Couple questions for a pond.

[barnsaw]

Hey all, been lurking and admiring and now finally gonna ask some questions.

First off back story. The girlfriends father decided that he wants a pond come spring time. GREAT!!! He has a couple ideas, on a two tier system, resevoir filter type... blah blah blah. Lots of ideas are floating around. Last night we were chatting about and he mentioned something about it being as self sufficient as possible. Now comes my question. How big, how many plants and how low a stocking would fall under "self sufficient"? I know it's a broad question, but heck any thing in the ball park might help decide one idea over another. Also anybody here from southwestern ontario that give some insight on how deep to dig the pond to allow fish to over winter with either a bbbler or heater ring it would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks in advance all and have a good one.

 

[Muske]

By self suffecient does he want small fish that will breed and provide food for larger ones?

Once he has the pond it will in no way be self suffecient. He will out there looking at it, interacting w/it and playing around w/stuff. He will see the fish and I am pretty sure he will not be able to resist to feed them. I look at my pond several times a day (it mostly frozen right now)and can say I will never have another home that does not have one.

 

[Dr Joe]

In your area a self-sufficient pond isn't going to happen, it's more like an assisted pond. With freezing conditions a bog will have to be restarted every spring (and if you wait for Mother Nature to do it it will be to late in the year).


Depth for over-wintering fish is at least 2ft below the frost line (you can find out how deep this is from your agricultural extension agent or a concrete company even).

There is a need for circulating water, as the water will tend to stratify otherwise, so a pump it necessary. For a "self-sufficient pond" turn the water 1x - 2x per hour.

Line pod with 45 mil EPDM liner.

Use a gravel bottom to act as a biological surface for bacterial growth.

If you use a bog, line it also and fill with sand (water will flow thru the sand & roots to filter it) and plant with alot of cattails.

Then waterfall to the main pond. Use alot of water hyacinth & water lettuce (free floating) (replace every spring) and lilies (potted). Plant the bottom with several areas of Egeria densa (Anacharis) opposite the waterfall, if legal in your area.

Do not subject the pond to all day sun, or create shade for the pond (cover).

Limit the aquatic life in the pond.

At least this is a start.

Keep us posted (and make a friend with a backhoe )

Dr Joe

.

 

[barnsaw]

That's kind of what I figured would be the case "self sufficiency" wise. Well I'm gonna talk to him and place a couple calls to determine the frostline and hen talk to him again and see if he's still gonna go with the idea. opefully yes.