Pond people?

[Mrs Smith]

Hey all,

As many of you know, we're installing a water garden in the backyard. We picked up a 160gal hard liner this evening at the Home Despot ('cause it takes all our non-reef-earmarked cash...) and carted it home on top of the Saturn.

I think this is the final straw that will lead to us getting a truck in the near future, as we got some hilarous looks. Anyway, just wondering if we have everything we need, and words of advice. This big tub o'water isn't nearly as expensive as a reef, but it's a lot more lifting (see the good morning threads!)

We picked up a filter (rated for "medium" ponds) with a 300gph (I think) pump for the waterfall. Also some 5/8" tubing, chlorine/amine remover.

Are we missing anything big? And if anyone has tips, tricks or mistakes they'd like to share, we're all ears.


Danielle

[Doug1]

Danielle, sounds like you are on track for the assembly phase. How high will the water fall be? What about an auto top off to keep pond level OK. FWIW the chlorine wille degrade rapdly in sunlight and fresh air, not sure about the chloramine.
There are times when a truck is invaluable. The Ford Ranger 2wd base model 4 cyl has about highest mileage rating, well the mazda as well since they are clones. With the wee doggy I suggest a sliding rear window and xtra cab, with a canopy. Andy is over 6' as I recall and the xtra space is a lifesaver, plus room for purses daypacks camera bags etc that can be locked and hidden is a nice touch

[Mrs Smith]

Hm... He is most interested in the Toyota Tacoma at this point, but it will probably be the end of the summer (when we're done hauling all this stuff) before we take that plunge. We'd also be looking at a late 90s model. Don't know if that changes anything.

But really, this is a huge shift in thinking. When I started dating, the first question my dad always asked was "Does he drive a truck?" (implying that no hillbilly in a '73 pale blue chevy with a gun rack - standard issue, I swear - was taking his pride and joy out anywhere.)

The waterfall will only have 1- 1 1/2' rise to it - just enough for some water noise and motion. Rather than use the fountain option the kit came with, we figured we'd run a second line from that outlet to allow for an extra wide waterfall.

Hadn't thought about an auto-top off, but that's probably a good thought. I'd honestly figured that I'd manually do that with the ol' garden hose.

[ShirleyM]

Hi Danielle,

I sent your post to a friend of mine who runs her own pond business...she designs, builds, does the rockwork, sells all the equipment, installs everything -- pretty amazing work that she does. She also raises all sorts of Koi and Goldfish, Shebunkins (sp), water plants, and such.

She said this, "Yes, She needs HELP! Give some way to get ahold of her!
Thanks, Lynn"

So, I'm waiting to either get more info from her to post here for you, or to get your email address so she can reach you herself.

~ Shirley
ssmorgan@insightbb.com

[Mrs Smith]

Sure - we've been doing more research on the side, but I do hope I'm not "trusting the proverbial LFS" on this one.

Danielle

[ShirleyM]

Hi Danielle,

Lynn just wrote back to me. Ponds is her entire business...she's not an LFS. She also raises some freshwater fish besides goldfish and Koi, and has large freshwater tanks in her home.
Here's her response:

To your friend:

There is a LOT more to a pond than the manufactures lead you to believe!

1. Pump/filter is VERY important
2. Oxygenators are important for the fight with algae
3. Good bacteria ia also important for the balance, and water quality.

Take away any of these three.............YOU GOT PROBLEMS.

First of all, if you are wanting a waterfall with your pond, your 300 gal. pump will not be enough to do what you want.

For every foot that you pump AWAY from your pump (running a hose to the waterfall) you are loosing your volumn of water. At this point you will be lucky to actually be pumping barely 200 gph. AND you haven't hooked up a pump yet!

DON'T be lured into using a sponge filter that connects to your pump! BELIEVE me, it WON'T keep your pond filtered or clean.

If you are wanting a nice waterfall for your pond, then up-size your pump to at least a 500 gph.

Make sure you get a good filter for your pump.

Be sure to include Anacharis, for the bottom of your pond to help fight the algae that will build up. In a pond your size........at least 6-8 bunches will be good.

Make sure at least 50% of your pond's surface water is covered with lilies, floating plants, etc.

Remember........Any plant that sticks above your water is to look at, But ONLY the plants below the water, and the plants that float on top of your pond are the ONLY beeificial plants to your pond.

Always use a good bacteria in your pond ( for water clarity, balance,and for algae)

Trust me..........If you leave out any of the three things I have mentioned.........YOU WILL have problems with your pond.

I have 27 years pond experience, and I also own a pond and watergarden store.

If you have any questions I can help with, please feel free to email me at pondpets@indy.net

I try to check mail every day, but the store keeps me busy this time of year, so it may be several hours, or evening before I can get back to you, OR early in the morning.

Hope this has helped in some way,

Lynn

[Mrs Smith]

By "trusting the proverbial LFS" - I meant Home Depot and the packaging.

Let me double check that pump size - I was running through the list by memory, and it might be the 500. (We wondered about that, considering that a Maxijet 1200 only pumps a little less, and it doesn't have much head height at all...)

What she's said so far is the general gist I've been getting reading...

Having had a swimming pool at home growing up, I am definitely familiar with what happens when the filters don't work well. Anarchis was already on the list (seems to be a consensus plant), and we really only want goldfish that will eat the mosquito larvae - it's certainly not large enough to be a koi pond.

Lemme go check that pump...

Thanks Shirley!
Danielle

[ShirleyM]

You're so welcome! I'm glad Lynn could help -- she's just terrific with pond designs. I might have some pics to post...her ponds are very creative. She digs the area out herself, then puts the liners in to fit the design she makes, and so on. Very original!

Oh, and she also has a gorgeous Umbrella Cockatoo, a fiesty cockatiel, and a wolf/malamute dog.

~ Shirley

[Mrs Smith]

I don't think it's a sponge filter - when we opened it up at the store we had a good laugh, as it's full of bio-balls.

I can't tell on the pump, but we'll upgrade to the 500 if it isn't already. (Hm... would a Mag-7 run this puppy? I think we've got one of them lying around...)

I've been checking out the local water garden club page, and we'll probably get involved with them. At this point, I'm focusing on the garden areas, as there is a limited amount of time to get things planted - and I will have more time to plan the water aspect of it once the rest is taken care of.

Thanks again,
Danielle

PS. And I love bacteria - all reefers do!

[Mrs Smith]

Heh, I'm not that original in design - I figured the preformed liner would take care of that aspect.

What does she think of the Beckett line? I'm curious. (And I'd like to know if I'm buying the equivalent of a Rio!)

Danielle

[ShirleyM]

I'll ask her now. She just sent me some pics that I will post in a sec...

[ShirleyM]

Here's Lynn's response about Beckett products:

I personally don't care for Beckett products........I have had them all at one time or another.........

Pondmaster products are the best..........for a lot of reasons I don't have time to get into.

I go to 2 manufactures meetings a year.........I see them all, and by far, Pondmaster is the best.

Cal, Beckett, Tetra, Little giant(over priced) are not in my opinion up to the standards, durability, and performance of your Danner (pondmaster) products.

I have had, and tested them all.
~ Lynn

[asmith]

The pump is a 325 gph pump and the filter uses foam pads and bioballs.

Pump

Filter

Andrew

Edit: Looks like we may be returning the filter and pump!

[ShirleyM]

The links don't show me the products, just the main garden page for HD...

[asmith]

Doh. I guess it really doesn't matter since they will most likely be returned. I was looking around for Pondmaster pumps and found this . It looks pretty good and is actually cheaper than the one we got.

Andrew