Since each pond and pondless water feature has to fit within a certain area of a yard, our pond and pondless kits are put together based on our customers specific dimensions. Often times, they will come into our store with an idea of what they want, but they're not sure how to get started.
Our complete pond or pondless kits, come with help of the design (if wanted), accurate measurements, complete parts & plumbing, proper pump, hose & filter size, as well as any other accessories they may want to enhance the beauty of their water feature.
10 things to consider before building your own pond
1. Q. What type of pond do I want?
A. First you have to decide if you want a koi pond or a water garden pond. If you want a koi pond, you will have to build your pond deeper (min. 3.5' deep) and your filtration system will have to be larger in order to accommodate more fish waste. Typically a bottom drain is used in a koi pond. Most water garden ponds are built at 2' deep. Normally, a smaller filter and pond plants are used to keep the pond clean.
2. Q. How large should I make my pond?
A. The size of your pond depends on the type of pond you choose to build. However, most people tell us they wish they would have built their pond larger. Looks can be deceiving when staring at an empty hole. By the time you rock in your pond to give it a natural look, a lot of the surface area disappears. If you want an 8 x 10 pond, dig a hole that is 10 x 12.
3. Q. Where should I place my pond?
A. Placement of your pond will depend on where you would like to see your pond from. One thing to keep in mind, if there are large oak trees in the area you would like to build, you may want to move your pond. Leaves and debris will fall into your pond making it harder to keep clean.
4. Q. Is it better to use rubber liner or concrete?
A. Rubber liner is the most cost effective and efficient way to build a pond. If you are going to build a concrete pond, you will need to gunite it like a swimming pool. To gunite a pond of any size, you will spend several thousand dollars in the concrete and rebar alone. Over time, typical concrete will crack and you will have to seal it with epoxy paint every 3-5 years or cover it with liner. Rubber liner (45 mil) has a minimum 40 year life and will never crack when the ground settles.
5. Q. How important is a filter?
A. Whether you are building a koi pond or water garden pond, filtration is key in keeping your pond clean. There are two types of filtration, mechanical and biological. Mechanical filters physically remove debris from the pond, whereas biological filters remove fish waste and excessive toxins from the water. A benefit of a biological filter is that you can eliminate the use chemicals in order to keep your water clear.
6. Q. What type & size pump should I get?
A. You have to take into consideration how long your stream is, how tall your waterfall is and how much flow you want to see. There are two basic types of pumps: submersible and external. Typically, submersible pumps are not as energy efficient as external pumps. Their advantage is that they cost less and they are easier to plumb in. External pumps are very energy efficient and they are easily accessible outside of your pond.
7. Q. What size pipe should I use?
A. Pipe size depends on the size of pump you purchase. Normally, the higher the flow rate of your pump, the larger the pipe size you will need. Typically, a pump that is over 3000 gph will use a 2" pipe size.
8. Q. How important is a skimmer?
A. No pond should be built without a skimmer! There are many advantages to a skimmer. Skimmers prevent leaves and debris from settling on the bottom of the pond. Since your pump will sit in your skimmer, it won't clog like it might if it was sitting directly on the bottom of your pond. The last advantage to a skimmer is that it provides easy access to your pump, should you need to service it later on.
9. Q. What is an ultraviolet light and do I need one?
A. An ultraviolet light is a type of filter that kills algae cells. UV lights help prevent green water, but do not do anything to combat string algae. Ponds that get a lot of sunlight have a greater chance of having water quality problems. To decrease the amount of maintenance and chemicals used on a pond, a UV Light is always recommended.
10. Q. How many fish can I put in my pond?
A. The recommended stocking rate for a pond is 1 fish per 100 gallons.
