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Anyone advise on garden pond?

  • 27-05-2009 5:58pm
    #1
    slavetothegrind
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,789 ✭✭✭


    Hi ALL,

    new to these parts and all things gardening but now i have a project.

    This is for a patio construct incorporating a pond for fish.

    Any and all advice appreciated here! I am reading it up but nothing beats experience.

    Thanks in advance


Comments

  • #2
    Carlow52
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,389 ✭✭✭Carlow52


    think safety for kids/grannys but not politicians:D

    ensure the paving around it is as much non slip as u can, when wet

    make provision to cover it with netting against herons and white tailed eagles: herons yes the other is a joke:D


  • #3
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭Orion


    If there are kids involved a rigid frame just below water level will protect them and from herons.


  • #4
    slavetothegrind
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,789 ✭✭✭slavetothegrind


    Thanks for the replies,

    will incorporate frame to prevent accidents.

    Are there other measures to deter herons? Apart from pet eagles and large cats:pac:


  • #5
    Eurorunner
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,393 ✭✭✭Eurorunner


    If you run a google search, you will find a couple of specialist forums on there for pond / fish keepers. Those headz will tell you all you need to know (albeit that you have to bear in mind that they are serious hobbyists - so maybe inclined to overspecify how its to be built and what kit to use, etc).

    Some of the more important factors ....

    1. Spend the extra €€ and get a Butyl Rubber liner (PVC liners don't last...even the ones that claim 10+ year lifespan).
    2. Make sure the base of your pond is 100% level.
    3. Make sure the depth and volume of your pond is sufficient to support whatever fish/plants etc you want in it - most common mistake by all accounts is insufficient volume.
    4. Decide on what fish you want and what size pond you want - based on this, you will need to work out if pumps/filters, etc are required.


  • #6
    slavetothegrind
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,789 ✭✭✭slavetothegrind


    thanks eurorunner!


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  • #7
    Carlow52
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,389 ✭✭✭Carlow52


    joeclif wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies,

    will incorporate frame to prevent accidents.

    Are there other measures to deter herons? Apart from pet eagles and large cats:pac:

    I would not be happy with the underwater frame idea as a child can drown in 1" water and what leg support would it provide if a child steps onto the water: I would think the frame is actually more dangerous.JMO

    My neighbor has 2 full size plastic herons which the real ones land on:D


  • #8
    gollyitsolly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 674 ✭✭✭gollyitsolly


    I would also think where will all the excess water go when or if it overflows. Remember all the rain we had last year?


  • #9
    nulabert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭nulabert


    Having dug a pond years ago, here are a few important pointers:

    Location, Location, Location. Don't put it in a corner or in the shade. If its in the shade, the water will go green. (Well it prob will go green anyways!!)
    Don't put it under a tree, the leaves don't agree with the fish and will require more regular cleaning.
    The liner as pointed out by Eurorunner. But the plastic ones are handy - they shouldn't leak
    The level of the bottom is not as important as the top. Make sure that the top where you are putting the slabs around is spot on otherwise you'll see the water level and slabs higher or lower etc.
    If you're putting in a liner, there is no harm in putting in a sump so when you're emptying the pond, a submersible pump will take nearly all the water out.

    Good look with it. Try in stock it with fish from the same shop in one go. We had 12 pond fish (v big gold fish) and 4 Koi (japanese i think - about 10 inches long). We had them for a few years and then we got a present of a gold fish from a friend. Anyways, the little fecker had a disease or something and within 6 weeks, all the old fish were dead and the little fecker swimming around!! Maybe its a coincidence- i doubt it


  • #10
    Kaldorn
    Closed Accounts Posts: 299 ✭✭Kaldorn


    i have just completed the lining and filled it with water and it looks good so far..i had a plastic pond liner from Atlantic and this proceeded to leak so i drained it used the original one as a base and put Butyl over it which is 20 times better even when it takes the weight of the water you get less creases and its maleable too..so far so good but my problem is that the pond is actually less than a foot away from a hedge and its mostly in the shade but i dont want to start from scratch? is there any plants that will keep the ater clear? also i do want to put a pump in but being very new to this id like to get one that as inobtrusive as possible any ideas folks? also any tips on installing a very small waterfall on one side? and lastly i edged it with fairly big granite rocks the last time but I they are just too big so i am picking up some edging stones in homebase they seem to have the best ones i have seen yet..any input appreciated


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