Frequently Asked Pond Building and
Water Garden Questions
1. Why do you gravel or "rock in" all your ponds?
First off, for many years the aquarium industry has capitalized on the use of rocks or gravel on the bottom of aquariums. Creation of the "natural system" using gravel provides an increased growing area in which bacteria can grow and process nutrients. As the fish release ammonia in their excrement, the bacteria in the gravel consume it and convert it to a form of nitrogen that is much less toxic to fish and is heartily consumed by the plants in the aquarium. The same theory holds true with ponds. The fish produce the ammonia, the bacteria break it down into nitrogen and the plants feed on the nitrogen. When this system is in balance, your water will be clear both in you aquarium and in your pond or water garden.
Secondly, the gravel, which is covered in bacteria, consumes all the fish feces, left over food, leaves, and the organic material to the point that they are mere particles. If you have nothing but a bare liner in your pond, the limited number of bacteria would not be able to consume all the waste and debris, therefore leaving a blackish brown muck or sludge at the bottom of the pond.
Lastly, but not least, is the protection gravel or rocks provide to the liner. The worst enemy of your liner is not the 500 pound boulder placed on it but the UV radiation that is radiating down upon it over the years. UV radiation has a tendency to slowly degrade the EPDM liner material in your pond causing it to weaken or crack. The gravel covering your liner acts as a protective layer against UV radiation.
2. How much time will I have to spend caring for my pond?
You will spend approximately 20 minutes a week on your pond. During the spring and summer months, you will need to empty your skimmer net once a week. This whole process takes about 5-7 minutes. The remaining 13 minutes is left to adding bacteria to your pond and occasionally checking the skimmer box and the water fill valve. THAT'S IT! Any other time you spend by your pond or water garden will be sitting next to it and enjoying your little piece of paradise.
3. What kind of plants and fish should I put in my pond?
There is a myriad of water plant catalogues available for you to choose all the water plants you would ever want in your pond. However, make sure you research each one carefully including sun requirements and growth rates. Almost every pond we build I suggest a hardy perennial lily species, a rush or cattail, and water hyacinth or water lettuce. If selected properly the water lilies, rushes and cattails will all return in the spring, but the water hyacinth and water lettuce are annuals in our zone, which is Zone 5.
The main fish that go into your pond or water garden are either KOI or goldfish. However, if you are a nature lover and want native fish. GO FOR IT. Although please remember most game fish are predatory fish and require more dissolved oxygen in their environment and tend to produce more ammonia. Therefore, you will need to stock your pond or water garden less aggressively.
4. What makes your system better than the rest of the systems out there?
The Aquascape Design™ Systems that we use are skimmer systems that work similar to a swimming pool system. The top 6-8 inches of water is consistently moving through the skimmer and through the BIOFALLS™ Filtration unit. With so much water movement occurring, the mechanical and bacterial filtration units are constantly moving and cleaning the water in the pond or water garden. This type of water movement and filtration is the key to the low maintenance aspect of the pond systems we install.
5. Will my pond increase the number of mosquitoes I have in the summer time?
Mosquitoes are attracted to stagnant areas of water where they have an opportunity to lay their eggs. With the systems we install you may actually experience a reduction in the numbers mosquitoes compared to previous years. The skimmer systems I sell and install as described in question are dynamic systems where the water is constantly moving via the sucking action of the skimmer. If any mosquito larvae end up in your pond, they are eventually swept into the skimmer and drown. Any mosquito larvae squeaking past the skimmer do not stand a chance. The KOI and goldfish in your pond love mosquito larvae. They can be seen jumping above the water surface to devour the larvae. Ponds and water gardens also attract dragonflies. Dragonflies love mosquitoes and will devour thousands of them every evening. Once the dragonflies establish themselves they will breed in your pond and will return in the spring to eat the mosquitoes brought in by the tire swing or upside-down Frisbee on the block. With all this action going on you can see how mosquito populations can be reduced in your yard.
For more questions e-mail us
