Ok, so Im attempting to dig a pond in my backyard so that I might transplant my African Cichlids during the spring and summer months, outdoors. Any ideas from start to finish are great in regards to general construction, filtration, etc. My idea is that I will dig a big hole, use a pond liner and some rocks and fill it with water. Is there a more scientific approach that I am missing? All help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Outdoor pond in MD
- Thread starter scblur03
- Start date
Don't put the pond in direct sun, be careful of Herons, ferral cats, racoons, and other predators, make sure the pond is deep with steep sides...How big of a pond are you thinking about? If it is going to have any size, I would get a UV sterilizer. The sterilizer is the best thing I ever bought. Also I found out HBH Aquapure media or any other large sheet of filter floss and it pics up the little floating junk that the settling chambers miss. Those two together make my water sparkle (better than my tank) and get some snails, they breed a lot and make great food. Hmm, i think that is it for now.
Nope, that's pretty much it...All the rest is fluff. As in filter / pump / bottom drain / skimmer / return (waterfall or fountain or both) / overflow / light / plants (bog, intermediate, terrestrial etc.).
Of course you've already picked out the perfect spot with just the right amount of shade / sun to prevent algae or the water from being to cold.
And of course that perfect spot has no pipes / wires or is a drainage area and ground is clear of major rocks. And a lack of overhead wires / tree banches for birds to roost on (bird droppings are worse than having koi ( and that's saying something)).
Also a possible net cover for the insistant critters that think it'sd a buffet instead of a pond.
There is a motion detector sprinkler that may help out with critters and is quite humorous to the unsuspecting human too (that will teach those little kids).
Yeh, mostly just dig a hole..the rest is fluff.
By no means am I trying to discourage you, on the contrary I just want you to be happy with it. Plan a little, but have fun with it.
Did I mention picking out just the right gnome...
Good luck and keep us posted
Dr Joe
.
Of course you've already picked out the perfect spot with just the right amount of shade / sun to prevent algae or the water from being to cold.
And of course that perfect spot has no pipes / wires or is a drainage area and ground is clear of major rocks. And a lack of overhead wires / tree banches for birds to roost on (bird droppings are worse than having koi ( and that's saying something)).
Also a possible net cover for the insistant critters that think it'sd a buffet instead of a pond.
There is a motion detector sprinkler that may help out with critters and is quite humorous to the unsuspecting human too (that will teach those little kids).
Yeh, mostly just dig a hole..the rest is fluff.
By no means am I trying to discourage you, on the contrary I just want you to be happy with it. Plan a little, but have fun with it.
Did I mention picking out just the right gnome...
Good luck and keep us posted
Dr Joe
.