Natural Backyard Swimming Pond Installation Tips
These eco-system swimming creations are environmentally-friendly and will protect you.
If you care about the Earth, or if you hate the way your skin smells and feels after swimming in a chlorinated pool, consider going au naturale.
What is a swimming pond?
Split 50/50 to accommodate vegetation and swimming, its been dubbed the swimming pond as the new and improved backyard pond.
The plant section of the pond is around a foot deep, while the swimming area typically ranges from six-and-a-half to eight feet deep. Timber usually separates the two zones.
How clean is it without chemicals?
Very. The regeneration portion isn’t just there for ambiance, it’s also the pond’s natural filter.
Plants like flag irises and water lilies keep phosphate levels in check while getting rid of nitrates so there’s no algae. Gravel also plays a role in filtering the pond.
To keep the water moving, go the scenic route with a waterfall or install a small pump — this will also help keep the pond clean.
Bonus: Your natural oasis will attract wildlife (think dragon flies, birds, tadpoles.), which will help control pesky insects. To avoid snakes, the surrounding grass is kept as short as peach fuzz.
Does a swimming pond cost more than a pool?
The upfront payment is more expensive because of the regeneration zone, but the cost per square foot is about the same.
Thinking ahead, the initial cost pays off. Unheated natural ponds evaporate less than normal pools, don’t have energy costs, and you save around $350-500 on chemicals and chlorine.
How much does a swimming pond cost?
The design you choose plays into the overall cost of installation!
Is it maintenance-heavy?
According to Aquascapes, a pond requires less maintenance than a pool. You don’t have to worry about chemicals, the pond essentially cleans itself, and you can keep it uncovered and full during the winter (ponds make great ice-skating rinks).
Tend to it as you would a garden — and make sure the surface is skimmed.
Is this really something people are doing?
While the trend is still developing in the U.S., Europe is all over natural swimming ponds and pools. The idea originated in Austria and Germany in the 1980s and has evolved from there. Last month, the UK unveiled its first man-made public swimming pond in London!
Long stream with multiple waterfalls flowing to a beautiful pond
Fish Care for Garden Water Pond
The addition of fish to a garden water pond gives one a lot of enjoyment. However, it also makes the owner knowing about water maintenance of paramount importance. Although fish care for garden water pond isn’t tricky, it does adds an extra effort on your part when it comes to pond maintenance.
Fish require a shady location inside the pond to escape from the sun’s scorching heat and hide from birds. Adding floating plants like lilies and lotus and placing stones inside the pond can provide the fish with plenty of areas to hide. Oxygenating plants are essential if you want to add fish to your garden pond. Oxygenating plants help in removing carbon dioxide and increasing the levels of oxygen in the water.
Always check and maintain proper levels of chemicals such as chlorine in the water. An excessive level of such substances can prove to be incredibly harmful to fish in the water. Herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers used for aquatic and surrounding pond plants can harm the fish in the water. Try limiting the use of such chemicals and make sure the waste flows through the drainage properly.
Fish require clear and freshwater. To avoid stagnation, ensure that the filters and pumps are functioning correctly and water flow is maintained. It is essential for a regular check of these pumps and filters and to replace them whenever required.
In the summer, when the water temperature is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 C), feed your fish a high protein food every day or every other day. When the temperature drops below 50 degrees F., discontinue feeding as the digestion of fish drops drastically in winter. Knowing this is very important for fish care for garden water pond.
Fish, like all creatures, need healthy, nutrient-rich food to thrive. Aquascape fish foods contain probiotics that aid in digestion, optimize growth rates, and reduce fish waste. Quality ingredients, including multivitamins and stabilized vitamin C, provide superior nutrition and will not break apart and cloud pond water. Aquascape fish foods are scientifically formulated to provide all pond fish, including koi and goldfish, premium quality nutrition at an affordable price.
- Floating pellets are ideal for all pond fish
- Includes stabilized multivitamin and probiotics
- Will not break apart and cloud water
- Contains high-quality protein
Things to remember for Garden Pond Maintenance
Garden ponds of all sizes need regular maintenance. Mostly they need to be looked after every week. Various factors affect the pond’s maintenance, such as the materials from which the pond is constructed, if fishes are there in the pond, the plants surrounding the pond. Garden pond maintenance also depends on the climate, and the seasons like winter and spring will require different maintenance requirements.
Locate and fix any patch leaks. You can use a pond repair kit for this purpose. Check regularly for any issues in garden pond machinery like pumps and filters. Replace the parts if necessary. Proper functioning of pumps is crucial for keeping the water circulating in the pond. It helps to prevent stagnation and restricts the growth of algae and mosquitoes. Pumps and filters also help in maintaining the water flow.
It is also advised to regularly clear the pond of any leaves and debris from surrounding plants and trees. Adding some aquatic plants can also help to increase the oxygen levels. In addition to planting floating plants, keep a check on algae growth.
Garden pond maintenance requires having a balance water level is exceptionally crucial. It helps to prevent the build-up of minerals. Also, the chemical levels of chlorine and chloramines in water should be kept in check. An excess of these chemicals may prove extremely harmful for fish and other aquatic animals in the pond.
Ensuring the health of fish in the pond is also very important. Reduce fish feeding in winter as their digestion slows down in winter months. During the winter months, move the fish to an indoor pond if the temperatures drop too much. Take care of the surrounding plants by using proper fertilizers.
Selecting a Correct Pump For Your Garden Water Features
Water pumps are one of the most crucial features of the garden pond. Although a static garden pond pump isn’t an absolute necessity, a pump is required when we install a fountain, waterfall, and filter. A water pump helps to keep the circulation of water. Water circulation helps to keep the fish and plants healthy. Water circulation helps in the prevention of algae build-up, breeding of mosquitoes, and stagnation of water. Water circulation also helps in the proper distribution of oxygen levels throughout the garden pond system.
Choosing the correct pump can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be!
For a heavy waterfall flow, you’ll want to use about 2,000gph per single foot of waterfall discharge. If you would like a lighter waterfall flow, use about 1,000gph per foot of waterfall discharge.
Take note of your tubing from the pump to the waterfall. If its greater than 10′ then we recommend to add about 1 foot of head for every 10′ of tubing.
First you will want to determine the head pressure. Head is the same as the total number of feet from the top of the waterfall to the top of the water’s surface.
Second, you’ll want to determine the desired water flow. How much water do you want moving over the waterfall per hour? Usually you’ll want about 1,500 gallons of water per hour (GPH) for every 1 foot of waterfall discharge. This is just the average though, you may want more. For instance, if your waterfall is 2′ you’ll want a 3000gph pump.
Lastly, in this example the head pressure is 5′ and the estimated pump needed is 3000gph. Noting this information, we find out that we will need a pump that is 3000gph at 5′ of head.
Aquascape pond pumps can be tricky if you’re uncertain what you need. The simplest solution is to give us a call and ask what size you need for your water garden, but beyond that, take a look at a pump calculator to see which one you need. Simply add in the values for your water garden and you’ll be able to find out exactly which pond pump you need.
