Koi & Goldfish Pond.....

[SewingDiva]

This post is great, I'm really enjoying seeing all the ponds! MY BIL has a koi pond and it's quite nice, but I think he needs to learn a few landscaping tips from you guys because he tends to favor fake plants and flowers around the pond!

~Phyllis

 

[dlhunicorn]

@rosalind...that sounds like what I'd do if I had the room... only I would add on to the project more by incorporating some "barrel-ponics" along the way... have a look:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/barrelponics/

@scrambledegg
I was referring to your statement that they died if you did not have the pump running 24/7... I think one of the reasons I no longer have to (at least not unless it is really really hot) is that I provide a substrate for the "good" bacteria (I am certainly not real up on all the details of this though at the time I was reading a bit about it)... I also bought plants I knew to help with providing oxygen and "eating" the excess nitro etc caused by rotting plants and fish etc...
I have not had my pump on once since last july.

ETA: Just thinking... now I do not know how many fish (and size of them) you have but that might be it too... I have a neighbor with Koi (I do not have them myself ...just a couple ten inch goldfish and the rest are five inches or smaller)... the plants helped him get his water problems under control and algae and such and his fish are no longer getting sick but because he has so many he has to run his pumps or the bubble thingy 24/7 for oxygen.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Your ponds are all so beautiful. I've always wanted one but haven't because my yellow lab loves to swim.

My parents have one though and to keep the herons and the raccoons from getting the fish, take a couple plastic milk crates and cut some of the pieces from the sides off (make the holes big enough for the fish to swim inside.) Put it upside down on the bottom of the pond. It gives the fish a place to hide and the herons can't get to them. Not sure about the raccoons but their fish have been safe ever since.

They also put a net over the top in the fall to catch the leaves.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Here are two really nice articles if you are looking to to a more self-sufficient type pond with less dependence on (mechanical) aeration :
http://www.colowatergardensociety.org/pool/greenwater.html

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/homelandscape/watergarden/plant.html

 

[Scrambled Egg]

Those are great articles Diana, thanks! Happily, I am doing the right things! My water lilly bloomed this year for the first time! I'v had the lily pads but never had the flower to bloom, very nice! I will be glad when my Bradford Pear grows a bit more to offer more shade though over the whole pond..course then I'll need a net in the fall for the leaves..lol!