The Difference Between Large and Small Ponds

If you think that a large pond is simply a small pond that "grewup", you're in for some pond maintenance problems. Let's startoff my defining the terms that we'll be using here. A large pondis anything over 1,000 gallons (5,000 liters). A pond that holdsover 4,000 gallons (20,000 liters) is a very large pond.

Large ponds require a whole different level of financial and timecommittment than small ponds do. You'll need larger and moreefficient pumps and filters as well as the additional plumbingthat those devices require. You'll probably also spend a lot morefor plants and fish as well as higher maintenance costs for thoseplants and fish.

Your building and maintenance costs are dependant, to a greatextent, on how deep your pond is. A 6' deep pond, for example,calls for a large and highly-specialized biofilter which uses alot of electricity and requires a pretty hefty chunk of space forinstallation. You'll need extra UV power and some sophisticatedplumbing including bottom drains, skimmers, valves, and the like.

Of course, you always have the option of letting your pond go "aunatural" and develop into a self-maintaining ecosystem just likea real pond. If that's your goal, don't go for a 6' depth.Natural ponds will be more cloudy than a filtered pond and it'slikely that you'll never see your fish!

Even a natural pond will require some help from you before mothernature kicks in. You'll still need to condition the water, andremove chlorine, before fish are introduced. You'll also want tohave lots of plants both for natural shelter and temperatureregulation as well as for their oxygen-generatingcharacteristics.

If your pond takes root and begins to develop naturally thenyou'll actually end up saving quite a bit of money on fish food.A natural pond generates and attracts a lot of natural foodsources and it's likely that you will never have to feed yourfish at all.

Don't skimp on testing just because your pond is developingnaturally. You still have threats of fertilizer and pesticiderunoff entering your pond, and you still need to worry aboutkeeping oxygen levels up and water temperatures down. You'll alsowant to examine your fish periodically for signs of parasiteinfestation.

Keeping a large pond can require an inordinate amount of time andmoney. My best advice is not to build one unless you are willingto do your part in keeping it.

**************************************************
Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several
other pond-related websites includingMacArthurWatergardens.com
and Pond-Filters-Online.com. He also publishes a free monthly
newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over
9,000. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive our FREE
'New Pond Owners Guide' visit MacArthur Water Gardens today!
**************************************************

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