What we would like to accomplish here is to create a place where people can

1) explore the possibility of creating a pond;
2) learn about the process;
3) get inside information on the pitfalls and other potential problems; and
4) get good advice and information about ponds, plants, algae, fish, etc.

We begin by saying that we claim only to know what we have learned by doing, what we’ve read from various sources, and what we have heard from other pond owners. Another important point to make is to remind everyone that not all information found on the internet is accurate. No matter what the topic. While we may aspire to be the “wikipedia” for the pond world, this will be a work in progress, as is Wikipedia. Therefore, any post found on this site must be considered in your personal context, and in light of what you know and what you can glean from other sources. Our plan is to debunk any bad advice or information, but we need to rely on the knowledge of everyone out there to do this. We know what we know. We want to know what you know, and we want to share that with everyone so that we all can accomplish being parents of a healthy, stable, and safe pond. This is not as easy as it sounds, or as easy as vendors would lead you to believe. But, the reward is very much worth the effort.

What we’ve read lately:

There are quite a few discussion threads going on out there that are fascinating reading. What is common to most of the posts is an air of authority and wisdom in which the content is set. One would be unwise, however, to take the information as gospel. Pond owners are by nature not malicious, so certainly the information is true for the person posting. For example:

On one site 2 different people posted that they had removed all of their plants because their Koi are so “destructive”. The first thought is how variant from my experience this is. My Koi are so peaceful. Then I think perhaps these are people who need more information from the rest of us. A pond without plants is certainly very difficult to manage in terms of the biology. And, certainly not as attractive. Why would their Koi be so destructive? Are they very large in a small pond, with young, fragile plants? Are they inadequately fed?

This is one of many issues one sees perusing the internet discussions. Perhaps you have thoughts and ideas for these folks. Here we can share useful information and product suggestions to make for a better, happier pond experience.

Please feel free to become part of PondForum.net!

There are a number of philosophies as to the best methods for keeping pond water clean and healthy. We would love to hear your experiences in this endeavor, and it can be grueling. From our perspective, here in South Orange County California, the use of chemicals is not necessary and does not, in fact, contribute to better living in the pond. As you always hear, your results may vary…

First, there is a difference between what is ideal and what is realistic, and healthy. Everyone wants to have a pond with crystal clear water and a pristine bottom with beautiful rock, etc. When we built our pond, we went to great lengths to arrange different colored rock along the sides and bottom. It was a thing of beauty indeed. And, it was visible for about as long as it took to place all of that beautiful rock. Now, after 3 years, it is mostly covered with fluffy algae of more or less thickness. The fish really like to munch on that stuff, but it doesn’t go away.

Also, on a nice sunny day, the water sometimes will experience an algae bloom, where the suspended algae reproduces and mirks up the water quite nicely. Not the most visually appealing, but certainly a sign of a healthy pond. Again, the fish don’t seem unhappy about it.

So, what is the problem? It’s a matter of aesthetics actually. One can go to great lengths to have clear water at all times, and that certainly is beautiful. Realistically, it is a lot of work and frustration, and it may not be the best habitat for fish and plants. Our pond has a primary and a secondary filter. At the collection point, the skimmer, there is a debris net and a filter mat. We find our water stays mostly very clear if we clean the debris net and rinse this filter mat each week. The suspended algae is thereby nicely managed without chemicals, UV lights or other additives.

String algae is a different challenge, and we rely mostly on manual removal, which can be a daily task part of the year. We all know how fast strings will grow if they are left unchecked. Barley logs and plants compete for oxygen, surely keeping the algae count lower than it may otherwise be, but if you have a well aerated pond, there is plenty of O2 to go around. In retrospect, we may have installed a UV light in the return line (if we had known about them), but we opt not to use “chemicals”. There are some natural additives with which we have had good luck from AquaScapes Designs. Find their link in our “Products” list (none of the products listed are ours, nor do we profit from their sales; we just like them). We occasionally use SAB as a water additive if the suspended algae count seems to defy our weekly rinse off. And, using their Eco-Blast on the waterfall rocks, from whence the string algae seeds, helps keep it controlled. We have read a couple of posts on Amazon from people who say these products killed their fish, and don’t know what to make of that, other than to be concerned that the directions were not followed exactly. NEVER add anything to the pond without knowing exactly the intended application and without following the directions precisely! If you don’t know the volume of your pond, a necessity when using these additives, figure it out! Don’t guess. Here is a link to help:

http://www.overthegardengate.net/garden/pondcalc.asp

In sum, we are happy, as are our aqua kids, with a relative state of water clarity. Not everyone would be.

So, what do you think?