water features

[rf134a]

Anyone have a water feature in their yard? I'm interested in building/buying one and would like to know what others have. How much did it cost? Wally World has pond kits (5'x7') for $100 on clearance. I'm thinking a 2'x3' would be sufficient for my tiny backyard.

[CSK'sMom]

I just came in from outside watching my fish enjoy the snowflakes! :cheesygri

I will begin with you have to decide before you build wether you want a water garden, a fish pond or a koi pond. They are 3 very different things. We have a combo watergarden/fish pond. Our setup includes an upper pond, 30+ foot stream and a lower pond. The fish reside in the lower pond that is roughly 5 foot x 3 foot x 3.5 feet deep. Our fish stay outside all winter long with a deicer in the pond. We run a big pump that pushes almost 3,000 gph along with a seperate filter. It cost us roughly $1000 to build including the pump. We plan to replace our above ground pool with a 20,000 gallon koi pond in the next 5-8 years.

All that said, the kits can be ok but generally they don't allow enough depth. Most kits seem to only allow 18-24 inches for depth which most people aren't happy with. The kids also don't include filters if you want fish and don't move enough water in relation to the size of the pond. You want to turn over your water volume at least a couple of times per hour, much more if you have fish. If you have an idea of what you want I can give you lots of advice and ideas... :)

[Bordello]

Wow, a 3 and a half feet deep pond could overwinter fishes? I guess you must need a lot of current to prevent freezing.

We have a small 4'x5'x3' deep pond in our backyard. It has 6 kois and 5 shubunkins. Since we did the work ourselves, the entire thing only costs about $500.

[CSK'sMom]

Yep it is Bordello as long as a deicer or bubbler is run throughout the winter. They need a hole in the ice for gas exchange. We typically cover the pond with a plastic "tent" when the real cold sets in after Xmas. As for the hydro, we don't find it bad at all, but then we run a big pump and a pool pump all summer long. ;)

I hate to say it but do you realize that your pond is too small for koi? The generally accepted rule of thumb for koi is 1000 gallons for the 1st koi and 100 gallons for each additional koi. They can be very difficult to keep healthy as they have been bred for thousands of years for pattern and color, not vigor. They also require extreme filtration. The japan harvest is happening now, a quick google images search will show pics of what koi should look like if given the proper conditions to thrive. It's not unusual to see a 2 yr old, 4 foot koi pulled from a mud pond. :)

[rf134a]

Wow! You must have a giant backyard to have a 30' stream! I'm thinking of just a small waterfall (1m or so) and a big enough pool or whatever to keep the water flowing without having to refill it every day... I live in one of those new developments with tiny yards... the en vogue trend nowadays. Do you think a 2'x3' reserve pond would be big enough for a 1m waterfall? I don't want anything fancy, just simple and easy to do. :) :cheesygri

[CSK'sMom]

Our yard is decent size but not huge. We actually have a hill or berm at the back of the yard that goes up to the highway sound barrier wall. Because we have a hill a stream worked for us. It winds it's way down the hill in a reverse "S" shape.

That said, if you're looking for more effect and sound you don't have to go big (pond) for a waterfall but you will need a decent size pump to actually move enough water over the waterfall to get the sound. You are going to need to build or buy some type of preformed for behind the waterfall to act an a resevoir to supply the waterfall. Typically if built in a corner the corner is built up with soil to accomodate the resevoir. Don't forget that the waterfall needs to be covered in pond liner under the stone. This is if you are looking for a stacked stone waterfall. If you are thinking more along the lines of a bubbling solid stone waterfall then the drilled rock is going to cost you $$$$. Rock and stone can be incredibely expensive. My advice is to start looking for a local, free souce of rock. We are fortunate and found a free source, if we hadn't I wouldn't have the 3+ tons of stone in my backyard! ;)