posted
Jim and I received a bunch of gift cards for Wal-Mart for wedding gifts. With some we bought an 85 gallon flexible water pond and have just installed it. What do we do next? I want to eventually put fish in our little pond. What kind of plants should I be hunting to go in it to keep the fish healthy? Are ginger lilies a good choice for beside water? Do I need chemicals? Help!
It has interesting watching Angel's reaction around the pond. She loves the water and has already fallen in once. Good thing that I don't let her outside unless she is properly supervised!
Are you going to do an oasis like G-mom has with a tree to shade it? Or are you going to keep it full sun. If I remember correctly your garden is mostly sun right? Did you do the pump route or are you going a la natural? Tell us more! What shape did you configure it in? Kidney shape, round, square, free form? Are you going to plant right up to the edge or are you going to edge it with stone, gravel, sand, moss, grass? Are you going to try to get Fernies stump and some of its cousins and build up one end kind of like a grotto? What you going to do Dianna I just got to know!!!!!
Thankyou for putting up wiff me.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.81.86
posted
So far the pond is just in a hole in the ground. No landscaping at all. Jim has to download the camera before I can post pictures of it. I will try to get him to do that this evening when he gets home from work.
Jim bought me a birdbath for the birdies. I have it close to the pond , along with a bird feeder (lantern style). I am going to move both the feeder and the bath. The birds keep getting their breakfast in their bath! I will probably put their accomodations in the front yard, well away from my pond. I don't want them going fishing when I put some fish in it!
Tammy, I really don't know what I am going to do with it. I want it to be purty like Cindy's and G-mom's, but I don't know where to start. The pond is a flexible liner with a little waterfall at the top of it for a "spitting" frog to sit on. It, also, has a fountain in the middle. It looks cute, but I want to decorate! Thanks for the list of flowers. Now I just need to research to find out which ones will do what I want them to do.
I have it out back by the gazebo, though I wanted it in the front yard. Jim said electricity-wise that it would be easier to install in the back. Had to listen to him since I don't know myself. Poor man put a lot of sweat into digging the hole and leveling it for me.
posted
Out by the gazebo is exactly where I would have put it so I could look at it while I was sitting in the shade planning my next project. You see I am living vicariously lol.
I know your going to enjoy planning your pond garden so I will be watching this post very closely. Hope Jim will do the camera thing for you so we can have pictures of every step of the process.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.81.86
Tell me now...how do I get the effect I want? I want a calm, cool, peaceful place out beside the gazebo. No one ever answered me...are ginger lilies a good thing beside the pond?
The sun comes up directly behind the pond. It sets directly in front. Yes, Tammy. Our place is full of sun because we had everything bush-hogged except for one little water oak when we moved to the property. We are definitely starting from scratch.
There are 7 sycamores that we planted behind the shed, pond, and gazebo. We live in a triple-wide manufactured home that is slap dab in the middle of 7.96 acres of empty land until we planted something. We have 5 river birches, 6 bald cypress, 5 crepe myrtles, and 5 redbud trees planted so far. We had a line of azaleas and dogwoods down the 300' foot slag drive-way, but they got drowned from the 11" of rain that the land got while we were moving in.
We have put some drainage in now. Future plans include a dry streambed (when it's not raining) and gardens. We don't want a formal look. We want to feel comfortable. Any ideas?
posted
Dixie- That is cool! Sounds and looks like a great spot for a pond.
quote: Tell me now...how do I get the effect I want?
I guess what you have to have is an idea. Are you wanting paths around or do you want straight forward access? One thing I can tell you is you don't want to put tall plants to close that loose leaves. They make a mess on the bottom of the pond. Do you want an edge of rocks around the pond? I used sedum, lirope and creeping jenny around the edge of my pond aswell as rocks to make it look more natural. It covers up the edge of black and makes it blend in more.
quote:No one ever answered me...are ginger lilies a good thing beside the pond?
I really don't know. Wish I did but they are to tropical for my zone. LOL If it is what you like then I say go for it. I know you are working on flat land but her is a picture of my bank around my pond. It may give you an idea. bank around pond
Here is a picture of the edge of my pond. It is to the bottom of the picture. pond edge and pond
Also do you want a colour scheme or just totally like an english cottage garden?
posted
I love it. Personally I would duplicate Cindy or G-moms areas as closely as I could, cause I think theirs is about as good as it gets.
Have you thought about the skimmer/filter so that if you do get a tree it will help keep the pond clean?
Sorry I don't know anything about Ginger Lilies either.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 206.149.148.2
gardenmom32210
guest
posted
Ginger lillies should do fine! You could also put cannas on the back side. I have african iris,lantana,brugmansias,dusty miller,a banana tree and various annuals around my pond. I have water lillies in it. You can find the water lillies at a good price at Wallyworld.
I have a "spitting frog" too! The wee ones always ask me "why is the froggie peeing out of his mouth"?
Give Jim a hearty "high-five" from me...he did a great job!
Make sure you have plants big enough to give some shade before you put any fishies in it...I didn't last year and they all died as soon as it got hot
I would love to sit in your Gazebo and listen to the gently flowing water...a little piece of heaven!
posted
Gardencrazy... Your pond is the BOMB! I looked at all your webshots last night and was in awe! That's how I want mine to look...if I ever get finished with it.
I have no pond tips, because I have no idea what I'm doing! Just thought I'd ask Dianna if she needs any weeping willow trees for all those empty acres she has!
G-Mom is right on with the "shade for the fishies" advice. Unfortunately, I didn't know that, and have to move this big umbrella around all day.
Real attractive...huh?
Cindy Faye
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posted
I was thinking that if you did two trees you could hang a one of those things to lay on. Or even better if it was one of those trees that has really wide spreading limbs that start after the tree is taller you could have one of those swing benches. I can't remember what anything is called today. Must be all the cleaning chemicals. Time to get back to the wall I guess.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Cindy ~ see if you, or someone, can go get those water hyacinths that I posted before. They are pretty inexpensive - I got a cluster, which ended up being 6 separate plants with one of those having 2 babies connected for only $4.95 at the very very pricey nursery here. That is all I have for shade in my bathtub pond which gets FULL day's sun from rise to set, and the goldies are doing just fine. They hide under the leaves when they want some relief from the hot hot sun we've been having the last 2 weeks.
That way you won't have to move your very pretty umbrella around all day!
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posted
Donna - The effect I want is something like what all of you have gotten going on. Something purty. I have some liriope, but am not too sure about using that. I don't want snakes hiding in the stuff!
Tammy - Are you talking about a glider swing and a hammock? And the pump has some sort of filter on it. Is that what you are talking about?
Karen - I have some cannas. Just bought them the other day for planting in moist areas of the yard. I hadn't even thought about putting them next to the pool for some reason. I am glad to know that the ginger lily will work there. Thank you. Can't wait to see it bloom so I will know what type I have. Does the iris have to be the "African" kind? I don't know what I have. All I know is that they are purple. Think they will work? How many water lilies do you think I will need for an 85 gallon pond? Do they multiply and grow fast? I saw them the other day at Wally World but held off on buying them til I got some input from y'all. I think I would like a banana tree out there, too. That would really be pretty! Would you post a pic of your pond? I don't remember seeing it while reading the water garden threads.
Cindy - I don't know about the weeping willows. I will ask Jim about it. I love weeping willows, but my aunt says they attract skeeters. Do they? How far would I need to plant them from our septic field? We have a drainage ditch running down the longest one of the property lines. I would love to have a line of them between the next door neighbor's junk yard and ours. Are they deciduous? I remember hiding under a weeping willow when I was a child when I wanted to be alone. I remember being shaded and cool, but I don't remember if skeeters got after me or not. At that age, I probably didn't worry about it, anyway. By the way...how are your fish doing? Did some of them survive their parents? Do you have to put chemicals in the water to keep it clean? Your umbrella IS pretty. You could make an umbrella stand and just set it up permanently, couldn't you?
Lynne - Are the water hyacinths as pretty as just the regular hyacinths? I love hyacinths. Do they have the same aroma? You have a pond with the same kind of conditions I have. Full sun from rising to setting. Will you post a picture for me?
As you all can see, I have plenty of questions. I am just glad I have some gardening friends that have plenty of answers!
posted
Yes, hammock or glider swing one or the other would be great I think. Is your aunt sure it was the willow and not the boggy land that was causing the skeeters? You won't have to worry about that with moving water. And if you have fish you shouldn't have to worry about a bunch of algae either. I think but someone may have to correct me because I am frequently wrong that the skimmer/filter fits near the edge of the pond somehow. No the filter on the pump is to stop stuff from getting stuck in the intake I think.
Hope it turns out wonderful for you.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.51.66
The water hyacinths are new plants for me. That said... I was in the nursery yesterday where I bought the plants a few weeks ago, and all of their water hyacinths were in bloom already. Granted, they are inside a greenhouse which is hot as heck. I only hope that mine will bloom - can't say if they have a scent or not, but the blooms are very pretty.
Here is a picture of my pond this week. The plants surrounding it need to fill out, as well as the ones in the pond which I'm told will cover the surface very quickly - so far they aren't growing much at all.
Here is a close-up of my water hyacinths that I posted earlier:
I'm liking the look of the yellow/green variegated grasses by the pond. So far, I have the yucca, some sweet flag grass, and 2 grasses that I picked up about a month ago - looks like liriope, but I think the tag says something else - I'll have to look for it and check it. They all have the yellow/green coloration, so I added some yellow annual gazanias, and some orange to go with my goldfish colors.
Unfortunately, any of the water plants that I use in my pond will be annuals here in zone 6, so I'm not looking to put a lot of money into those plants. I do try to plant mostly perennials around the pond, but just had to add the gazanias because they are so very bright and cheerful. And a good contrast to the blue garden which is just on the other side of the small walk by the pond garden.
Keep up the great work, and keep posting pictures of your progress!
* * * * Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???" Plants: 17066 | From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
Tammy, I need a filter/skimmer, too? I thought all I needed was what came with the pond. Oh, well. Local Wally will be happy to part me from more of our money.
That's a pretty pond, Lynne! Is it made from a bathtub? I have a bathtub next to the woods that was just thrown on the property before we moved here. If yours was made from a bathtub, I might just have another pond in the works soon! (insert doing a happy dance gremlin here!) I hope Jim will be just as excited about digging another hole for me.
Are those pretty spiky variagated mounds the yucca plants? Those are really pretty. You have really landscaped your pond beautifully. I only hope that mine will be as pretty as all of y'all's when I get through.
Another question for all of you...do you have to put all this plants in pots or on ledges or something? Do they just float in the ponds? I am planning on buying some plants this week-end and, hopefully, will be decorating the pond area on Sunday.
posted
Don't need the skimmer/filter if your not going to do a tree. Some water plants are floaters, some need so much depth before they will do well. And some stay submerged and provide food for the fishies.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.51.66
quote: Is it made from a bathtub? I have a bathtub next to the woods that was just thrown on the property before we moved here. If yours was made from a bathtub, I might just have another pond in the works soon!
yep - bathtub from our kids' bathroom - about 25 years old. At first we weren't going to do a liner, but it was a light green, and showed all the damage marks on it, so we went ahead and put in a black liner. Just be sure, if you do submerge a tub, that you fill it right away, or it will rise out of the ground with the first heavy rainfall - we learned the hard way! My husband had to lift the pond out and re-dig the hole before he could set the tub in again!
quote:Are those pretty spiky variagated mounds the yucca plants?
The yucca is at the bottom of the picture. The 2 variegated on the right side of the tub are the new ones. I will go down to the garage in a few minutes and look for the tags.
quote: do you have to put all this plants in pots or on ledges or something? Do they just float in the ponds?
The water hyacinths are floaters. I have a dwarf canna in a pot in there. Here's a secret I learned online - instead of buying a plant basket, or rocks to keep the soil in the pots, wrap it in pantyhose!!! That's what I did (I used a pair that had a run in one of the legs - cut it just below the panty part and tied the legs up there) and no one can tell what it is! You can kinda see it in this picture:
I'd love to have some water lilies, but the only place that sells them around here gets $75 for the cheapest ones they have!!! That's waaaaaaaaaay too much mulah for something that won't overwinter here!
* * * * Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???" Plants: 17066 | From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
| Seeded: 67.84.52.196
posted
six weeks after you plant your plants I think I read somewhere. For the Fish that is lol. Forgot the subject in that sentence. I'm losing it. lol.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I know that is what they recommend, but I only waited about 2 weeks, and my 3 goldies seem to be doing fine. They are so glad to be outta the 5 gallon indoor tank that they shared with 3 others!
* * * * Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???" Plants: 17066 | From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
| Seeded: 67.84.52.196
posted
Cindy- Thanks I have had a lot of fun doing the ponds. But boy it can be hard work. Digging is the worst!
Dianna- IMHO you do not need a skimmer. If you plan on putting fish in it then you may want a filter. If you would like I can get you instructions for a DIY filter that will cost under $10 or you can buy one at Wally world for around $25 to $30. If you had a 500+ gallon pond then I would add a skimmer. There are several types of plants for the pond that take different levels of water. Waterlilies like to be in the deepest part of the pond aswell as hornwort and anacharis. Marginals can take 6 inches of water but not over the crown of the plant and then there are bog plants that just like super moist soil but can't take standing water. Then floaters which do just that float. Floaters are really good at taking out the excess minerals and waste and shading the water quickly. From my experience my fish do not eat my marginals but love some of the small floaters like fairy moss. Now some people don't plant the marginals in anything. They place them on the plant shelf and cover with decorative rocks. The plants feed off of the fish poop, minerals and algea. Waterlilies need regular fertilizing to bloom properly. If you decide to get a waterlily then make sure it is in a place where the water is still. They(most) don't like water constantly splashing on the leaves. I don't use any chemicals for my ponds except for Start Right. I only use it to benefit the fish. If you get sufficient shade cover then waiting maybe 2 weeks to add fish should be good. Our normal tap water has chlorine and some fish don't tolerate it well. Now expect your water to cycle. That is when you will have a major algea bloom. After plants establish and start using up some of the excess food in the water the water should clear again. My ponds cycle every spring. Then as the plants start going the water turns clear again.
Lynn- How deep is your pond? Does it freeze solid during winter?
quote: If you would like I can get you instructions for a DIY filter that will cost under $10
I would like to see these instructions if it's ok, Donna. Our small fountain pump did not come with a filter, and my husband made one from some filter material we got at an aquatics center. However, the fountain still gets clogged up on a daily basis!
Also, what do you mean by algae bloom, and how long does it take for the water to clear again? My water is sooooooooooo murky now, we can barely see the 3 goldies and I'm wondering if this is what is causing it?
This is our first year with stuff in this bathtub pond - it's only about 12 inches deep. We did have water in it last winter so it wouldn't lift out of the ground, and it froze solid. I will have to bring the fish indoors, but the plants will not make it - no place to try to overwinter indoors.
* * * * Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???" Plants: 17066 | From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
| Seeded: 67.84.52.196
You asked earlier about chemicals....I hope that you used a dechlorinator before adding the fish. Even if you used a well to fill the pond, a typical dechlor will remove the heavy metals as well, which is important for livestock.
3 goldies are great to start out a pond this size. You could add the other 3 you mentioned you had as well. Each goldie needs at least 10g of room to grow properly...so 6 in 85g would be great.
If you plant a weeping willow near the pond, I wouldn't worry too much about mosquitos...they make perfect food for the goldies. My goldies live primarily on live food in the pond, with once a week feedings of sinking pellets just to make sure we are meeting all the nutritional needs.
The water hyacinths are wonderful and provide great visual attraction for the humans...but something like parrot's feather or anacharis will provide good stuff for the fish. Those plants attract any larvae and such so the fish have an 'all you can eat' buffet..they roots also provide great places to spawn (and most of the eggs will again lead to another buffet.)
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posted
Oh....and good idea to move the bird bath and feeder....goldies make good snacks for even smaller birds, until they reach a decent size.
* * * * The higher the point of view, the broader the horizon...said the giraffe. Plants: 132 | From: Central Florida | Registered: Apr 2005
| Seeded: 67.8.143.137
posted
Lynn- Sure! Here is a link. Adams filter This filter was made by a 12 year old boy! It works great too. I do most of my ponding DIY. Once you get into buying everything pre-made it gets outrageous!
If your water is really green then it is an algea bloom and it is cycling. Ok first off there is good and bad algea. You need good algea to get rid of bad algea. Biological filters help to start colonies of good algea and it in turn eats up excess nutrients in the water which then doesn't leave enough nutrients for bad algea to flourish. Excess sun exposure without suffecient plant/shade coverage also keeps bad algea going. Idealy in a garden pond (not koi pond) you are suppose to have around 66% surface coverage from plants. The plants help remove excess nutrients and shade the water naturally reducing the condition for algea. Now the filter also helps to pull out decaying material which the plants creat in and of themselves. Once you get filters going and plant coverage smaller ponds are actually easy to care for. I don't clean my filters but once a month and it is only a slight cleaning. You don't want to clean out to much of the good algea because then your water might cycle again. Once your filter establishes you can also expect to find new little critters living in the filter material. Most of these are very beneficial. Donna
quote: If your water is really green then it is an algea bloom and it is cycling
Well...that was my pond a few days ago, before we had a downpour here the other day, and the water from the yard drained into the pond.
Now it is almost black!
It is freaking me out. I'm so afraid my fish are going to die. I started to PM Gardencrazy, but didn't want to single her out for my pond problems...afraid I'd scare her off!
I cleaned the pump filter thing several times yesterday, and each time it was gunked up so bad with green YUCK, I couldn't even see how the water was getting through it at all. This morning I looked out as soon as I got up and the water fountain wasn't there anymore...so I ran out, unplugged the pump, and cleaned the filter. You talk about algae...it was unreal. I had to scrape it off the pump, filter, the whole nine yards before I could even get the pump apart to clean the filter.
Normally in this situation I would get the wheelbarrow, and a bucket...start loading the wheelbarrow full of water to dump over the hill, then put some water in with the garden hose. I know this has chlorine, etc. in it, but I figure mixed with the pond water that's left (about 50/50) it's better than the green yucky gunk. I mean, it's like soup.
But, I can't do that now because of the surgery... All I can do is keep cleaning the filter a zillion times a day.
Is there another solution...before my fish die?
Cindy
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quote: I started to PM Gardencrazy, but didn't want to single her out for my pond problems...afraid I'd scare her off!
I ain't going no where!
What kind of filter do you have? Is it the little sponge thing built into the pump? Or do you have a seperate filter? If you don't have a seperate filter then you really need one. It will help clear/clean the water. If you already have a seperate filter then you may need more filtration. Maybe a trickle tower would help?
As for your fish as long as they have enough oxygen they should be fine. You definately need to keep the pump running for them. The water turning black shouldn't affect them unless you had pesticides or harsh chemicals in your lawn.
quote:I know this has chlorine, etc. in it, but I figure mixed with the pond water that's left (about 50/50) it's better than the green yucky gunk. I mean, it's like soup.
If you want to add that much tap water at a time then you really need to add de-chlor to the water. Some fish can handle more chlorine then others but some drop off at the least little bit too. It is also added stress on the fish. Doing a 50% water change will temporarily fix the problem but inside of a couple of days it will be pea soup all over again.
You should recieve the plants tomorrow Tuesday at the latest. Once they get going and start to shade the water it should help.
posted
Well, I asked Jim about the weeping willows, Cindy, and he doesn't want to take the chance on them harboring mosquitoes. Pooh! I think those are beautiful trees. He feels that even if we planted them next to the creek down the property line, that they would still be too close to the house to keep the mosquitoes away from us. Oh, well. Thank you for your offer, though. Maybe if he finds more information out about them, he will reconsider.
Giraffe - so three fish is all that I should put in my 85 gallon pond? And I need a de-clorinator even though it was filled with well water?
Thanks for posting that filter information, Donna. I will see about getting one built for our little puddle.
Cindy - how is your pond doing today? Has it cleared out? Did someone come to rescue your fish for you? I surely hope that you aren't trying to do what you know you shouldn't be doing. You need to get well first.
We got an inch of rain yesterday. I didn't notice if it affected my pond yet or not. Is that what will cause your water to turn green? I don't think any of the water leaked into it from the ground.
We bought some plants this week-end. We bought a water lily and needle spike rush for in the pond, and some golden moneywort and miscanthus zebrinus for outside. Will two water plants be enough to oxygenate/aerate my water? Does the fountain help with that? I still haven't planted/ponded my plants yet because of afternoon thunderstorms. I am hoping to get out there this evening and get it all done. I am so excited! I guess I will have to wait until next week-end to get my filter built so I can buy some fish to put in it.
I have been reading elsewhere on the web that having no shade around my pond will cause me to have green water. Is that true? I may be "pulling a Cindy" and propping an umbrella up if that is the case. I might have to go buy a purty umbrella, though. I know I don't have one.
posted
I went out at 7 this morning to get my pond plants planted. It was too hot yesterday evening. It is supposed to get up to 96 here today with a heat index of 106. I had to get those babies in the ground early before it got too hot.
I am still working on how I want the finished product to look. I want it to be purty NOW. I still have to figure out where to plant the canna lilies. I think I am going to have to plant a small tree out there to help shade the pond. A ginko biloba, probably. If I plant tall plants where it will be shaded from the sun, I won't be able to see the pond from the deck. Oh, well. I will get it figured out eventually, I reckon.
posted
How about the RIDE THE WAVE petunia tree. That way you can have it on the gazebo side of the pond build it tall enough that it would frame the pond view from the gazebo and shape it exactly so that it provided the best shade for the pond.
Let me know if you need more info on this idea. I think I have a copy of the post somewhere.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I think Weezie posted a pic on that wave tree, Tammy. That is a good and beautiful idea! Now if I can get Jim to help me out with the "tree" part, I will be in business!
quote:Giraffe - so three fish is all that I should put in my 85 gallon pond? And I need a de-clorinator even though it was filled with well water?
Nope....I guess I didn't make myself clear. I think you referenced that you had put 3 fish in already...and had 3 fish in a 5g tank in the house.
The 3 fish already out there will be great to cycle the pond for the first 4-6 weeks (and yes, you still need a water conditioner even with well water due to heavy metals and such that fish are much more sensitive to than we are. Over time, they will build up in their system and kill them.)
The 3 fishes in the 5g tank are severely cramped, so after the pond has stabilized and cycled (4-6 weeks or you can get water test kits for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) you can add them to the pond as well...and 6 goldies would be great in 85g. They will likely spawn at some point and overcrowd again, but 6 will give you some color and movement in the pond. (Goldies basically need 10-20g of water PER fish...the old bowl thing really doesn't work when you realize that these fish reach about a foot long and should live almost 20 years if cared for adequately.)
Then, that 5g, would make a great tank for a single male betta.
* * * * The higher the point of view, the broader the horizon...said the giraffe. Plants: 132 | From: Central Florida | Registered: Apr 2005
| Seeded: 67.8.143.137
posted
Dianna- I think this question was directed at Cindy but if I might answer you.
quote:We got an inch of rain yesterday. I didn't notice if it affected my pond yet or not. Is that what will cause your water to turn green?
The rain water itself won't cause the water to go green. It is a natural cycle the water has to go through. When you don't have enough filtration & shade and start adding in more nutrients (fish poop, fish food and plant waste) the algae has a perfect habitat. All algae is, is a tiny simple rootless plant. What algae does that is bad is sucks the oxygen out of the water and makes it so cloudy you can't see your fish. Most people want to see their fish. If you already have fish and this happens it can suffocate the fish.
quote: I don't think any of the water leaked into it from the ground.
The main problem with ground water run off is our lawns contain lots of bad chemicals. Also if you have a lot of erosion it can colour the water and cause a spike/drop in ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Fish need these to be at a stable rate.
quote:I have been reading elsewhere on the web that having no shade around my pond will cause me to have green water. Is that true?
In my experience and understanding it doesn't necessarily mean you have to have a tree or large plants around your pond. I have all my ponds and bogs totally in full sun. The rule I have followed with all my water gardens and bogs is 66% water plant coverage. It has worked fine for me. Every spring I get a short algae bloom and once the plants take off it is over. Some of the best plants for this job are waterlilies and floaters (water hyacinths, duckweed, azolla and water lettuce). Marginals will afford some shade too like the rush you bought.
quote:Will two water plants be enough to oxygenate/aerate my water? Does the fountain help with that?
Yes! Water plants do help oxygenate the water, but only during the day. During the night most use oxygen.
The foutain will help most of all.
quote:We bought a water lily
Do you know the name of the lily? Or atleast the colour or size?
Depending on what lily you got, it may be large enough to shade 66% of your pond when mature.
quote: golden moneywort
This plant will grow into the water if you plant it close enough. I have creeping jenny everywheres.
You are in South Carolina right? You have a lot of native marginal water plants. I bet if you look in some ditches you would find a bunch. Most are invasive/nuissance plants. My husband was just in Columbia, when he got home he told me I would have freaked to see what he saw. He saw a huge natural pond filled with native lotus. He said it was a site to see in bloom.
Sorry for such a long post. I hope I have helped answer some of your questions.
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Cindy - I guess momma and daddy didn't eat enough of their spawn. Sometimes I wish I had eaten mine when they were little so I wouldn't have to deal with some of their issues.
Giraffe - Where do I find de-chlorinator and how much do I use?
Donna - I don't know what kind of water lily it is. The tag just said "assorted". It has purple leaves and they are rather teeny, tiny size. I hope it grows fast! I didn't think about checking out the natural waters around here for plants. I live about 2 miles from Lake Marion of Santee. Skeeter country!
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Ahhh....the bathtub pond was what, 50g? (And I am confusing people...sorry.) You really don't want to stock more than the one per 10g. They will spawn and overstock themselves...but eggs get eaten, fry get eaten and weak fish are naturally culled. If you overstock, at some point the pond can reach a breaking point which results in toxic water (out of control ammonia, nitrite and nitrates, plunging pH, depletion of kH and gH, etc.)
Because I know my fish will spawn, I stocked at one fish per 30g....150g pond with 5 fish. They have reproduced and somewhat controlled their own numbers, and now I have 15 surviving after a little less than two years...next year we're going to have an abstinance class before spring.
As for dechlor....you can get it at the pet store (I would recommend Prime, which is really concentrated even in smaller bottles...on capful treats 50g)...or go to Home Depot and look in their pond section out in the garden area. They have a generic dechlor there that is designed for ponds with fish. Do not get the clarifier and all the other gunk, just the simple Chlorine/Chloramine remover. It is less concentrated, I think a capful treats 20g...but it's cheaper.
* * * * The higher the point of view, the broader the horizon...said the giraffe. Plants: 132 | From: Central Florida | Registered: Apr 2005
| Seeded: 67.8.143.137
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Thank you, Giraffe. I will pick up some dechlor this week-end.
I will stick with 3 fish, too, so I can keep the numbers down. I don't want to end up with Cindy's problem. Wonder if she could sell them to the pet store? That would help out with reducing the number. What do you think, Cindy?
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Poor man put a lot of sweat into digging the hole and leveling it for me. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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I am glad to know that the ginger lily will work there. Thank you. Can't wait to see it bloom so I will know what type I have. Does the iris have to be the "African" kind? I don't know what I have. All I know is that they are purple. Think they will work? How many water lilies do you think I will need for an 85 gallon pond? Do they multiply and grow fast? I saw them the other day at Wally World but held off on buying them til I got some input from y'all. I think I would like a banana tree out there, too. That would really be pretty! Would you post a pic of your pond? I don't remember seeing it while reading the water garden threads.![[muggs]](graemlins/mugggggs.gif)
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My husband had to lift the pond out and re-dig the hole before he could set the tub in again! ![[teacher]](graemlins/teacher.gif)
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That's waaaaaaaaaay too much mulah for something that won't overwinter here!![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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Printer-friendly view of this garden