Water Pond

View from the deck


About five years ago, I bought a pond kit, on impulse. It consisted of a large piece of purple plastic, and a pump. When my husband looked at what it had, and did a little research, it developed into the project that you see here.

It turns out that he's been into fish since Jr High school, so he had a much more detailed knowledge of what was required. He insisted on getting a larger pond insert, to avoid problems with leaks, and because it will last much longer. he dug a ditch to pipe the water to the basement for warming in the winter, and to get the filter where he can service it more easily. We use an old swimming pool filter, with foam inserts top & bottom, and a bunch of pvc pipe pieces in between to give beneficient bacteria a surface to grow on.

When he had the plumbing in, he asked me - "Would you rather have a waterfall, or a stream?" I said I'd rather have both! (I'm so greedy.) So, we have the little waterfall coming out of the rocks into a little filtering pool, and then down the stream into the main pond. The purple plastic ended up doubled, and under the stream. When it goes, it will be replaced with black! It's so difficult to hide the purple color.

We restocked the pond with ten cent feeder goldfish last year, after a crane decided to dine on all our fish. This year they are all getting huge! We took the supports from a little tent, and arched them over the pond, and threw a black net over all, to keep out the cranes & racoons & foxes. The chipmunks have taken over the little area, along with squirrels. The birds come down to bathe in the stream.

The rocks came from a friend's property, a rock wall that he wanted removed. We took it apart in about 20 trips in the pickup. Y'know what, rocks weigh 2 tons!! It took most of a summer to get them all and place them.