I am glad to find this forum. Could somebody tell me what is a good size small pond. I have heard they have a lot keep, don't need that, but I have always loved the fish and pond plants, frogs etc. Everyone's pics are lovely!

Teresa in KY

Teresa, That is a real hard question. One persons idea of a small pond might be another persons idea of a large pond. I guess you have to think about what types of plants you would like to grow, how much garden space you have to use, the location where you would want the pond and how much $$ you want to spend. If you want Koi you will need more space than if you are going to toss in a few small gold fish. There are some pretty easy pond projects that are small, easy and fairly inexpensive. Would you be interested in an above ground pond or do you want it dug in?

Well, I am thinking about 5x8 isn't that small. Goldfish would be fine a couple of rocks for a waterfall too. We could do most of the work. Is it better to have a hard liner or dig it youself?

I would call that a nice size small pond. We have had both hard liner and a pond liner. My fathers hard liner was pretty easy to put in and has lasted a nice long time. His is smaller than 5 X 8 more like a 3 X 5. You have to make sure that you fill in well around the edges especially under the ledges. They can crack over time if they aren't well supported. I think if I was doing a 5 X 8 I would use a liner.

I would use a liner too. I do think the liners stand up to the elements better than the hard plastic.

Teresa - you can definitely do the work yourself. My husband got to the point where building waterfalls became a bit of a hobby.

Teresa no matter how big a pond you do it won't be big enough.... if the bug hits you.....
Sorry but that's the nature of ponding.... lol!

We started w/ a 50 gallon hard shell, added a 75, then a stock tank, then combined them all w/ a liner.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/r...

Now we have the main pond at 12' x 5' x 3.5 ' deep, 4 stock tanks, the original 50 gallon hard shell and about 40 other water container gardens.....

The size pond you are suggesting, 5' x 8', would about have to be a liner pond.
Research 'Skippy Filters' as a low cost filtration system.
If you are doing fish AND plants then you will need a shelf for the plants and at least 24" deep so the fish don't freeze in the winter.
But if you are doing KOI it must be at least 3' deep, twice as big and basically forget about most of the plants.
The Koi love nothing better than destroying plants by rooting in the pots and eating many of them.
For our Koi Pond we have water containers sunken in the ground surrounding the pond.

Here's a good site we use, it's in easy driving distance for us but they do a lot of Free Shipping.
http://www.bestnest.com/bestne...
It will give you an idea of prices and quality you should look for.
DO NOT skimp on the liner.
It should be 40-60 mil. and a single piece if possible.
You can get it at industrial roofing supply houses too.
Same stuff is used as rolled roofing.

We don't have many problems with the fish and the plants - The only time we had that problem was when we tried the tropical waterlilies and I think they must taste better than the other plants Ric - I have to ask, are your plants potted in a clay potting medium? That might be the problem with the koi as they love clay. I know when I put koi clay into my pond, the fish swim right into it. They LOVE clay.

I do agree with Ric - typically when one puts a pond in, the regret is they did not go bigger. I would go as large as you can afford and have room for. We started out with a 90 gallon pond, then put in another pond at 1100 gallons and finally put in the last pond at just under 5000 gallons. If I had more room to go bigger, I would - but I have maxed out the space in my yard for a pond.

Definitely, if you are going to have koi - I would go at least 3 feet deep. The biggest thing is getting the hang of it. It is a learning process, but so worth it. I know I drive my husband nuts every February as I am so ready to start up the pond. There is nothing like sitting out by the pond with my coffee on a sunny morning.

Teresa - let us know what you end up deciding and doing.

Carolyn

Thanks guys, sorry for being slow I am helping with my 90 yr old Dad and have been staying with my parents some. No computer
I will ck out the links. Thanks. I do want plants in one. I have Japanese and L. iris are they ok and EEs?

Teresa

Teresa

Good to hear from you - Your time with your Dad is more important - it isn't always easy with Family, but I believe they our number 1 priority!

I have read that Japanese Iris, although they prefer wet conditions will suffocate when the ice forms over them in the pond. We put our Japanese Iris into the bog last Summer, so I think we shall see this ponding season. I have not read a lot of about Lousiana Iris, but I thought they too liked the wetter conditions. Somebody with more experience than I have with these gorgeous plants may have the answers.

P.S. - glad you are back.

Here is a link I found a while back and wish I had it when I planted the plants in my pond.

http://www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUp...

Hope it helps you!!!!

Good article Jeri!
A few of the plant descriptions are a bit off though but not a whole lot.
Taro by all it's many names is actually just Colocasia e., does have a corm and it's used as a food source.
EE's is just a catchword for big Aroids in about all their species.

Thalia is hardy to Zone 6 IF you sink it in the pond (as are many Canna).

Louisiana Iris (and make SURE you have that and not Iris pseudocorus) are GREAT!
http://www.louisianairis.com/c...
We grown Black Gamecock and Blue Dog in water currently.
Also a dwarf Siberian seems to do well in the ponds.

But Thalia and Iris take a LOT of room in a pond.
Better to sink a water pot outside the pond and grow it in there.
If you do Cattails find the tamer Gracillus or Dwarf types as they, Lizard Tail, Bog Bean, Pickerel, Iris pseudo, ect. will quickly overrun a small pond. We Water Container all of the above and have for years.

Seems Spring has Sprung here in Cincinnati.
Spent the day opening up pumps on the smaller ponds and moving the water garden pots and tubs into position.
Supposed to get some rains here tomorrow so we'll let Mother Nature fill them.
Then after about 4 hours of running the pumps we started netting the fish in the big pond and moving them to their Summer homes.

This Feature here, sorry for the bad shot all I had w/ me was a long lens, we call the Stack Pond.
The bottom is a 125 gallon stock water trough.
It is pumped to a filter, calf feeder, then overflows into a 60 gallon stock trough, overflows to another one, them back to the 125.
Problem is being above ground and not insulated they freeze pretty solid in most winters.
So the fish need to be moved every Fall.

BTW if you are moving fish do it now while the water is cool/cold.
They are VERY slow moving now and easy to catch...lol!

Does anyone have a goldfish pond in one of those huge containers or like a half whiskey barrel? A start to see if I really want a pond and a lot less work. I do have blk gamecock iris to use. Another thing I was reading is that hummingbirds will use a water feature if you have a bubbler. Anyone know for sure?

Teresa

Teresa there are Goldfish in the Stack Pond above and we have them in a 125 gallon stock pond we buried.
They do well.
You will need a Filter.

Henry, ok I am tired now over Spring break we worked on a new huge dl bed. I had thought of putting in a underground pond but I am out of energy and the kids are going back to college. Will the water not freeze in a container during the winter? . Now I need to find a reasonable filter and bubbler.

New here, just jumping in at the end. I have three ponds. Two are small 35 gallon ones and one is a 350 gallon stocktank that I have put in ground.

Hi Rita. Glad to see you.

I am not usually on this forum. Just wanted to show the pictures of my pond.

And a mighty nice looking pond it is.