How to Create a Fishpond in Your Backyard
There is something peaceful and calming about a fish pond. Perhaps it is the lazy way the fish wiggle about in the unruffled water. Perhaps it is the confluence of water, fish and plants that reminds you of childhood days long past. Whatever the reason is, you can create your personal fish pond sanctuary in your own backyard with planning, muscle power and a few key elements. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Spray paint
- Edger
- Shovel
- Pond filter
- Pond underlayment
- Scissors
- Pond liner
- Large rocks
- Smaller rocks
- Flat river rocks
- Gravel
- Aquatic plants
- Pond fish
Instructions
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1
Decide whether you want a freeform or preformed pond. A freeform pond you create yourself using a flexible, cut-to-fit liner. A preformed pond utilizes an inflexible fiberglass or plastic pre-shaped liner.
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2
Select the location of your pond. Avoid overhanging trees; dropped leaves will clog the filter and pump. Make sure your proposed site is elevated; rainwater runoff can contaminate the pond with fertilizers and organic debris. The pond should receive four to six hours of sunlight daily for plant growth. If you want to install a waterfall, fountain or filter, you need a pump that requires access to an outdoor electrical outlet.
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3
Choose your type of fish. The two most common varieties are koi and goldfish. Koi require a deeper pond because of their size, as well as a filter and air pump. Goldfish are easier to maintain than koi but are vulnerable to higher temperatures.
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4
Determine the depth of the pond. If you want goldfish, the depth should be about two feet for warmer U.S. temperature zones (five to 11) and about three feet for colder zones (one to four). If you prefer koi, the pond must be at least three feet deep, preferably deeper. If you are not using a filtration system and air pump, there should be only one fish per three square feet of surface area.
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5
Create a shape that you like and that works well in the site. Measure the length and width. Add the depth measurement to both the length and width measurements, plus at least one foot for overlap, to get the correct pond liner size.
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6
Outline the perimeter of your pond with something flexible like a garden hose. Mark the boundary with spray paint, then cut with an edger and pull away any sod.
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7
Position the external filter near the pond edge and dig a hole according to the filter manufacturer's instructions. Set filter inside.
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Dig to pond's specifications. If you are creating a freeform pond, dig a shelf about one foot from the surface and at least one foot wide for plants. If you want a natural-looking pond, slope and terrace the sides to create different habitats for fish and plants.
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9
Line the excavation with pond underlayment, which can be cut to size with scissors. Next, lay down and unfold the flexible pond liner or set in the preformed pond liner. Position the freeform liner uniformly over bottom and interior shelves, smoothing out folds and creases.
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Layer large rocks around the edge of the pond, filling in gaps with gravel. Rinse flat river rocks and other stones of varying sizes and place on the pond floor and shelves. Add rinsed gravel. Fill pond with water up to a few inches from the top, eliminating any obvious creases and folds in the freeform liner.
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11
Add aquatic plants. Try submerged plants such as anacharis, eelgrass, arrowhead and water milfoil. Shelf plants include cattails, sweet flag, marsh marigold, water plantain and pickerel rush. Water lilies provide shade and parrot's feather, bacopa and water hyacinth are effective algae reducers.
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Add the fish a few at a time over several weeks. Place the fish in their sealed bags into the pond. Let the fish acclimate to the water temperature, then release them into the pond.
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Tips & Warnings
Preformed liners are quicker to install, but freeform liners give you greater creativity.
The completed pond will be about 30 percent smaller than you visualize.
A larger pond is more stable and easier to maintain.
Frogs, toads, snails and water insects like dragonflies will also take up residence in your pond. Each species helps with the pond's ecosystem.
