What should i do if i wanted to dig up a pond in my back yard. Is there a way i could keep the water clean without a filter?
2007-02-20 11:47:42 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
You will certainly want to use a pond liner as well as the above.
MM
2007-02-20 11:54:50 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Honestly with no running water it will go stagnant. Natural filtration is possiable but not just by digging a hole in the ground. You can have a natural system, but you will need pumps to circulate the water. A subpump will do.
Remember however, if you over stock pond fish that is 1" of fish for every square foot of surface water your fish will not last too long.
There are so many things to think about and yes you can have your pond in direct sun light, lakes ponds and rivers are in direct sun.
There will be more maintenance with a no filter pond, more vegitation requirements and YOU MUST MOVE THE WATER. With no movement in the water the fish cannot have any dissolved oxygen. This is the oxygen they breath.
Break down and spend the 150 clams and get a pond filter.
2007-02-20 21:43:54 · answer #2 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might be able to keep a pond clean without a mechanical filter, but if your pond is to be anything more than a birdbath, you will almost certainly want something to keep your water moving, which would be a pump. And if you're going to used a pump anyway (which you should, to avoid "dead spots" - parts of your pond in which pools of ammonia or other harmful substances may gather - in water of any depth and also to discourage mosquitoes), it is a simple matter of diverting your pump output through a veggie filter before it goes abck into your pond.
A veggie filter is just a simple box made of 2x4's (DON'T use treated lumber!) with alternating baffles protruding into the middle from either side, but connected to the outer frame on only one end of each baffle. Then, line the bottom with gravel and plant some heavy feeder type plants (like yellow water iris) in to small laundery baskets. Drop the baskets into the spaces between the baffles, run your pump outlet in one end and the other end of the veggie filter back out into your pond.
The iris are attractive and will grow to cover the baffles and everything - you can design it to suit your particular tastes and hide all hose, etc. Plus, the iris suck up all the nitrates out of your water, while the baffles slow down the water flow and let the sediment drift to the bottom so the water going back into your pond is aerated, clean, and ammonia and nitrate free. The only maintenance needed is once every other year or so, lift your iris out (that's why you plant them in laundry baskets!) and shovel all the muck out of your gravel (you may have to replace it).
I know a woman who runs a a very successful retail and wholesale koi nursery out of her backyard (for about 5 years now, that I'm aware of) in a 4,000 gallon pond, and the only thing she uses for filtration is two of these veggie filters, about 2'x8'. She has another pond for fry that is about 2,000 gallons, and the veggie filter for that is about 4'x5'.
Hope this helps.
2007-02-20 21:32:13 · answer #3 · answered by Poopy 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The most important plant is Anacharis. This is an underwater plant that uses up the nutrients that would otherwise feed the algae. For ponds and water gardens under 25-sq. ft. use one bunch for every square foot of pond surface area. For ponds 25 to 100 sq. ft. use one bunch for every two square feet of surface area. For ponds 100 to 300 square feet use one bunch for every three-sq. ft. of surface area. Use one bunch for every four square feet for ponds over 400 square feet in size. If you are keeping koi then a smaller upper pool or plant protectors will be needed to keep them from eating the Anacharis.
2007-02-20 20:23:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pond liner, sand.Koi, snails and some quality aquatic plants. Plus a pump to circulate the water.
Check with your local landscaper, it they are not specialists in ponds they can direct you to someone who is.
2007-02-20 20:04:51 · answer #5 · answered by Enchanted Gypsy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After you dig the hole, line it with a tarp. Not too much sun but not too much shade and the algae won't grow. Catfish help clean the water. Add fresh water every now and then too.
2007-02-20 19:56:18 · answer #6 · answered by Ben 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you have the right balance of sun and shade...plants and fish, it shoud be clear.
2007-02-20 19:50:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋