
deterined by your own preference, and the size of the garden and
the intended location. In any case, the sie of the pond plays an
important part for the biological balance of the pond.The larger
the pond is, the more natural the visual effect, and the better
the conditions for plants and animals. If you intend to keep fish,
especially Koi, your pond will need a minimum depth of 1m (1.3 m
for Koi) to provide an ideal living environment especially in the
winter, if you do not intend to heat your pond, as so many are
doing today.
Take a look at this table below which is designed to give you
some rough guidelines for the calculation of the pond size and
water volume.
Getting it right from the start - Location and size of pond...
The location:
A vital consideration for a healthy pond is choosing a suitable
location. Therefore, plan carefully where you would like to
construct your pond.
Choose an area in medium shade that is open to the south and
west with approximately 4-6 hours of sunshine a day, The north
side of the garden is therefore less suitable.
A architectural pond can be constructed close to the house. A
biotope however should be situated in a quieter area of the
garden. An area underneath trees is not really suitable due to the
shade and the falling leaves.
When you decide on a location for a pond you should also
consider your neighbours: The noise of a fountain or watercourse
can irritate some people after a while and has caused more than
one argument between neighbours in the past. Frogs can sometimes
create an incredible level of noise that can rob people of their
sleep. Last but not least you should consider the important
subject of safety i.e. for children.
A further important factor to consider is the water supply and
the disposal. The pond water can be tap water, rainwater or water
from a well. Pure, sterile tap water is not recommended for fish.
However certain additives can change the water quality so that it
provides a good medium for fish to live in.
You should never use rainwater for the initial fill of the
pond. It lacks minerals and carries pollutions from the air.
Therefore it should never be used directly but only for topping
up. It is unavoidable that rain will enter the pond. Hence it
should be treated regularly to compensate.
Well water is not suitable either for the initial fill.
Generally it lacks oxygen and carries substances from various
layers of the soil, which could be harmful to occupants in the
pond. Therefore check the water quality before the initial fill.
Finally you have to account for the use of filters and pumps
right from the start. To provide plants and animals with an ideal
living environment it is important to choose the correct location
for the filter and pumps to enable effective operation.
If you plan to install lighting systems you need to consider
the need for power supply, cable and switches. Don't forget you
will need to use and approved RCCD (Residual Current Circuit
Device).
So in brief:
- Choose an open and sunny location with an average exposure
to sunlight of 4-6 hours.
- Do not construct your pond underneath trees.
- Choose a quiet place for a tranquil haven for wildlife
- Ensure the availability of a water and power supply.
- Check the location for the pond, i.e. back garden or close
to the house (personal choice)
- Are you planning to keep fish ?
- Decide whether you want to use a pond liner, a pre-formed
pond or to build one ...
Continued: for the benefits of our webmaster ...
The Pond Size:
The decision for the size and shape of the pond should be
deterined by your own preference, and the size of the garden and
the intended location. In any case, the size of the pond plays an
important part for the biological balance of the pond. The larger
the pond is, the more natural the visual effect, and the better
the conditions for plants and animals. If you intend to keep fish,
especially Koi, your pond will need a minimum depth of 1m (1.3 m
for Koi) to provide an ideal living environment especially in the
winter, if you do not intend to heat your pond, as so many are
doing today.
Take a look at this table below which is designed to give you
some rough guidelines for the calculation of the pond size and
water volume.
Use our Pond Volume Calculator Below
Consideration of course must be given to what you use to
construct your pond ... will you be using a liner - or will you
decide to build a pond using concrete blocks or bricks ... and you
can learn more about 'Pond Construction' on our pages covering
that subject ....
We hope that this information above may help you if you are at
this moment considering building either a simple garden pond or
going for a much more lavish arrangement to house Japanese Koi
Carp ... is there any other worth consideration ? |
