I wanted to show a couple pics (sorry these pics are so small) of two pond systems that I set up several years ago. Both used a "swamp" which was constructed just like a pond, but only a foot deep, and after the rubber liner was inserted, it was refilled with sand and dirt. The water is pushed from the pond up to the swamp, and gravity feeds it back.
In this first photo, you see the 12x6x4 pond in the foreground. There is a short "stream" connecting it to the "swamp" which is at top (lotus leaves).
A single pump is the only equipment used on the pond. The pump is hooked to a garden hose which runs the water to the top.
Here is a photo of the swamp. The small pool in the foreground is part of the "stream" that connects the swamp to the pond -- I just used small scraps of rubber liner to make the pools. The lotus in the swamp grew like mad. Beautiful leaves. 100% coverage of the 14x14x1 swamp in about 9 months. After that, it just got more and more dense (with taller lotus leaves).
This pond is in northern Florida. (low of 35, highs above 100 (avg year).
Here is a picture of a much larger "swamp". It's about 25x15x1. The plants used include Japanese Iris, Elephant ear, Hyacinth, and some other water loving plants.
Unfortunately I don't a have any digital photos of the pond.
The main point about this type of system is that you can have AMAZING water quality if you use a natural system and keep it in balance. Instead of spending a lot of time on maintenance and a lot of $$$ on equipment, this type of system allows for beautiful displays without chemicals, filters etc.
The basic rule I've used is to have the surface area of the swamp be the same (or more) than the surface area of the pond. I like ponds to be about 4 feet deep, so the liner for the swamp is smaller because it is only a foot deep.
The pump only needs to push water up thru a hose, and no need for a lot of volume. The water that comes out of the swamp has practically zero nitrogenous waste (all ammonia, nitrate, etc has been consumed by the emergent plants).
Granted, this type of system requires BALANCE. The pond hooked up to the above swamp is 35x15x4 with 2 dozen koi and uncountable smaller fish (100+). Given that load (the koi are all a foot long), the water was crystal clear with no measurable nitrate. Eventually some of the smaller fish might need to be removed as the koi get larger (and messier).
I always use some scrap pieces of liner to create a "stream" between the swamp and the pond. This adds some oxygen to the water, and thus benefits the pond's inhabitants. Also, the sound of the stream attracts local birds etc (may be something to consider in your area given the local wildlife!)
I guess the best part of this kind of pond system is that it looks really natural and only requires water top off during dry spells. There's no filter to clean and no cleaning needs to be done in the swamp unless you'd like to swap out different plants.
The water is also so crystal clear it reminds me of a rocky mountain stream. I like to say "you can read the brand of golf ball if it is sitting on the bottom".
I've built similar systems in New England and the results were very good. During the non-frozen months, the swamp kept the water crystal clear. When the ponds freeze over, the system is shut off, and you might want to move your prized fish to an indoor system. But as long as it is above freezing and the pump can circulate and the swamp's plants stay alive, then the water quality is stellar.
In this first photo, you see the 12x6x4 pond in the foreground. There is a short "stream" connecting it to the "swamp" which is at top (lotus leaves).
A single pump is the only equipment used on the pond. The pump is hooked to a garden hose which runs the water to the top.
Here is a photo of the swamp. The small pool in the foreground is part of the "stream" that connects the swamp to the pond -- I just used small scraps of rubber liner to make the pools. The lotus in the swamp grew like mad. Beautiful leaves. 100% coverage of the 14x14x1 swamp in about 9 months. After that, it just got more and more dense (with taller lotus leaves).
This pond is in northern Florida. (low of 35, highs above 100 (avg year).
Here is a picture of a much larger "swamp". It's about 25x15x1. The plants used include Japanese Iris, Elephant ear, Hyacinth, and some other water loving plants.
Unfortunately I don't a have any digital photos of the pond.
The main point about this type of system is that you can have AMAZING water quality if you use a natural system and keep it in balance. Instead of spending a lot of time on maintenance and a lot of $$$ on equipment, this type of system allows for beautiful displays without chemicals, filters etc.
The basic rule I've used is to have the surface area of the swamp be the same (or more) than the surface area of the pond. I like ponds to be about 4 feet deep, so the liner for the swamp is smaller because it is only a foot deep.
The pump only needs to push water up thru a hose, and no need for a lot of volume. The water that comes out of the swamp has practically zero nitrogenous waste (all ammonia, nitrate, etc has been consumed by the emergent plants).
Granted, this type of system requires BALANCE. The pond hooked up to the above swamp is 35x15x4 with 2 dozen koi and uncountable smaller fish (100+). Given that load (the koi are all a foot long), the water was crystal clear with no measurable nitrate. Eventually some of the smaller fish might need to be removed as the koi get larger (and messier).
I always use some scrap pieces of liner to create a "stream" between the swamp and the pond. This adds some oxygen to the water, and thus benefits the pond's inhabitants. Also, the sound of the stream attracts local birds etc (may be something to consider in your area given the local wildlife!)
I guess the best part of this kind of pond system is that it looks really natural and only requires water top off during dry spells. There's no filter to clean and no cleaning needs to be done in the swamp unless you'd like to swap out different plants.
The water is also so crystal clear it reminds me of a rocky mountain stream. I like to say "you can read the brand of golf ball if it is sitting on the bottom".
I've built similar systems in New England and the results were very good. During the non-frozen months, the swamp kept the water crystal clear. When the ponds freeze over, the system is shut off, and you might want to move your prized fish to an indoor system. But as long as it is above freezing and the pump can circulate and the swamp's plants stay alive, then the water quality is stellar.
