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Your Guide to Designing a Fish Pond

Ashwini Kulkarni Sule
Fish ponds are a great way of beautifying and adding a hint of tranquility to your garden. Read some more information about designing a fish pond.
The graceful movements of fish in water have an immense therapeutic effect on our mind. A minute spent watching fish swim in an aquarium or pond is said to have a very calming effect on the human mind. Hence, many people try to fit a small aquarium in their homes.
If you are fortunate to have a sprawling backyard, then you might consider building a fish pond. A fish pond, along with aquatic plants, is great for landscaping. However, you need to consider a few factors first.

Type of Aquatic Life

This is the first factor you need to take into account while installing a fish pond. The species of fish decides the size of the pond as well as the selection of other aquatic plants.
For instance, if you are planning to have koi fish, you will need a fairly large koi pond, since koi tend to grow to enormous sizes in a short time. Also, you will have to restrict the amount of aquatic plants, since koi eat them away. However, goldfish can peacefully live in smaller ponds with other vegetation.

Selection of the Site

Once you have decided upon the inhabitants of your pond, it becomes easier to select an appropriate location for it. The pond should preferably be as close to your home as possible, so that you can easily enjoy its view and also keep a watchful eye on it.
As mentioned, the size of the pond would depend upon the available space as well as the occupants. Ideally, a pond should be at least 2 ft deep with a capacity of 1000 gallons of water. If you live in a very cold region, then you might have to make provision for at least 12'' to 16'' of space below the freezing zone.
Another major consideration while selecting the site is the placement of trees. If you have trees surrounding the pond, you might face problems in the future.
Deciduous and conifers are known to impair the quality of water, hence are best planted away from the pond. The leaves and other debris from trees falling in the pond will require regular clean up, and may add to your maintenance cost.
Moreover, the roots of nearby trees may protrude and damage your carefully constructed pond. The rainwater run-off should also be taken care of, as the rainwater may carry fertilizers or other chemicals that can be detrimental to the aquatic life.

Design and Implementation

This is the final stage, wherein you need to select an appropriate design as per your individual requirements. You can opt for a pond designing software that will enable you to create a pond as per your specifications and requirements.
A block rendered, resin sealed design provides the basis for constructing the ideal pond. Before you excavate the earth for construction, you should be prepared with a thorough plan depicting the positions of bottom drains, pipework, filters, skimmers, and pumps.
If you have any doubt regarding the installation of the pond assembly, do not hesitate to consult a professional as it is directly concerned with the life of your fish.