I would also suggest watching The Pond Digger's How to Build a Fish Pond videos on YouTube. They are extremely entertaining (to pond folks) and very educational. Even if you don't need or want every snippet of info, you are bound to pick up some good tips. If you are wanting to add a little bit of height to your water drop, I think you will get some good info on this. He talks a lot about avoiding the "volcano" of rocks look - and how to do that. If nothing else, you will probably have fun watching them as you wait for Spring to get here!
My Spring startup plan - ok?
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To be fair to pond contractors...they are in business to stay in business. If they built the perfect pond every time, they would not be in business for very long.
I think the best use of a pond contractor is to get them to construct the basics of a pond and then the pond owner decides if they would like to have someone else regularly maintain it or they would like to have an ecosystem that looks after itself for the most part.
A self sustaining ecosystem is not something a pond contractor will sell you.
Everyone has their own preferences.
I think the best use of a pond contractor is to get them to construct the basics of a pond and then the pond owner decides if they would like to have someone else regularly maintain it or they would like to have an ecosystem that looks after itself for the most part.
A self sustaining ecosystem is not something a pond contractor will sell you.
Everyone has their own preferences.
I just wanted to report back on my pond startup. I did about a 1/3rd water replacement as I skimmed a bunch of stuff off the bottom. The ShopVac wasn't that great at sucking up the bigger leaves or sticks off the bottom. I found that once the water got stirred up, stuff kind of floated up and I could get it with the vacuum or my skimmer net for larger debris. The latter has proved to be very effective. Then, over a few days, after the water was more clear, I could spot debris that I missed and then grab it with the skimmer net. I've been treating once per week with the so-called beneficial bacteria. The pond is looking pretty good right now and some of the plants are coming back. We have at least 2 resident frogs and the fish seem healthy. I guess the prior homeowner had the plants rooted in pots at the bottom - I'm surprised at their return. We're planning a trip soon to the PondGuy (they are in our area) to pick up some more plants and some snails. Got the pump working and waterfall working. I have a bit of leakage around the waterfall that I'm not too sure the source of. Once our rains slow I might try to dry it for a couple of days and spray some of the waterfall sealant in the rocks.
As far as filter cleaning. I've pulled the skimmer/pump filter out once per week to hose it down. But the waterfall filters and bioballs we treated with the bacteria starter stuff. So is it correct that generally we should leave these alone and not clean them very often? Every time we've had rain or strong wind we're getting a bunch of tree buds in the pond. The filter in the skimmer box gets gunked up pretty quickly but I haven't touched the waterfall filters.
As far as filter cleaning. I've pulled the skimmer/pump filter out once per week to hose it down. But the waterfall filters and bioballs we treated with the bacteria starter stuff. So is it correct that generally we should leave these alone and not clean them very often? Every time we've had rain or strong wind we're getting a bunch of tree buds in the pond. The filter in the skimmer box gets gunked up pretty quickly but I haven't touched the waterfall filters.