What do you do when it rains?

[Matt724]

Yes, what do you pond keepers do when it rains outside? Wont it affect your water level, your pH levels, etc..?

Its just something that's been on my mind since I joined this site and looked at these amazing ponds.

Also, how do you keep natural predators from entering your pond (i.e. lizards, fish-feeding birds, frogs?

Any responses?

 

[Camshaft Ramrod]

rain = free water change

 

[Muske]

Water level can be controled w/an overflow.

Rain water shouldn't effect parms. to much to worry about. I never have and the fish don't mind the rain.

 

[Camshaft Ramrod]

And as far as the cranes that eat the fish, fishing line works well. Tie fishing line from branch to post to whatever nice and tight. Making sure that it's not going to come off and wrap around a bird. Then whenever a crane comes along and close lines himself, he'll get agitated. He does that enough times and he'll stop coming around.

There's a place close to me called Cranes Roost Park. If you look above you along the boardwalk you can see wire to keep away the birds. I always thought it was a little Ironic. Doing that to keep away cranes at a park called Cranes Roost...

 

[Chelydra Serpentina]

couple inches of rain in a pond isnt a big deal....if it rains a lot...sure water comes out the overflow...but water evaporates from a pond too, so a free addition is nice

 

[Matt724]

and reptiles that walk into your pond such as lizards or snakes?

 

[Camshaft Ramrod]

Iguanas are legal to kill in Florida. They taste great grilled with a little lemon...

 

[Matt724]

Iguanas are legal to kill in Florida. They taste great grilled with a little lemon...

Oh, you live in Florida, I live in SoCal and we have hundreds of lizards and freak weather so I guess an outdoor pond would not be a great idea right?

 

[farawayinn]

lizards eating fish?

 

[HarpoGarza]

Oh, you live in Florida, I live in SoCal and we have hundreds of lizards and freak weather so I guess an outdoor pond would not be a great idea right?

Not necessarily. I'm in Nor Cal which is a bit different, weather wise. I have friends with awesome outdoor ponds. There's not a whole lot of lizards big enough to eat pond fish and none of them are native to CA. As far as snakes go, unless you live close to a field I don't see that being an issue. My dad has built pools and ponds for 30+ years and I asked him all of these questions a few weeks ago and he looked at me like I was an idiot. He assured me that so long as I have an overflow and an awesome filter and heater that he could build an awesome pond in my yard pretty cheap. So looks like this summer I'll be breaking ground on a 6 or 7000 gallon pond. Home equity is pretty much gone out here, so I won't be getting a pool anytime soon so might as well get pond that I can actually afford.