Start With a Vision

Plan, Plan, Plan

Locate the area you would like to place your pond. Consider the view from inside your home as well as outside. Make an outline of the shape on your lawn using a hose, bricks or rocks to mark your pattern. Take into account sunlight. The amount of exposure you pond will receive will determine how well your water lilies will bloom. Usually 4 to 6 hours is good. Next imagine the peaceful hours you will spend sitting next to your new stress relief center.

Estimate the depth of your pond. If you are planning on having Koi or fish in your pond, plan a deep area where they can stay in the winter if you intend on leaving them out all year round. That depth is usually at least 3 feet so you are below the frost line. Also take into account platforms to place your water plants. Usually a depth of 12” for potted plants and 16” to 20” for Lilies. When considering your ponds depth you will need to take into account local zoning laws and regulations. Check first. You may be required to have a fence if you exceed certain depths.

Size does matter! Most pond owners will tell you that once you build a pond you will want to make it bigger.  Adding on to your pond is possible with special adhesive tapes which are readily available, but . . . . Do not underestimate your initial pond size and you will save yourself a lot of hard work down the road.

The Pump….Now that you have the size and depth, you will need to consider how much water you need to push. Start with how much water is in your pond.  Here is an example: if your pond is 1000 gallons, you will want to pump 500 to 1000 gallons per hours.  In essence, you want to re-circulate the water to keep the quality of the water healthy.

Determining factors which will slow down the amount of water you are trying to circulate are:

• - Waterfalls – height of falls.... 1 foot upward is considered as 1 foot of head height
• - Water has to travel from the pump to the falls.  Every 10 feet of pipe through which water will travel horizontally contributes 1 foot of head height
• - Biological and mechanical filter requirements.

• After figuring out how much water you need to push, you then have to consider another crucial factor.  How much is the pump going to run me in dollars? Do you mean – how much did the pumps cost? No, I mean, how much is it going to cost you per month to run that bad boy. You may get a great price on a pump but you may be paying more in the long run if it isn’t efficient to run. Your Pump cost is really more than just the initial investment and it is important to calculate your running cost into your overall price. Otherwise that first electric bill may really shock you! 

Here is a general formula to figure out monthly cost….