| This
is a critical design issue that is often left unanswered by many pond designers.
This question must be answered to help sort out advice as both kinds of ponds
have their avid followers that strongly pitch their style of pond as better.
Both styles can be designed correctly and there is no one right way to build
either pond. |
Use the video
and this planner to match your interests and needs, to one of these pond
types. Then, critical design questions like pond depth and contours, pond
location, size, budget, filtration system options, plumbing choices and other
key design issues can be answered. |
Most first
time pond builders will be better served with a water garden or advanced
water garden design. A true “Koi pond” with steep sides, large
external filters, side jets and heavy-duty bottom drains is somewhat like
an exotic race car, well designed for its purposes but not recommended for
beginning drivers. A water garden is also a better design to attract birds
and other wildlife. |
| The
first three pond designs we featured in the cross sections emphasize more
plants than fish. A well-filtered “advanced” water garden can house
a few koi for those interested in the beauty and challenges they represent.
We suggest the first timer or person interested as much in the beauty of
a water “garden” focus more on these designs because they are simpler
to install and very easy to manage successfully. |
| The
pond and filter configuration drawings take into account the interaction
of various pond elements. It is this system concept that prompts us to recommend
these typical and advanced garden pond designs. The combination of elements
suggested have proven in practice to work well together and require only
minimal maintenance. |
| Regardless
of the type of pond you choose to build, you will be installing a system
of pond elements that work together to keep your pond clean. The type of
container your choose, it's location, the pump, filters, waterfalls, pipe
size, plants, fish type and quantity all come together in your pond to form
a system. Manufacturers of other pumps and filters claims must be tempered
with the other elements of your design. The best pump, fitted to an undersized
pipe, will not circulate water per the specification on the pump box. |
| Keep
in mind these are self-contained bodies of water. They need a properly designed
recirculating filter system including bottom drains on larger, deeper ponds
to keep the water clean and healthy. |
|
