By Coralie Raia Darsey-Malloy
This article was published in my column Perspectives on Healthy Living years ago when David and I first moved to the country after leaving life in Winnipeg...a large urban city where we were raised. We have since graduated to much larger ponds and we love them. We have one that is around 900 gallons and it is an eco- pound. The smaller one is where we have fish and for anyone so inclined we highly recommend the time and effort it takes to create a pound...even a small one. They add so much beauty and tranquility to any space.
So here is our foray into ponds and pond life:
Water ponds are fast becoming the latest trend in gardening. I was not aware of this until David and I moved out to the country and wanted to have a tranquil water setting in our own yard. When we decided to pursue our goal we found there was a considerable amount of information out there. Much of this focused on how to dig the pond, lay the liner, fill it and there you go. We decided to be different and use an old ceramic bathtub. This became the first step in our adventure the creation of an outdoor pond. We began digging, digging AND digging! The first thing the reader should know is that you need to be in relatively good physical condition to get your pond into the ground. If not, find someone who is!
After the tub was in, we did not like the look of it because it was, obviously a white bathtub sitting in the ground. Even though we tried to vary the way it looked by angling the position--it still did not create the right ambiance. Attempting to change the appearance is not a simple task. If anyone is contemplating a similar move here are a few things to remember not to do. Do not try to paint the tub to change the appearance.. We could not find anything on the market that will adhere to the ceramic base once the pond is full of water. We made the mistake of trying to change the color of the tub by spraying it with a fleck-tone paint in an earthen color. It held around the edges, but has continued to flake off into the water and we have been unwilling to risk pond-life. As a result, we ended up using a small circulating pump to keep the water from becoming a mosquito pond.
The other error we made was filling the bottom with limestone and bricks, which we later found out can leach into the water and be unhealthy for plants, fish, snails, etc. At the end of the season, we did discover four salamanders hiding among the plants. So we strongly advise against making the same errors in judgment if you want to have a healthy pond.
The next problem we had to confront was how to fill the holes where the taps and plug were. My partner, David got a metal plate and used a silicone sealant to cover the holes and put a rubber bathtub plug in the bottom. The sealant did not hold, and the pond can only be filled part way. We learned afterward that it would have been better to put rubber underneath and around the plate before sealing it. Too late now, so you might want to try that if you happen to find a ceramic tub that you want to turn into a water garden.
Fall came early last year that year in Manitoba. An pre-winter snowstorm came at the end of October, and we did not have time to empty the pond. As a result, the water was murky with debris and needed bailing out in the spring. The water plants did not over-winter properly, so we were back to square one. Undaunted, we marched off to a local greenhouse to try again.
We bought a number of plants and decided to make a couple more ponds. At the end of last season we had purchased some very sturdy wading pools. We made a tactical error by placing one pond in the front yard--just in time to catch all the seeds from the trees. OOPS, something else we had not considered. Deciduous trees nearby make keeping the pond clean much more challenging than if placed further away. "Oh well, this is all a learning experience," or so we kept telling ourselves. After a few days of observing the plants, and thinking the water would be fine, we decided to add a couple of snails and a fish. The fish died within twenty-four hours. The snails were hardier. They continued working hard all summer to keep algae in check and are continuing to do so in our indoor aquarium over the winter.
Positioning the third pond correctly made it easier to maintain. We kept a few plants and snails, in it but no fish or salamanders. The one lone salamander left in indignation when we put the fish into HIS turf. Once he bumped heads with the rather large black plycostemos (algae eating bottom feeder) recently placed in the water, he scrambled up and out of the pond. At that point we were feeling discouraged because we had inadvertently killed a fish and annoyed a salamander and we had no creatures in any of our ponds. We were beginning to wake up to the fact that this type of gardening is somewhat more demanding than we had originally thought. However, that did not stop us.
We went to Minot, North Dakota for a few days for a mini-vacation. We found a steal of a deal on a 185 gallon pond, and proceeded to bring it back to expand our pond horizons. More back-breaking ground breaking. Dig, dig, dig and dig some more. Make sure it is level, with no rocks to pierce the plastic. Fill it up and bingo--another chance to make things work. Another alternative is to purchase pond liners to fill the hole for the water. Areas or “shelves” for shallow plants need to be built in, which is why we opted for a pre-fab mini-pool. There are a number of excellent books that illustrate how to lay the liner correctly if anyone is interested in going that route.
Filling the pond is the easy and fun part. Once the water level is where you want it--then what? What do you put in it? Deciding whether it will be can echo-pond, a fish pond, or an ornamental pond is an important first step. Things are much easier to set up with a sense of direction. We did not have any when we started, and had to learn along the way. After two years of trial and error with all three we have concluded it is just a matter of time, money and pre-thought. Outlined below are the three types and some of the pros and cons of each.
THE ECO-POND. This type of pond is the closed to the way Mother Nature sets up her water systems. The environment in this pond is maintained through plants and whatever amphibians, snails or reptiles you might be fortunate enough to attract. If things are set up properly-- they will come. I recall how excited we felt when David found salamanders gobbling up insects in our little back-yard pond. We did not have to advertise we had a water space for rent, they knew. We were all happy with their residency. Suggestions for this type of pond are:
So here is our foray into ponds and pond life:
Water ponds are fast becoming the latest trend in gardening. I was not aware of this until David and I moved out to the country and wanted to have a tranquil water setting in our own yard. When we decided to pursue our goal we found there was a considerable amount of information out there. Much of this focused on how to dig the pond, lay the liner, fill it and there you go. We decided to be different and use an old ceramic bathtub. This became the first step in our adventure the creation of an outdoor pond. We began digging, digging AND digging! The first thing the reader should know is that you need to be in relatively good physical condition to get your pond into the ground. If not, find someone who is!
After the tub was in, we did not like the look of it because it was, obviously a white bathtub sitting in the ground. Even though we tried to vary the way it looked by angling the position--it still did not create the right ambiance. Attempting to change the appearance is not a simple task. If anyone is contemplating a similar move here are a few things to remember not to do. Do not try to paint the tub to change the appearance.. We could not find anything on the market that will adhere to the ceramic base once the pond is full of water. We made the mistake of trying to change the color of the tub by spraying it with a fleck-tone paint in an earthen color. It held around the edges, but has continued to flake off into the water and we have been unwilling to risk pond-life. As a result, we ended up using a small circulating pump to keep the water from becoming a mosquito pond.
The other error we made was filling the bottom with limestone and bricks, which we later found out can leach into the water and be unhealthy for plants, fish, snails, etc. At the end of the season, we did discover four salamanders hiding among the plants. So we strongly advise against making the same errors in judgment if you want to have a healthy pond.
The next problem we had to confront was how to fill the holes where the taps and plug were. My partner, David got a metal plate and used a silicone sealant to cover the holes and put a rubber bathtub plug in the bottom. The sealant did not hold, and the pond can only be filled part way. We learned afterward that it would have been better to put rubber underneath and around the plate before sealing it. Too late now, so you might want to try that if you happen to find a ceramic tub that you want to turn into a water garden.
Fall came early last year that year in Manitoba. An pre-winter snowstorm came at the end of October, and we did not have time to empty the pond. As a result, the water was murky with debris and needed bailing out in the spring. The water plants did not over-winter properly, so we were back to square one. Undaunted, we marched off to a local greenhouse to try again.
We bought a number of plants and decided to make a couple more ponds. At the end of last season we had purchased some very sturdy wading pools. We made a tactical error by placing one pond in the front yard--just in time to catch all the seeds from the trees. OOPS, something else we had not considered. Deciduous trees nearby make keeping the pond clean much more challenging than if placed further away. "Oh well, this is all a learning experience," or so we kept telling ourselves. After a few days of observing the plants, and thinking the water would be fine, we decided to add a couple of snails and a fish. The fish died within twenty-four hours. The snails were hardier. They continued working hard all summer to keep algae in check and are continuing to do so in our indoor aquarium over the winter.
Positioning the third pond correctly made it easier to maintain. We kept a few plants and snails, in it but no fish or salamanders. The one lone salamander left in indignation when we put the fish into HIS turf. Once he bumped heads with the rather large black plycostemos (algae eating bottom feeder) recently placed in the water, he scrambled up and out of the pond. At that point we were feeling discouraged because we had inadvertently killed a fish and annoyed a salamander and we had no creatures in any of our ponds. We were beginning to wake up to the fact that this type of gardening is somewhat more demanding than we had originally thought. However, that did not stop us.
We went to Minot, North Dakota for a few days for a mini-vacation. We found a steal of a deal on a 185 gallon pond, and proceeded to bring it back to expand our pond horizons. More back-breaking ground breaking. Dig, dig, dig and dig some more. Make sure it is level, with no rocks to pierce the plastic. Fill it up and bingo--another chance to make things work. Another alternative is to purchase pond liners to fill the hole for the water. Areas or “shelves” for shallow plants need to be built in, which is why we opted for a pre-fab mini-pool. There are a number of excellent books that illustrate how to lay the liner correctly if anyone is interested in going that route.
Filling the pond is the easy and fun part. Once the water level is where you want it--then what? What do you put in it? Deciding whether it will be can echo-pond, a fish pond, or an ornamental pond is an important first step. Things are much easier to set up with a sense of direction. We did not have any when we started, and had to learn along the way. After two years of trial and error with all three we have concluded it is just a matter of time, money and pre-thought. Outlined below are the three types and some of the pros and cons of each.
THE ECO-POND. This type of pond is the closed to the way Mother Nature sets up her water systems. The environment in this pond is maintained through plants and whatever amphibians, snails or reptiles you might be fortunate enough to attract. If things are set up properly-- they will come. I recall how excited we felt when David found salamanders gobbling up insects in our little back-yard pond. We did not have to advertise we had a water space for rent, they knew. We were all happy with their residency. Suggestions for this type of pond are:
(a) As mentioned earlier, place any pond as far away from deciduous trees as possible. The spring pollination and falling leaves can be a real problem. A small pond will quickly be full of debris from nearby trees that will decompose and algae will form.
(b) Do not put anything in the water for at lease 48 hours after the first fill. The chlorine and fluoride are very unhealthy for anything. Let it sit. Then look into water oxogenators such as duckweed, horns-wort, water lettuce or parrot plants which can be purchased at many garden centers. These float in or on top of the water and help to establish a natural environment. Other plants such as water hyacinth, lilies and water iris are also oxogenators and are attractive as well. They provide shade for frogs and salamanders who need relief from the heat and direct sunlight. Adding snails to the water help keep the algae under control.
(c) Once a pond is established it is not a good idea to fiddle around with the water. Never drain a pond after things are in place. Let nature take its course. Adding fluoridated water to an eco-pond can be disastrous. There ere are micro-organisms that are invisible to the naked eye. They need a stable environment to survive. Many greenhouses are catering to the needs growing interest in water gardening. These centers can be a wonderful resource to help handle any problems that arise. There are products that break down algae blooms if it becomes too prolific.
FISH PONDS. The idea of having fish in our pond was very appealing. . So we proceeded to stock our pond. Getting them through the first 48 hours is the difficult part. We learned the hard way (after losing a couple of really attractive ones). It is stressful for fish to be moved from their existing water to a new site. They are very temperature sensitive and need time to acclimatize.
When bringing them the transport bag is usually filled with water from their original source. Float the bag on top of the pond for at least a half an hour so the water temperature can stabilize. If you have a thermometer that can read the lower temperatures of your pond it you could ask the pet store to take the temperature of their water. This makes it easier to avoid dramatic extremes in water temperature.
If there are extremes, then float the bag for 45 minutes. Usually, 30 minutes is adequate. After that time period, open the plastic bag and add about a cup of water from your pond. Then close the bag back up and float it again for 15 minutes. Continue adding water to the bag every fifteen minutes until the bag is full of water from the pond. Then slowly open the bag and let the fish out into their new home. There are also products on the market that help to reduce the effects of environmental changes and keep their gills healthy. There are different types available. Make your own inquiries--it is the best way to learn. Do not feed the fish for about 8 hours after their initial entry into their new home. They need time to settle down and not having their digestive tracks burdened while under the stress of being acclimatized Some things to consider for this type of pond listed below:
(a) Fish need care and attention. I was appalled by one person’s attitude when I asked them what they were going to do with their fish over the winter. They casually said, “Just let them freeze, I will buy some more in the spring.” I am sorry this cavalier attitude about wildlife is part of the reason we are losing them at an alarming rate. Granted fish are not as cuddly as a kitten or a puppy, but they are a life form, and a responsibility.
We chose to buy a 135 gallon aquarium to over-winter our seven that survived out of the ten we had. They will not be going outside next year. We decided it too difficult to maintain a fish pond when we wanted to go camping. They need to be fed, the pond needs to be cleaned and the filters monitored so they do not clog up. It is also necessary to purchase a filter-pump system for fish. The filter removes excess particles from the water. The pump re-cycles water to the surface of the pond. This is necessary to keep oxygen in the pond so the fish can breathe properly. They breathe in the water. If the water is unhealthy, the fish die. It can be a challenge to find the proper balance in a filter that adequately breaks the water, but does not splash too much on the plants. Many of the water plants do not like to have their leaves pounded by the water from a fountain.
(b) Fish need shade from the hot sun. This requires healthy plants such as water lilies or water lettuce, which can be expensive. Then these plants also have to be over-wintered if you live in a cold climate. We have not had much success in over-wintering our water plants and for the two years we have been dabbling we have spend a small fortune on them.
ORNAMENTAL POND
This type of pond is nice if you have a large enough area. Setting up a fountain in the middle with marginal water plants around the edge looks attractive, especially once the lilies and hyacinth start to flower. Other floating water plants can help to keep the algae in check. The sound of a rippling water fall is very relaxing when a pond is set up close to where people like to congregate.
Another positive side to the fountain that birds attracted to the sound of running water. They bathed and drank in the pond and added so much to our garden. Some ornamental ponds have fish in them, others do not. It is all an individual choice. The criteria have been discussed previously. The set-up for this pond is the same as the other two, but the advantage to they type of pond is that there is less responsibility. Keeping the algae down and giving the plants some fertilizer once a month or so is about all there is to it.
Our water garden is a source of great pleasure. It is a place we go to still our minds. We put ornamental lights around it and sit beside it on our swing. The green and blue lights give the pond a mystical feel and the sound of the water gently breaking the water creates a great meditative space. At the end of a hectic day the pond is there. In the early morning the joy of seeing birds bathing and chirping in the day made all of our challenges in setting it up well worth our time and effort.
If you decide to set up any kind of a pond you might just find a few frogs and salamanders who also appreciate your creation. If you are fortunate enough to have them come, be thankful. Frogs and salamanders are environmentally friendly pest controls. They eat massive amounts of insects that normally ravage the garden. Some of our friends were squeamish when we proudly informed them of our guests. We just leave them alone, they will do not harm anyone and they do a whole lot of good for your pond and your garden. In the fall they will bury themselves under a rock and wait until the spring to rejoin the rest of the wildlife that will be sure to be attracted to your enchanted corner of the universe.
Here's a photo of one of our ponds. We now have two and enjoy the peace and serenity they add to our yard.
