| A pond may offer a number of benefits. It can | | | | located below the rest of the pond height) to |
| be cool and relaxing, visually appealing and it can | | | | control where the excess water should go. |
| provide the local wildlife a watering point. | | | | Overflowing may be caused by overfilling the |
| For Starters | | | | pond with water or from heavy rain. |
| It is imperative to know the reason why you are | | | | Screen your overflow paths to prevent any |
| building this pond before the actual construction. | | | | escape of small plants, fishes (and its eggs), and |
| Some individuals just wanted to put up these | | | | snails during water additions and heavy rainfall. |
| kinds of projects without considering the comfort | | | | This may also protect the local waterways from |
| and safety of the inhabitants of that pond. | | | | any possible escape. This is especially important if |
| Evaluate first these things before assembling your | | | | there are non local fish in the pond. |
| pond. | | | | Complete preparation requirements. |
| You can ask for advice from your pond | | | | It is essential to clean and rinse ponds before |
| professional or read books that are concerned on | | | | using it since fish and other water plants are |
| pond kits and the techniques of construction of | | | | sensitive to contaminants. "Curing" concrete ponds |
| ponds. Consult your local pond contractors who | | | | combined with water changes, scrubbing, filling, |
| have experience regarding this field. | | | | and painting with vinegar is also important. |
| Now you can build your own fish pond following | | | | Allow chloramines and chlorine to dissipate |
| these planning stages: | | | | especially if you used tap water to fill the pond. |
| Consider the location. | | | | One can also utilize a commercial chlorine |
| Choose a site where your pond is not near | | | | neutralizer from pet shops to solve this problem. |
| existing large trees. These vantage points will | | | | Ensure that all equipment such as fountains, |
| prevent root problems as well as minimizing the | | | | waterfalls, filters, and lights are working |
| problem of falling leaves in your pond that may | | | | satisfactorily before adding the fish and plants. |
| cause decaying and poor water quality. Pond | | | | It is also better if you allow at least one week for |
| plants such as water lilies need sunlight to grow. It | | | | the plants to settle in the pond before adding the |
| is best to place your pond where it can be | | | | fish. Clean up the pond regularly for dead leaves |
| exposed to sun but not too much as it can over | | | | as this will add unwanted excess nutrients to the |
| heat during mid afternoon or on hot days. A semi | | | | water and decay it as well. |
| shaded place with a good amount of light coming | | | | Observe proper maintenance. |
| through is sufficient enough. | | | | A said, keep the pond clean of fallen vegetation |
| Temperature extremes should be minimized on | | | | and dead leaves. The frequency of cleaning will |
| the pond. If you intend on raising and keeping fish, | | | | depend on the amount of vegetation falling into |
| it is important to make the pond as deep and as | | | | the water and on the tome of the year. Do the |
| large as practical. However, deeper ponds may | | | | cleaning at the beginning of spring before the |
| need to be fenced to prevent accidents. | | | | temperature of the water starts to rise. |
| Design with purpose. | | | | Feed your fish and clean up the filters periodically. |
| Consider electricity supply for pumps, filters, | | | | Add water in the pond periodically. A normal |
| andlights when designing your pond. It is also | | | | garden hose will do. However, no more than |
| important to look into the water supply and | | | | 10-20% should be added at any time because of |
| drainage. | | | | the chlorine levels in tap water. |
| Ponds must have an overflow area (a place | | | | |