Pond Talk – Page 2 – Pond Advice For Small And Large Ponds

The Most Effective Way To Protect Fish From Herons

Pondshelter

For small pond owners with fish, there’s one thing you simply do not want to see hanging around your pond. And that’s a heron.

In actuality, any type of wading, fishing bird could spell trouble, but Great Blue Herons seem to top the list of trouble makers when it comes to goldfish or koi ponds. And they are effective hunters.

Stories abound from pond owners who have watched as their fish numbers dwindled with the arrival of one of these winged hunters. They are opportunistic, patient, and persistent, and they can cause a lot of trouble for valuable fish.

It should be noted up front that all of these birds are protected by law, so physical harm or eradication is really not advised. So a pond owner will normally turn to some type of defense. And we’ve seen a lot of them over the years.

So how do most of these tools stack up in the real world?

Well, the report on many of them really isn’t all that good. Despite what many marketing folk might suggest, decoys, sprayers, shiny lights and flashing things, are simply no guarantee that a bird will be deterred. I’ve come to think of Herons as a relatively smart bird, and when an easy meal is at stake, they’ll put up with a lot.

What makes the task of defense so difficult is that you can’t watch the pond from dawn till dusk. And one never quite knows when a bird will show up. In most parts of the country, spring and fall tend to be more common periods, but in reality, anywhere that Herons nest or winter could be viable territory for them.

So in the end, here’s the one tool that seems to work better than anything else…and it’s simple and probably won’t come as a big surprise.

Pond Netting.

Without question, the one thing that the vast majority of pond owners reported as effective was some type of pond netting. Ideally, the net should be elevated above the water, with some type of under-structure to support it. Any netting is really better than nothing, but for full protection, I prefer the elevated type. Make sure the mesh is relatively small and tight. It doesn’t have to be super small but a 1/4″ to 1/2″ mesh is ideal, and anything up to about 1″ is acceptable.

We often think of netting as a useful tool during the fall to keep leaves and debris out of the pond, but in truth, it’s a valuable thing to have around at any time of year. You want something that’s easy and quick to deploy as well. This isn’t something you would necessarily need to leave over the pond all the time (although you could). But in times of trouble, people simply got the best results from covering the pond until the intruder left the area…and usually that happens pretty quickly if they arent’ getting a few easy meals.

A BIG Pond Project

by Mark

Big Ponds And Design

This might be a bit beyond the ability level of your typical do-it-yourselfer but we wanted to showcase how a really big backyard pond get’s put together. Warning: It may take some heavy equipment!

Seriously though, you have to love the look and design of this masterpiece. It was constructed at Aquascape headquarters and it’s design, as well as breadth, is impressive.

Here’s a few details on the build.

The construction used over 1500 tons of stone with some rocks weighing over 50,000 pounds.

It has several waterfalls ranging from 24 inches up to 10 feet high.

It holds 300,000 gallons of water with multiple pumps driving about 150,000 gallons per hour.

And this is just the raw numbers…the beauty is in the details!

This just goes to show, with a little creativity you can do just about anything. Well, it helps to have the right equipment, knowledge, and manpower too!

To learn more about this amazing project and view the various stages of construction, Acorn Landscaping’s Facebook page.

Water Pumps For Ponds – What You Need To Know

by Mark

To maintain ponds in a pristine condition, one of the most important things that pond owners need to do is choose the right water pump for their ponds. However, there are so many types of water pumps for ponds that it is easy to get confused and end up buying the wrong one. Choosing the wrong water pump can turn out to be an expensive mistake which, in the worst case, would require you to buy a new water pump and carry out more work on your pond.

This article explains the different types of water pumps that can be used with your ponds. You’ll also find important information that will guide you in selecting the best possible water pump to suit your pond. By the time you have finished reading this, you would be well placed to make an informed decision about the kind of water pump you should buy.

Let’s begin by taking a look at the types of water pumps that you could use. These are:

1. Submersible Water Pumps

Submersible pumps can be installed directly in the deepest part of the pond, in a pond vault or in a skimmer box. These water pumps don’t create a ruckus while running and are very easy to install. Submersible pumps are available from 50 to 50,000 GPH and are usually the preferred choice for small ponds.

If the submersible pump uses oil, there is a chance of this oil leaking into the pond causing harm to any aquatic life that might be present in the pond. So if you have a pond with some fish of other life forms in it, you might want to use a submersible pump that doesn’t use oil.

2. External Water Pumps

External water pumps are the preferred choice for larger ponds (above 1000 gallons) because of their affordability, reliability and energy efficiency. While external water pumps are quite reliable, they do make some noise which can be quite distracting unless the motor is housed in a sound proof room.

3. Magnetic Drive Water Pumps

Magnetic Drive pumps require the least amount of maintenance and are very energy efficient in their operation. They do not require any sort of lubrication for their functioning. However, if your pond has a water fountain, this pump might not be the ideal choice as it cannot generate high head heights which are required for fountains.

4. Direct Drive Water Pumps

Direct drive water pumps are more expensive to operate but tend to work well with ponds that have a fountain or a waterfall. However, if these pumps break down it would require a professional to fix them as they can be quite difficult to repair.

Any of these types of water pumps for ponds could have some useful features that you might want to look out for. Your pond might be set up in such a way that it needs the pump to have particular features. These features include:

1. Solar Powered Pumps

If you live in a place which has a lot of sunlight through the year, solar powered water pumps for ponds could help you save a significant amount of electricity costs.

2. In-Line Pumps

All external pumps are in-line pumps which allow the pumps to draw water from a remote location using a hose to feed its inlet.

3. Utility Pumps

If the water entering into the water pump is likely to contain unwanted debris, utility pumps can be used to filter those out.

4. Heavy Duty Pumps

Heavy duty water pumps are generally made of stainless steel and have a longer useful life and better energy efficiency than other pumps. The downside is that these pumps are quite expensive.

If there is a particular feature that you pond requires the water pump to have, you should be aware of it and create a shortlist of pumps which have that feature. This will help you in narrowing down your options and simplifying your decision.

While buying water pumps for ponds, there are several factors that you should look at to increase your odds of making the best decision. These factors include:

1. Pond Size

The pond size dictates the size of the water pump that should be used. At minimum, the water pump should be capable of circulating the entire volume of the pond once every two hours. For example, if you have a pond containing 1000 gallons of water, the pump should be able to process 1000 gallons in two hours. The minimum capacity for a water pump for this pond would be 500 GPH.

A larger pump would be required if the pond contains a waterfall or a fountain. The size of the pump would then depend on volume of the pond as well as the height of the waterfall or fountain.

2. Price of the Water Pump

The price of the water pump is important but don’t let it be the driving factor in your decision. Only when all other things in two pumps are equal should you let price dictate your choice.

3. Operating Cost of the Pump

Water pumps for ponds operate almost continuously requiring a significant operating cost. You should factor in the energy efficiency of different water pumps and estimate the operating costs before buying a water pump.

4. Manufacturer’s Warranty

The greater the warranty period offered by the manufacturer is, the better are the chances of a headache free operation of the water pump. However, do a quick check to see whether the manufacturer has a history of honoring the warranties before you make a decision.

5. Customer Reviews

Finally, spend some time to read what other buyers have to say about the water pumps that you have shortlisted. A lot of these reviews can be found online and some dealers might even put you in touch with former customers so that you can learn from their experience.

A checklist created with the above mentioned features and factors should help you narrow down the options to a much smaller set of water pumps for ponds. Comparing a smaller number of options would be much simpler and will help you make an informed decision while choosing the most appropriate water pump for your needs.

Pond Supplies And Tips For Beginners

by Mark

Getting started in pond ownership can be a really fun activity but it’s not without it’s challenges. Beginners are faced with many things, not the least of which is questions about what they might need to care for their new pond, where should they put it, what’s used in construction, and what if I want fish? In this article, Debby Donald shares a few tips on what any new pond owner needs to know.

Creating a pond, or water garden, is progressively becoming more popular. There are many individuals who would love to start their own beautiful backyard rendition of an oasis, but do not know where to begin. However, there is work involved and it takes much more effort than just digging a hole, filling it up with water, and throwing in a few fish for good measure.

First of all, you need an exact plan to begin your water gardening project. This step is important, as it will permit you to incorporate other important objects like filtration into your pond idea.

Here are a few more tips for beginners.

Pond Supplies

Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer, or choose the pond kit route, there are essential pond supplies you will need. Those are:

1. a plastic or rubber pond liner
2. a waterfall filter
3. check valve discharge kit
4. spiral tubing
5. water conditioner
6. liner underlay
7. ultraviolet sterilizers (if green water develops)
8. netting
9. bacteria
10. magnetic-drive pump

Some of you may favor a particular type of fish, such as Koi. Koi ponds are normally created for more decorative, points of interest purposes. They should be especially designed to encourage the growth and healthiness of the Koi fish. The pond’s dimensions must be adequate enough to allow a four-foot Koi to swim around without any hindrances. It is important that Koi pond water is filtrated and exposed to air so that they have the best environment to thrive in as well. Ideally, the water temperature for Koi should be no less than 59 degrees Fahrenheit, and not more than 77 degrees.

Budget

The amount of your budget will determine the style and size of your pond. Building a water garden should be seen as an investment that adds value to your home. Securing your plans ahead of time will help to preclude missteps besides saving you time and expenses.

Location

Don’t:
1. place your pond in a wet area
2. place your pond under trees with falling leaves that will pollute the pond
3. place your pond in areas with power cords below the surface

Do:
1. select an area that receives sunlight for a minimum of half a day
2. place the pond where is can be seen easily from the home
3. at all times utilize a GFI, ground fault interrupter, or circuit breaker

Size

Since you might be adding animal life to your water garden, it is exceedingly vital to your fish survival that your pond is deep enough. This is to prevent all the water freezing in the cold winter months. The depth is usually from one foot to eighteen inches. The reason is that animals that live in ponds require a quantity of unfrozen water throughout the winter months. Ample water movement is critical to their longevity.

Miscellaneous

Shelves and shallow caves are perfect additional pond supplies if you plan to decorate with various plant species. The results are intriguing and they give a protected place for your fish.

Now that you have a few of the basics to start, your first ever water garden, take the time to do it well and you will enjoy the rewards.

Rain Water Collection for Small Pond and Water Garden Owners

by Mark

Rain water recycling is an eco-friendly thing to do. Not only can rainwater be used in general garden care, as well as other household enterprises it can also be used in small ponds and for water gardens. Small pond owners with fish ponds or water gardens may use a lot of water each year just keeping the pond filled. The reason that collecting rainwater is growing in popularity is due to the cost of water sky rocketing in various parts of the country. In some metro areas the cost of water has quadrupled in price. Those that are pond owners have started rainwater harvesting to use as an alternative to costly water systems.

Water conservation is a growing movement for environmental reasons too. Water may not be as plentiful as it once was and acquiring it can place a greater demand on the environment too, so when a simple system can be put in place that at least helps with this important work, many people feel like they’re doing something positive for the world around them.

Rainwater can be collected in barrels or collection systems and can be used to fill or irrigate the water gardens or surrounding areas. Even if rainwater is not the sole way that you keep your ponds filled with water it is certainly something to consider as adjunct to keeping your pond filled, and your fish and plants happy.

It is relatively easy to collect rainwater for use in a home project. Your local hardware store should be able to help you with this. One simply uses a system to attach to the downspout of their gutter and collects the rainwater as it falls. It can be done with a few simple materials and a little bit of ingenuity and legwork by the homeowner. It is fairly inexpensive to set up a home rain collection system, and it is beneficial to the environment.

The cost of using a rainwater system can be very economical because one does not need to install a complex solution. All you really need to to collect rainwater and use it in your fish pond or water garden is to get a 44 gallon drum and use some kind of a soaker hose to use the water elsewhere. In some cases, the hose may be set up to drain directly into your pond or water garden. However, in most instances this is not a good idea since the rainwater can be contaminated by your asphalt, roofing material or shingles. You might also live in an area where acid rain is a problem.

Probably the best method to use rainwater in a pond containing Koi or other live fish is to purify it first. This can be done by installing a drain or trap to catch any organic materials or contaminants that might serve to pollute your fish pond or water garden. For those who have doubts about the purity of their water they could test it for contaminants before adding to the pond or garden itself. Since most pond owners test the PH of their water on a regular basis it should be easy to make sure the water is not going to be harmful for the fish or plants in question. Purifying tablets for the water could help as well.

To keep a rainwater collection barrel or basin clean, and this is related more to algae formations, but the routine use of a liquid beneficial bacteria can be helpful, and it’s also good to keep the water in the pond cleaner too. Adding this about every two to three weeks during the summer months can be helpful.

Although collection of rainwater is eco-friendly and useful, it is not right for all pond owners. Those who live in an area that is prone to acid rain or pollutants may not find it to be a viable solution. For the vast majority of home pond or water garden owners though they may find this solution to be the most cost effective way to fill their ponds. There are step by step instructions on how to set up a rainwater solution for your pond or garden online. The costs are few and the benefits are many.

In these years of escalating droughts and high water costs, harvesting rainwater is going to be a way of life. Harvesting your rainwater and using for your water garden or fishpond is going to make you part of the solution and not part of the problem of using too much water, too often. Water conservation is certainly a good thing to do.

For pond owners that are worried about the effects of rainwater on their fish or delicate plants they can talk to experts in the field that can probably put their fears to rest. Koi are relatively hardy fish and should not be terribly bothered by the use of rainwater. The use of this ecologically sound practice should work for most home pond owners.

Predators And Your Pond Fish

by Mark

Some things just like to eat fish.

Take the Grizzly Bear for instance. There’s nothing quite as wild and dynamic as watching a big Kodiak dine on salmon in the Alaskan wilderness. It’s nature at it’s best.

But it’s a different story when the wild, and sometimes not-so-wild creatures start visiting your backyard fish pond. These uninvited guests can cause a lot of havoc on a Koi or Goldfish collection and it’s quite disheartening to see fish disappear, day after day, until there are few, if any left.

Threats can come in all shapes and sizes, however you have my deepest sympathy of all if you do have to fend off the aforementioned big bear. Most of what pond owners in the lower 48 have deal with aren’t quite as large, but they can be just as damaging to fish.

Avian Predators

From the air we can include, primarily migratory wading birds like Herons and Egrets. Ospreys and Eagles, which are birds of prey, generally won’t bother a smaller pond but may take advantage of fish swimming in a lake or river. So let’s focus our attention primarily on the first two birds mentioned.

Both Herons and Egrets are wading birds and while they can handle a bit of depth to the water, they don’t like to go too deep. Herons being larger can likely handle depths of up to a foot to maybe two feet but that would probably be pushing it’s limits. Egrets would be about half that before they start to get really wet. So rule numero uno is to have some depth in the pond if possible.

Depth is good for a small pond and fish in many ways, but suffice it to say, if they can go deeper, they will usually be safer.

Netting of various kinds, as well as fine line, strewn over the pond in a grid pattern has also been shown to be a useful deterrent because the bird’s can’t walk or wade around very easily, and in some cases, they can’t even get much of a foothold in the water. If the line is elevated higher, it may hinder some of their wing flapping during landing and deter them that way as well.

Devices such as flash bulbs, aluminum foil, sprayers, and decoys have historically had mixed reviews but are worth trying. In some cases, for example, decoys may help keep a bird away, but much depends on the time of year that they’re deployed. Although these birds are solitary by nature, at certain times of the year they’ll be about a social as your favorite chatty aunt who likes to go to bingo games on Friday night. Decoys may even draw them in during the breeding season, so beware and test this strategy out before leaving things unattended. Motion sensing sprayers and flashers can also sometimes help. Herons can learn quickly and while most birds may be deterred and agitated enough to leave, some may discover that no harm really comes from all the hubbub and stick around.

Keep in mind, like any other predator, wading birds are opportunists. Make it a little bit tougher in various ways for them to get an easy meal and they may depart, frustrated and hungry.

Land Based Critters

As the years go by and we hear feedback from more pond owners, it’s amazing to listen to their stories of enemy infiltrations. It’s long been known that animals like Raccoons and feral cats can cause some problems. A friend of ours actually found a dead and drowned Raccoon in her plastic lined pond and it was a big fellow too. He apparently went in wading after a fish and couldn’t get out due to the slick side walls.

Other additional intruders include Fox, Mink, and possibly other larger carnivores like Coyote or Black Bears.

Keeping some of these guys out of a pond can be a real challenge. Some are either small enough to get through netting, or big enough to not even notice it or be bothered by it. As with the birds noted above, deterrents may work for awhile but often the critter will adjust to it, or figure out a way around and still get to the fish.

If you’re really game to try something you could put up a small electric fence line around the pond and this might provide enough of a jolt to ward off any interested feeders. Just make sure you don’t get shocked too! In some states and locals, trapping and relocation may be possible but you’ll want to check with your state game officials on that one. In certain parts of the country such activity is deemed illegal and no animals can be harmed, relocated, or dealt with in any way. (I know it’s crazy to hear this but please, don’t shoot the messenger!)

A Good Defense Usually Wins

I’ve heard this applied to winning football games, but the term could also be applied to fish protection. A good defense will be hard to beat.

I mentioned depth being an asset above, but there are other things you can do to help your fish survive an attack. The key is really to provide them with adequate protection, and it could be said that proper training fit’s in here too. First of all, think a little bit like a hunter when you start putting rocks and things around the pond edge. Look for where a fish might be vulnerable and try to incorporate some overhanging flat stones and don’t allow easy wading into the water if possible. Shear drops are good for this, or at least creating a shear drop with surrounding material is helpful.

Protection at the bottom of the pond can come in several forms but one of the most useful and sturdy additions is a koi hut or tunnel. These are normally made out of plastic and they provide a secluded and protected place for fish to hide if they have to. There are times of the year when these devices will help minimize stress, even if you’re not on the immediate menu, and during times of attack, they provide a great hiding place.

Adding desirable surface plants such as floating lilies, or incorporating duckweed and other “coverage” vegetation can provide some natural protective, and concealing cover that fish can use to avoid detection in the first place.

Many fish eating birds, and thankfully many smaller mammals don’t really care for the presence of a larger animal nearby, so if you have an able bodied, hairy member of the family, and by the way, I’m talking about the canine variety and not your spouse’s burly and bald cousin, the very presence of having a dog nearby will keep a lot of trouble makers at a distance.

Before we go, let’s talk a little bit about fish training and how many people may, inadvertently be setting their fish up for a bad time.

Most of us really like to feed our fish, and we take great pleasure of connecting with our finned friends through hand feeding. I’m not going to stand here and tell you not to do it, but I will remind you that this type of “training” may come at a cost. Fish are wary at first, until they are taught otherwise, and when they are rewarded for coming to the surface and feeding from the hand, it’s not unusual for them to come up, lured through the Pavlovian response, and end up as the meal instead!

So if you really want to protect your fish, don’t make feeding a spectacle. Keep it as low key as possible and don’t train them to feed from the hand. Ideally you want a fish to move away from some unknown thing a long the shore line…the curious one’s may not last long.

When all is said and done, there are many things you could try to keep your fish safe. The types of predation will vary a lot and in some cases, they can be very hard to stop outright. Setting up deterrents of any kind (keep it legal) may be helpful and are worth trying, but perhaps the best options you’ll have will be in, on, and immediately around the pond. Anything you can do to make life just a little bit harder for an opportunistic thief will be a step in the right direction.

Do you have personal experience, and more importantly success in protecting your fish from predators? Please share your thoughts below…