I am thinking about making a very low maintenance outdoor in-ground pond. What features would I add to the pond to make it as low maintenance as possible. Obviously, Im going to have a filter. Any designs better than others? I have a UV sterilizer that was previously used on a salt water tank. Would this also be usable for a pond? I know larger ponds are easier to keep the water chemistry stable than small ponds. I know deeper ponds are better for keeping fish alive in the winter. Im in MI so thinks do freeze over here. Our neighbor has a pond and she has a bubbler to keep the pond from freezing. I think I will do that. Are there any type of easy plants I can keep in there? What would I do with them in the winter? Can any of them survive over the winter in the pond? Should I add a small fountain or other decorative water feature, like a waterfall? What would the pros and cons of those be? Is there any certain place they should be located, like the deep end? I would be keeping feeder goldfish and smaller comet-like goldfish. No koi, too big.
