[Dusk]

Hi, we're almost finished our garden pond. We've never had a pond before so we are learning as we go, any advice would be very much appreciated. The pond is about two and a half foot deep in the centre, there is a shelf around the ourter edge which is about one foot down, and it is about four foot around. We just have to finish off the edges with more rocks and then we are ready to go ahead and get some plants etc. Could anyone advice me on where to buy water plants? Or how to take cuttings from a nearby pond? How many and what kind would we need?

We are thinking of having fish or getting some tadpoles for the pond, what would you recommend? Would tadpoles be cleaner than keeping fish? We are also adding a small waterfall, would this make a difference to keeping tadpoles?

Thanks in advance for any advice

[kindredspirit]

You'll only have tadpoles for a few weeks. As soon as they develop four legs, they'll scoot out of the water. Fish are unable to scoot out of the water!

By 4 feet round do you mean 4 feet in diameter or 4 feet in circumference? I presume you mean diameter. I wouldn't put too many plants in because it'll get overcrowded.

A water lily would be nice but fountains and water lilies don't go together because water lilies don't like being splashed all the time. Local plants could be too vigorous for a small pond and could quickly overwhelm it if you don't keep them under control. Purple Loosestrife would be one to consider, though. Marsh Marigold another.

You can get water plants from John Doorly at Irish Water Plants in Strokestown.

[ponddigger]

hi dusk. welcome. any photos of your pond. ponddigger

[Dusk]

Hi kindredspirit, thank you for the advice. I know the tadpoles will not last long but I was thinking that maybe the frogs would hang about after they came to maturity, although I'm not too sure because we've got cats. I would rather have frogs about so still trying to figure out what the best option for all involved would be.

I mean four foot in diameter, I think I'm not too good at measurements. It's four foot from one side to the other and it's circular.

I know fish are fine with fountains, but not sure if tadpoles/frogs are?
Thanks again

ponddigger, thank you for the welcome I do have photos, we have been taking photos as we went along, so will get them uploaded as soon as we have it finished

[vulkan]

Actually tadpoles and fountains don't go together that well either.
Quite often I have cleaned a fountain pump only to find the outside is covered with dead tadpoles.

Some pumps are designed to pump solids to the pond bio-filter, unfortunately a pump does not know that a tadpole is is not to be sent to the bio- filter. (They get chopped up by the pump impeller)

As your pond is small, I would suggest you have either a fountain or tadpoles, not both.

[Greengage]

Show pondigger the photos he is the man on here who knows about ponds.

[ponddigger]

hi dusk.are you building a small waterfall and stream running into the pond ponddigger

[ponddigger]

hi dusk.here is a video might be some use to you. ponddigger http://www.hozelock.com/hozelock-videos1/new-products-2/aquaforce-2.html

[tippben]

You can either have fish, or wildlife. The fish will eat all the wild creatures, and will also need supplementary food, which they then excrete, meaning lots more sludge to clear out more often. Unless you really want fish, I'd go for a wildlife pond: just as interesting, ecologically beneficial, and less work and expense.

[vulkan]

tippben is not wrong, he has a good point, its easier to keep a wildlife pond than a pond with a waterfall. (its also more interesting)

If you go for the waterfall route you have to have mains electricity, a bio filter and a UV just to keep the water clear, the "all in one" pump filter UV units are not that reliable.

[ponddigger]

hi dusk ,any update on your pond ponddigger