Michael from Pennsylvania

[Michael]

Hi! I'm from Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. I have had my pond for 20 years and it has bee virtually trouble free. It is about 300 gallons and about 5' x 7' and 22" deep. The River Birches behind the pond were 9' tall when we installed the pond and planted the trees. Now they are taller than the house. We have been through a bunch of learning experiences. The first year, feeling sorry for the fish, I put in a cattle watering trough heater to keep the water warm for the fish. It was beautiful to see snow a foot high around the pond and a beautiful black steaming pond just off the patio. In January, paying the electric bill, I discovered I was paying about $100 per month to keep $15 worth of fish alive. I hit the internet and decided to let the fish hibernate as everybody suggested. They do just fine. We get frogs in the spring, and the occasional snake. A glass of cold crisp white wine and some cheese next to the pond on a hot summer evening is about the best place I can think of to be.

 

[nancyp]

It's beautiful! So serene. I just love it. :cheerful:

 

[Mmathis]

Hello, and welcome. A very nice pond!

 

[sissy]

hi and welcome but river birch's roots are very invasive and can destroy a homes foundation also .They seek out water and destroy everything in there path .Look for a more energy efficient pump .

 

[Michael]

Sissy - you are so right about the River Birches. Have had to tune up the patio because the birches pushed up part of it. They send tendrils into the pond. But as they are 20 years old, and a core element of the patio, I can't really cut them down.
Why the bigger pump?

 

[sissy]

not a bigger pump I just look at how many watts of electricity the pump uses .My electric bill with 2 pumps going is around 100 dollars and my house is all electric no other utilities out here .

 

[Michael]

It was the water heater that ran up the bill. I am using a Beckett 210 gpm pump that draws about 25W per hour. That only runs about $3.00 per month. I pulled the heater in January, when the temp went up above 32, and the comets and shubunkins did just fine with the colder water, and when the pond froze over.

 

[don't ask]

welcome form a fellow Pennsylvanian, and your pond and surrounding area look great

 

[Michael]

Thanks. It has been a real treat for 20 years.

 

[sissy]

what size pond heater do you have .I am from P.A. myself (Berwick ) and i know it does get a lot colder there and here I only have to use my pond heater in January and sometimes in February and only for a couple of days at a time .

 

[Michael]

I was using a 1 kW cattle watering trough heater I bought at Agway. Comes on at about 40 degrees to keep the water from freezing over. I pulled it out 19 years ago and have used nothing to heat the pond since. I usually winterized in December and open up in April. The fish hibernate and the Lilly sleeps in a heavy, opaque plastic bag in the garage.

 

[shad3rd]

Michael,

I am from PA near Philly. Your pond looks great. I am still in the construction stage. Just about ready to fill it for the first time. Kind of nervous to to make sure that nothing leaks. :biggrin: My pond will get 6+ hours a day of direct sun. How about you? Do you use a UV?

Rich

 

[Michael]

I get less than 6 now that the trees have grown up. Maybe 4-5. I don't use UV. Maybe that would help with algae.

Post a picture when you get it filled.

 

[addy1]

Very nice pond!

 

[shad3rd]

Michael,

You asked me to post a picture when the pond is filled. Well here it is. I was a little nervous but all seems to be well. My next step is to start landscaping and hiding the liner.

Rich (from just outside of Philly)