Here we go -- FINALLY! A pond for wildlife...

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Here are a few current pictures of the pond. The Scarecrow sprinkler, combined with the excessive use of branches around the pond (ugly - but effective) seems to be keeping the deer away. The lilies have leaves now! Yay! I have a few missing fish now, though, and I think I see the culprit! The owls are nesting out in the woods and I bet they are getting some snacks. The deer might also be pregnant over on the mountain and might not be venturing out as much to eat. I'd like to think that my deterrent attempts are actually working - but it might just be coincidence. In the meantime, I am enjoying that the plants are growing! We still need to put out sod and get a swing back there. But there is no rush.
 

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You know what's interesting? I've tried a new product and it is definitely doing things to the water. I was watching Ozponds and he mentioned liking a product called Splosht. It is little sachets that you throw in. I know we all sort of poo poo the addition of beneficial bacteria, since it exists in the pond water and on the rocks already. I don't really know exactly what all is in it. I was feeling a little carefree when I heard Kev say he likes it - so I gave it a try.
You put in a slightly larger sachet to start and then small ones ever two weeks after that. I've been using it about 6 or 8 weeks now. The water is extremely clear and a lot of the crazy thick algae that was totally covering the rocks like a thick, slimy blanket is gone. It has gradually fallen off in big pieces. Some has sunk down to the bottom and some ended up in the intake bay. The stuff down at the bottom seems to be disappearing and slowly changing from big slimy pancakes to small green granules. It's fascinating. All the pond life is happy. Snails, minnows, goldfish, dragonfly larvae are all thriving.
Maybe it is a combination of bacteria and enzymes? Bacteria helps digest the nutrients, starving the algae? And enzymes help break down the dead algae?
There is still lots of plant life growing in there. Some different types of algae and all the plants doing well. (The yellowed lily leaves are from our last big late-season frost. I need to get in and pinch them off and remove.)
Anyway, I thought I would share that!!!
 

YShahar

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Here are a few current pictures of the pond. The Scarecrow sprinkler, combined with the excessive use of branches around the pond (ugly - but effective) seems to be keeping the deer away. The lilies have leaves now! Yay! I have a few missing fish now, though, and I think I see the culprit! The owls are nesting out in the woods and I bet they are getting some snacks. The deer might also be pregnant over on the mountain and might not be venturing out as much to eat. I'd like to think that my deterrent attempts are actually working - but it might just be coincidence. In the meantime, I am enjoying that the plants are growing! We still need to put out sod and get a swing back there. But there is no rush.
It's looking really beautiful! I love that shot with the owl, though yeah, I'd think a bird like that wouldn't be at all averse to snagging some fishy take-out every now and then.
 
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The pond looks great and love the owl, so wish we had more of them. We have a lot of barn swallows in the barn.

Your thread of the pond build was the inspiration for my project. Yesterday was a milestone, put in the pond liner. Good lord the liner is heavy (25X35), did not help that we unrolled it and realized we had to pivot to orient the other way, 50/50 shot and got it wrong lol.
 
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The pond looks great and love the owl, so wish we had more of them. We have a lot of barn swallows in the barn.

Your thread of the pond build was the inspiration for my project. Yesterday was a milestone, put in the pond liner. Good lord the liner is heavy (25X35), did not help that we unrolled it and realized we had to pivot to orient the other way, 50/50 shot and got it wrong lol.
How kind of you to share that!!!! I hope my long and drawn out saga helped you have a realistic idea of how long it could take. You will be faster! Yes, that liner is so heavy!!!!
Can't wait to see your photos!
 
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How kind of you to share that!!!! I hope my long and drawn out saga helped you have a realistic idea of how long it could take. You will be faster! Yes, that liner is so heavy!!!!
Can't wait to see your photos!
I had started thinking about this project last Spring. Read your thread at the end of the summer and realized your design was the way to go. Your pictures and explanations were very helpful. A lot of respect for the digging you did, I have the advantage of having my kubota tractor.
I will say anyone thinking of building a pond to take a lot of time to think about location and design, read advice here and watch videos. A lot of opinions out there but you begin to realize there are some basic things that are common to all builds and can usually find a middle ground between all the opinions.
 
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Here is a photo update on the backyard pond:
Between the excessive (and unattractive) use of branches all around the pond -- and the scarecrow sprinkler - the deer have finally left the lilies alone!!!! The bog is overgrown. Things are really filling in.
I still feel like I'm the one person who took that "you can't make your pond too big" notion and got a little crazy with it. If I had to do it over again, I would have made it a little smaller so I had more space around it. If the day comes when we have fewer vehicles parked around it, I will probably like it more. At that point, I can use the concrete parking pads like a patio. Everything is doing well, though! Fish are happy, although some have been eaten by someone. Heron? Owl kids? Raccoons?
 

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Here are a few shots of the front yard pond as well:
The deer have eaten the lilies in here this year, so they are coming back in slowly.
 

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@Souper09 - all the moss around the backyard pond came from the waterfall area of the front yard pond. It is very easy to thin out and transplant!
 
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The water is incredibly clear. I credit the bog filter, aeration, and Splosht sachets (recommended by Ozponds. I gave them a try and I like them a lot!)
 
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Here is a photo update on the backyard pond:
Between the excessive (and unattractive) use of branches all around the pond -- and the scarecrow sprinkler - the deer have finally left the lilies alone!!!! The bog is overgrown. Things are really filling in.
I still feel like I'm the one person who took that "you can't make your pond too big" notion and got a little crazy with it. If I had to do it over again, I would have made it a little smaller so I had more space around it. If the day comes when we have fewer vehicles parked around it, I will probably like it more. At that point, I can use the concrete parking pads like a patio. Everything is doing well, though! Fish are happy, although some have been eaten by someone. Heron? Owl kids? Raccoons?
It all looks so lovely and natural. AND you have lotus buds! AND you have owlets :love: :love: A very pretty spot for relaxing and listening.
 

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