Wildlife pond

looksee · 29-03-2026 10:09PM

First flowers in the pond for this year, lots of things budding but this is the first to actually flower.

10-10-20 · 29-03-2026 10:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349881#Comment_124349881

That's very clean looking. The surface area of the shingle acts as a a big biological filter, so you benefit there as opposed to mine which is a plastic pond with an external media filter to provide surface area.

magicbastarder · 30-03-2026 09:48AM

i've a leak in the pond again - an old one, the patch came off in that recent spell of really wet weather, right during spawning time. it's a pain to fix as i need the level of the pond to drop a couple of inches below the leak to patch it again.

Thargor · 30-03-2026 09:57AM

My bond is still a big algae filled mess again at the start of year 3-4, apart from hedgehogs drinking out of it and lots of water beetles shooting around down there there's nothing of interest biodiversity-wise to report again. all the oxygenating plants have survived the frosts and are starting to spread already so hopefully it improves this year. A couple of water lily pads already opening on the surface aswell.

I can at least see to the (algae covered) bottom in half of it now so thats some improvement but Im wondering if now might be the time to go collect a sample from the bottom of a healthy pond and add it to see if I get something that will start eating algae and clearing the water a bit. No sign of frogspawn again.

magicbastarder · 30-03-2026 10:32AM

i've said it before, but i think there must be something nutrient rich getting into your pond. if you've been removing the algae, it should have stopped appearing within weeks (based on my limited experience)

looksee · 30-03-2026 12:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350352#Comment_124350352

My water lilies are still sitting there, thinking about it. I'm getting a bit of spagnum moss in the pond, which is easy enough to get out, but the whole garden is covered in the stuff. There's still time for alge as the pond is still cold, as it warms up I will see how things are, but having the pebbles in a lot of it seems to be helping.

Maybe take as much water as you safely can out of the pond, put in some 20mm pebbles, even if its just a couple of those bags you can buy and refill with preferably rain water. Wash the pebbles before putting them in though, I have been buying the loose ones and they look fine but are very dirty when you put them in, make a scum on the water.

Do you have turf or soil of any sort on top of the edges of the liner? That might be how nutrients are getting in?

Sorry if I am stating the obvious (or wrong) here, I am no expert!

10-10-20 · 30-03-2026 01:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350614#Comment_124350614

A quick piece of guidance based on looksee's info. It's the nutrient both in the water and around the pebbles which is allowing the algae to grow. It's held in the water as nitrogen based compounds (such as nitrate and nitrite) and leeches out of decaying plant matter. The largest source in a natural pond (with no fish) is leaf-matter, which breaks up and falls between the pebbles and becomes a sludge; but runoff, atmospheric deposition, and as components of source water are also significant sources. Taking out the leaves is by in far the most effective way of dealing with excess nitrogen in the system.

Washing pebbles is one way to cut it down, but the objective is actually to remove excess organic matter from the base of the pond and only to rinse the pebbles in pond water (not tap water due to the chlorine!) as this will leave the beneficial organic slimes and algae attached to the surface of the pebbles. Those beneficial slimes and algae actually break down nitrates and nitrites by consuming them and out-competing the pea green algae. And don't let the pebbles dry out either as many of those bottom dwelling slimes are anaerobic, meaning that they live and exist in low oxygen environments.

Adding a pump and fountain or waterfall is beneficial too as this creates very active communities of aerobic algae (oxygen dependent), which again out-compete the green algae and work to keep the water clear. Oh - and planting lots of pond plants in suitable pond soil (and not common soil/clay), is another tool to manage green algae. As I said before, various mint plants are good for ponds as they build significant foliage and stems, so they consume the nutrients quite quickly (and can be trimmed back quite easily).

So that's my view on the nitrogen cycle from about 5km high (ie, very simplistic).

Thargor · 30-03-2026 01:15PM

No its a preformed pond and the lips are higher than the surrounding ground slightly, soil definitely isnt flowing in anyway with the rainwater, it had a layer of river pebbles on the bottom but maybe I need to add more. Definitely nothing getting in besides some leaves and a load of seeds/pollen at the end of last year.

Im wondering if its too popular with the birds, they're always washing and drinking in it in the mornings but they hardly crap in their favourite water hole do they?

10-10-20 · 30-03-2026 01:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350749#Comment_124350749

Try get the balance right with marginal plant life, then you don't have to worry about external sources too much. Examples here:

https://www.newlands.ie/collections/aquatic-plants-outdoor?srsltid=AfmBOoo8NjVxrKnh-YciE7ieXrD9TtKiGTE9Usq5amDpvsvX7A2ErCCU

This is the pond soil to use:

https://www.newlands.ie/collections/aquatic-plants-outdoor/products/westland-aquatic-planting-potting-mix-litre

Hope it helps!

looksee · 30-03-2026 02:39PM

Thanks for the info 10-10-20, just one point, I was not suggesting washing the pebbles of algae. I meant to wash them before using, as they seem to have a lot of something (salt? oily deposit? dust? on them). I am using/ filled the pond with untreated well water (I have a tap before the treatment system) which is quite acid (5.9), I suspect this may have something to do with it staying clear. The plants don't seem bothered by it.

Edit - just checked, AI says it is harmful, not much I can do about it. I will regard it as a scientific experiment 😀

10-10-20 · 30-03-2026 03:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124351004#Comment_124351004

Ah yes, my misunderstanding. But you are right - they should be washed to take off any limes, salts or dust.

The acidity will be a an unavoidable local occurrence, but at the end of the day that's the natural acidity level, so the specialisation of the local plantlife will reflect that, as should the pond plants! All working in harmony.

Homesick Alien · 31-03-2026 11:00AM

I got some tadpoles from a pond at a local garden centre recently and was excited to add them to my infant pond but sadly within 24 hours there was no sign of the tadpoles, seems they all died. Do you think the pond was just too young to sustain them? As in not enough nutrients or oxegenating plants?

looksee · 31-03-2026 11:30AM

More likely something ate them! That's why frogs lay thousands of eggs, so a few survive. They could have been shocked by the change in conditions, but then likely there would have been dead tadpoles around.

I am waiting patiently for life to appear in my pond. Its going to be a bit of a wait I think as its a long way from any nearby frog-populated water, but I'd rather wait for them to discover the pond than force the issue.

Also it is strongly recommended not to move frogspawn, and in fact it is illegal to collect, move or sell it. You can buy exotic frogs but that's not much use for your garden pond - and really not a good idea.

magicbastarder · 31-03-2026 11:54AM

if it's a new pond, what's there to eat them?

looksee · 31-03-2026 12:05PM

Birds? (and dragonfly larvae and water beetles according to AI)

loyatemu · 31-03-2026 12:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350749#Comment_124350749

my dad has a bird bath in his garden and the pigeons always land on it, crap in it, then take a drink - always in that order!

Homesick Alien · 31-03-2026 11:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124352863#Comment_124352863

I was puzzled by this too

Homesick Alien · 31-03-2026 11:02PM

Never saw any birds do anything except wash themselves around the edges.

magicbastarder · 31-03-2026 11:14PM

Maybe they're hiding?

looksee · 01-04-2026 09:24AM

LMGTFY

https://www.arc-trust.org/spawn-tadpoles-faq

https://www.froglife.org/info-advice/frequently-asked-questions/spawn-tadpoles-problems/

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/frogspawn-tadpoles-and-froglets.html

In case you can't be bothered reading any of them, a summary is:

Frog spawn is eaten by a variety of pond predators, including newts, dragonfly larvae, backswimmers (water boatmen), and water beetles. Larger creatures like birds (herons, crows), hedgehogs, foxes, and rats will also consume it

LeoD · 09-04-2026 11:18AM

Mine is starting to wake up a bit now although the blanket weed looks like it never went to sleep. Not sure if it has already smothered one of the lilies. I pull out a bit every now and then but can't go too hard as it'll bring some of the other plants with it and all kinds of pond life are living in it. Need to buy a pair of fishing waders to get in and free up the other lilies. Doesn't look very pretty and tempted to buy a few more marginals to speed up the filling out process.

looksee · 09-04-2026 11:41AM

It looks great, is this its first year after installation? You have great growth starting and its nice and clear. Looks like your water lilies are beginning to shoot, mine are showing signs of life but only just.

I get great satisfaction from just looking at mine, even though the only life so far is pond skaters.

I haven't a problem with blanket weed though spagnum moss is making efforts to grow, its easy enough to scoop out though. I did accidentally plant pond weed which I subsequently removed, every single leaf of it! I don't see any now so hopefully I got all of it. A bit is supposed to be beneficial but I don't feel inclined to risk it.

Homesick Alien · 09-04-2026 11:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355087#Comment_124355087

Geez you wonder how any survives at all with that list of predators.

LeoD · 09-04-2026 12:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124375349#Comment_124375349

Yeah it's about 11 months old now. I'm surprised at how clear it still is which I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. I would like the lilies to take off to cut out the light to the blanket weed that's growing around the base of the lilies. The oxygenators are also getting covered in the stuff. Not a single tadpole this year which was a bit of a disappointment.

Thargor · 09-04-2026 04:04PM

That was some job on yours Leo its amazing looking for a first year. Where is all the algae sitting out in the sun like that though? Mine is choked still and I just dont understand it.

magicbastarder · 09-04-2026 04:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350334#Comment_124350334

thankfully, i got this fixed. and the tadpoles still seem to be alive - i wasn't keen on the idea of spraying glue almost into the pond but i was able to successfully mask off the area.

LeoD · 10-04-2026 10:05AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124376509#Comment_124376509

I've no idea why it's so clear. Apart from the blanket weed enveloping the plants, it's crystal clear. Maybe the tap water used to fill it had so many chemicals in it it kills all algae! But I think any tap water additives dissipate after a few days (according to Joel Ashton anyway) so water should be 'normal'. It also has an overflow pipe so it has been well diluted with rainwater over the last 11 months.

qwabercd · 11-04-2026 02:27PM

20260404_140546.jpg

Not a wildlife pond but I said I would ask here all the same. The house I bought two years ago has a pond, with water filter etc. There are about 9 koi fish - 1 large, 3 medium and the rest babies.

Slowly but surely the water level has been dropping and it's now getting to a worryingly low level. I think mainly caused by too much leaves at the bottom and a lot of algae where the water filters back out which is soaking up water.

Wondering what the best solution is. I've read online you can get a dechlorinator and add small amounts of treated water in at a time. Would that be doable?

Quite a busy work/family life, so paying someone to come in and treat it is also an option. Would that likely be expensive? And does anyone have recommendations in south dublin area?

And advice much appreciated!

looksee · 11-04-2026 02:53PM

I'd say the liner is gone, or there is a leak in the filtration system.

qwabercd · 11-04-2026 03:22PM

It has been a very gradual drop though and during the winter it probably rose back up very slightly. Photos above of where the water drops back out. There is a lot of sludge and the water doesn't tumble out as freely as it used to.

Wildlife pond

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