Page 4...Tips to Ponder

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~ PONDER THESE TIPS ~

Here are some tips and ideas that may help you in the planning, construction and upkeep of your pond. We will be updating them regularly and we encourage you to send us any tips that you may have. We will post them here so that fellow ponders can learn from your experiences.

They are in no particular order except for the first three. They deal with important safety issues.

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG

1-888-258-0808 is a toll free number available for on sight surveys. This is a free service in which a representative of your local utility companies will come out to your house and mark the location of all underground lines and cables. In most states, this is required by law before any digging, drilling or excavation is done. This also exempts you from any legal or financial responsibilities, should a line be hit that was either not marked or mis-marked. This phone number is valid and operated 24 hours a day in the United States and Canada. They do, however, require 48 hours notice.

GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER

Known also as G.F.I., these are electrical outlets that are usually found in kitchens and bathrooms and other areas where electricity is likely to come in contact with water. They are designed to shut off the power at the first sign of an electrical short, usually 1/40th of a second or less, which is long before an injury can occur. Please make sure all of your outdoor lighting, pumps and fountains are plugged into a G.F.I. outlet. They are available at any home improvement store for around $10.00.

PONDS AND CHILDREN

There will most likely be times when you will have small children around your ponds, whether it be your own kids, your grandchildren, etc. Water by itself is a natural attraction for any small child, not to mention the added enticement of fish and flowering plants. Never leave a small child unattended around your pond. Apply all the same safety rules to your pond that you would to a swimming pool.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Two important factors to consider before deciding the location of your pond are...

: A. Run-off; Heavy rains can wash fertilizers and pesticides from your lawn into your pond.

: B. Sun exposure; Most flowering plants need a certain amount of sunshine each day in order to produce flowers. Water Lilies for example, need at least 6 hours of full sun in order to bloom. On the other hand, too much sun will promote algae growth and high water temperatures in the summer.

POND CALCULATION

Location has now been established, you probably have a general design in mind of what you want your pond to look like, there are several other things that can be very useful before actual construction begins.

: FOR EXAMPLE

: A. How much liner will be needed for the size and shape of your pond?

: B. Knowing the capacity of your pond in gallons will help you determine the size of the pump and filter that will be needed.

: C. Knowing the total surface area will help you calculate the number of fish that your pond can safely accommodate.

: D. How many and what types of plants will be required to maintain an ecologically balanced environment for the size pond that you have chosen.

: All of the answers to these questions and more can be found at Chuck Rush's pond calculator. It is a very valuable tool for both those who are in the planning process as well as those with established ponds. You can also find his home page in our "favorite links" section.

FILTRATION

Your pond is dependent upon you to provide proper filtration. Mother nature provides this in a natural setting with plants and micro-organisms, which live in the soil. In an artificial environment, such as a backyard pond, there are special needs. Chemicals, such as ammonia and nitrites, build up to harmful levels, this is why a biological filter is so important.

CONSTRUCTION TIPS

: A. Pond depths; Ponds should have various depths, allowing fish to have a choice of different water temperatures. A typical pond should vary from 18 to 32 inches deep to ensure the survival of fish and plants through seasonal changes.

: B. Underlayment; It's important to have a protective barrier between the liner and the soil to act as a cushion. A few good options are sand, old carpet or even layers of dampened newspaper.

: C. GFI and pump placement; The pump should be located at the far end of the pond, opposite from the waterfall or the filter. This will provide full circulation of the water. Some pumps have short cords, therefore, the electrical outlet, (GFI), needs to be at the far end of the pond as well.

Plan on using a pump that will move the total water volume of the pond at least one or two times per hour.

You can avoid having the pump cord exposed by placing a piece of 1/2" pvc under the rocks leading up to the outlet. Cut the plug off of the cord, feed it through the pvc and replace the end with a weather proof plug.

Silicone and water.

Building a filter will require using silicone on the threaded fittings. Most silicone is not rated for under water use. (This was news to me) When purchasing yours, be sure to read the fine print. There is a marine grade silicone on the market but it can be hard to find. I recommend using a small squeeze tube of aquarium silicone which can be purchased at almost any pet supply store.