There are many factors to consider when creating a fish pond design. There is nothing worse than installing a fish pond and having problems with the location of the pond. Building many fish ponds myself, I would like to share my experience with you. I have made mistakes, but I have learned from them by doing research with other pond builders. These are the main factors to consider before you start building your own fish pond.
- pond locationFirst of all, you need to consider the location of your pond. The pond should be located where it will get some shade from the afternoon sun. Consider yourself sitting in full sun without protection, the same goes for fish. If you’ve ever fished in a lake where the sun shines brightly, how do you find the fish? Right, in the shade. It is important to watch the afternoon sun and where the shadows are cast, this will help determine the location of your pond.
- soil type-Another important factor to consider is the type of soil you will be digging your pond into. Is the ground rocky or just dirt? Unless you have a backhoe, you’re probably digging your fish pond by hand. That is why the type of soil is so important. If you have a knack for digging then you could use the precast type liner, but for all my ponds I prefer the rubber liner. The rubber lining gives you more flexibility with your design.
- Electricity for your pond-You must take into account the electrical power of your pond. You will need a circuit for your pond for the pump motor that will carry the water from your pond through your filter media. Other electrical items to consider are lighting, UV light, and anything else that may need power. Remember not to locate your pond far from the electrical supply, or the cost will be higher depending on the distance. Be sure to consult an electrician if he is unsure of himself with electricity.
- filtration pond-There are many ways you can do your filtration, but what I suggest is to base your choice on the size of your pond. Naturally, a larger pond will need better filtration. Many larger ponds use a skimmer box in conjunction with a waterfall containing filter media. My rule of thumb is to always size your filtration to the next size based on the number of gallons of water in your pond. There are many types of filters available; pressurized, non-pressurized, above ground, in pond seepage. If you base your filtration on gallons of water, you’ll be fine to select the right system.
- pump motor-There are basically two types of pump motors; submerged and above ground. I have used both types. Here are a couple of things to consider. If you have a large pond and it is more than 4 feet deep, you may want to stay away from the submerged type of pump. For obvious reasons, maintenance that requires lifting the pump can be quite a chore if you need to get into water that might be over your head. In this case, you would need a higher water pump. If your pump is accessible by hand, a submersible pump will work for you.
As you can see, there are many things to consider when creating a fish pond design. I have just shown you the main factors to consider. There are other things to consider once you have your pond installed. For more information on ponds and fish, please visit our website.