Ceaning your pond????

[Meyer Jordan]

Actually, I'm starting to see more and more of these very expensive small bodies of water (less then 1000 gallons) in higher end homes. However the don't like to call them "ponds" there because that reduces the value and kind of puts them into the trailer trash category, they prefer to call them water features. Usually they are very formal, above ground and look a lot like many formal dedicated koi ponds, although smaller. Regardless of their small size and lack of anything resembling a true filter system, they often get end up with fish in them.

"Water features" or Koi "ponds"?

Those are correctly called Water Features or Formal Pools. Strictly for aesthetic purposes usually as part of the overall hardscape/landscape theme.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Those are correctly called Water Features or Formal Pools. Strictly for aesthetic purposes usually as part of the overall hardscape/landscape theme.

I don't know, I think "correctly" speaking a Water Feature doesn't have fish in it. The moment you stock fish in it evolves from a water feature into a pond. And how do you differentiate a Formal Water Feature from a Formal Pool?
The only way you can have "correct" definition of these things is if you have a general consensus of public agreement, or an authoritative governing body that has the power to dictate and decide that a 999 gallon pond can no longer be called a pond, while a 1000 gal pond can be called a pond.
You've said what you think is correct, now tell us who you think is setting the rules and definitions, and while you're at it, show us the list of those rules and definitions.

 

[Lisak1]

Yup - a RainXchange is exactly that. An underground rain storage system. Our initial interest in building a pond was born out of a desire to find a way to store water for emergency purposes, so the cost for us was worth the investment.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

I don't know, I think "correctly" speaking a Water Feature doesn't have fish in it. The moment you stock fish in it evolves from a water feature into a pond. And how do you differentiate a Formal Water Feature from a Formal Pool?
The only way you can have "correct" definition of these things is if you have a general consensus of public agreement, or an authoritative governing body that has the power to dictate and decide that a 999 gallon pond can no longer be called a pond, while a 1000 gal pond can be called a pond.
You've said what you think is correct, now tell us who you think is setting the rules and definitions, and while you're at it, show us the list of those rules and definitions.

Let me first address the term Water Feature. This is a term globally accepted to describe any artificial constructed water related landscape component.
An example of the use of this term is the LinkedIn group that I own. It is titled Water Features Forum and consists of the main Forum and 7 sub-groups: Marketing/Promotion, Aquatic Habitats, Koi Husbandry, Decorative Features, Environmental Water Features, Aquatic Plants and Aquaponics. The term Water Feature can be applied as a general description to any individual constructed feature or to a group or groups of constructed features.

For one list of definitions used in the industry, see:
https://ippca.org/best-management-practices-bmp/

Some of the definitions in the above list require further refinement.

 

[MitchM]

Thanks for the RainXchange link Mitch. Looks interesting, though a somewhat elaborate way to capture and use rain water. But I guess if water is in short supply in your area it might be well worth the set up.

As to that aquarium being a new or old, I do see some signs of algae growth. Look at the top of the rock in the right rear corner. As for the other rocks, if the owner doesn't want algae growing on them he could be removing them and cleaning them, or regularly replacing them. And I do see some signs of bacteria growth permeating up from the lower substrate at the front edge of the glass. However regular cleaning and maintaining of substrate can keep white substrate from discoloring.
Take a look at the aquarium below. Clearly it has been established for a good while as evidenced by the grass growing up through the substrate, and yet that substrate still maintains a fairly white appearance. Keep in mind it is much harder to clean the substrate with grassy vegetation growing through it.
Constant cleaning and removal of unwanted algae is part of a dedicated aquarist routine, especially planted aquariums since creating the same conditions that will grow those nice looking plants also will grow algae.
Of course the first area of algae removal in an aquarium is always the glass, something most of don't need to contend with in our ponds.

I actually recognize that aquarium pictured, lol.
It's from a 2008 AGA contest. - http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2008/show81.html
Amano inspired aquariums are known for their high maintenance requirements.
In that one, you can see some cyano in the substrate, but it is a show aquarium.
I would guess that it's age is 3 months, max


.

 

[MitchM]

If I can get some decent sunlight in my greenhouse today, I'll update my indoor pond thread. I have never cleaned the glass in the aquarium, or "pond" . There is no sign of excess aglae growth or periphyton anywhere, but there is a substantial substrate and plant growth.

 

[Lisak1]

For one list of definitions used in the industry, see:

Wow! It was fun reading through that list and seeing if I could think of an example of each kind of water feature mentioned. Thanks for sharing! And that also illustrates the point very well that every "pond" is different - in design, construction, size, location, function, and purpose, just to name a few.

 

[MitchM]

Those are correctly called Water Features or Formal Pools. Strictly for aesthetic purposes usually as part of the overall hardscape/landscape theme.

From my perspective, any vessel or landscape depression that contains water will have an aquatic biofilm.
The terms ocean, lake, pond, aquarium or water feature are used by us to categorize something and it only serves to limit what we think we can create and manage. Vertebrates and invertebrates just need something suitable to live in. It doesn't matter what you call it.

.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Really I do very litte cleaning. All I have ever done is net excess waste off pond bottom when needed and clean the filters. I add fresh water a little at a time every day to keep bottom pond topped up. Pond never looked better and people aways ask me why my ponds are so clean.... ponds not supposed to be a "Sterile hole in the ground" and if you are obsessive with cleaning then pond will always be trouble.
Then again my ponds run all winter and stay clean that way too, plus my ponds all flow like a river, from pond to pond, which gets rid of lots of leaf litter that way too.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

From my perspective, any vessel or landscape depression that contains water will have an aquatic biofilm.
The terms ocean, lake, pond, aquarium or water feature are used by us to categorize something and it only serves to limit what we think we can create and manage. Vertebrates and invertebrates just need something suitable to live in. It doesn't matter what you call it.
.

Actually the bottom formal pond, as Meyers called it, is "correctly" called a koi pond since the owner who built it had the primary focus to house and display koi,

"Koi Pond – any pond, (generally ranging between 48 inches to 120 inches in total overall depth), whose primary focus is the housing, display and/or propagation of domestic and/or imported koi. Typically these features employ complex and sometimes elaborate filtration systems designed to deliver ultimate water quality for optimum koi health. It is imperative that koi ponds have a sufficient depth, as these large fish require being able to not only swim horizontally but vertically as well."
This is a link to that photo
http://www.koiphen.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=235735&stc=1&d=1202181704

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Interesting, it appears we have come full circle on categorization of under 1000 gallon liner and preform ponds. According the the "Terminology Lingo" list that Meyers supplied, as long as you have fish in them they should be "correctly" called a POND, or a Fish POND. Even if it's only a 50 gal preform.

"Pond/Fish Pond – any body of water, larger than a pool and smaller than a lake, (typically less than 1,000,000 gallons in size and ranging between 18 and 48 inches in depth), whose primary focus are the fish that inhabit the pond. A pond can also contain aquatic plants but usually does so as a naturalistic landscape element, water quality measure and/or to soften the pond’s hardscape of rocks, boulders or other edging and construction materials."

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Interesting, it appears we have come full circle on categorization of under 1000 gallon liner and preform ponds. According the the "Terminology Lingo" list that Meyers supplied, as long as you have fish in them they should be "correctly" called a POND, or a Fish POND. Even if it's only a 50 gal preform.

"Pond/Fish Pond – any body of water, larger than a pool and smaller than a lake, (typically less than 1,000,000 gallons in size and ranging between 18 and 48 inches in depth), whose primary focus are the fish that inhabit the pond. A pond can also contain aquatic plants but usually does so as a naturalistic landscape element, water quality measure and/or to soften the pond’s hardscape of rocks, boulders or other edging and construction materials."

I feel that I should clarify that this is only one list of definitions and that neither I nor many other Water Feature professionals agree with all of the included definitions. I only included it as an example of substantiation of the accepted use of the term Water Feature. For further evidence of the global use of this term see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_feature
and
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Water Feature&gws_rd=ssl

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Even if it's only a 50 gal preform.

Only if it is at least 18" deep. Which would make for a very small preform....2' x 2' x 18".

 

[Lisak1]

larger than a pool

I think "larger than a pool" would exclude a 50 gallon preform or my patio "pond" for that matter. But to me the real issue is getting folks to understand that all "ponds" are not the same - call it whatever you want, a 50 gallon container of water is different than a 5000 gallon container of water.

 

[HARO]

"Pond/Fish Pond – any body of water, larger than a pool and smaller than a lake, (typically less than 1,000,000 gallons in size and ranging between 18 and 48 inches in depth), whose primary focus are the fish that inhabit the pond. A pond can also contain aquatic plants but usually does so as a naturalistic landscape element, water quality measure and/or to soften the pond’s hardscape of rocks, boulders or other edging and construction materials."

So if your "pond"is deeper than 48", it becomes a "lake"? I'm starting to get a migraine trying to make sense of all these rules.
John
P.S.... Let's just toss all the rules and guidelines and start POND ANARCHY!!!