We just built a small pond, need ideas on what we can do with it

15 years ago

We live in Queen Creek, Arizona (Phoenix Metro Area), temps are up in the 100's in summer months and around low 40's in colder months, this pond is in full sunlight most of the day. The pond measures 6 ft length and 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 ft width. 2 ft of the length of the pond is 6 in deep and the other 4 ft is 18-19 in deep. My husband had plans of fish but I am seeing goldfish need 2 ft depth min and he also wants lilys but I heard those require 2 1/2 ft depth :(. So my question is... what can we do with it? Thanks so much for any help!

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Comments (5)

nkm56
15 years ago
Welcome to the world of ponding!

About the lilies, I've kept lilies in 18 - 19 inches of water and they do just fine. In fact, my hardies thrived at that depth. I've also seen tropicals kept at that depth, and they did fine too. They must be pretty adaptable.

That's way too shallow and too small for koi, but I think you can keep a few goldfish or mosquito fish if you help shade the water for them in the deeper end to keep it cooler. The lily pads will do a good job of that. A pot with something tall that has broad leaves like taro or lotus placed on the south or west end of the pond would also be a good idea.

I was going to say that water hyacinth will do well there, but I'm thinking that they may be illegal in Arizona. They do an excellent job of shading the water if they're legal there. Parrots feather is another option. Pretty much any sun-loving marginal should do well in your pond.

Do you have a filter or aeration? Oxygen levels are lower in extremely warm water, so don't overstock your fish. You might also need to add an airstone when temps start getting close to 100.
queencreekaz
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks So Much for all of that wonderful info! I am new to this so I am not sure what some of that is but I will look into all of it. We have a tree at the west end of the pond but it doesn't seem to provide much shade. I am thrilled that we could still have lilys and a few gold fish or mosquito fish and I am sure my husband will be too!

We purchased this filter... not sure if it is ok or not, we didn't know what to buy when we got it. :/

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100051827

Thank You so much again!! :)
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nkm56
15 years ago
I know of a fellow who purchased one of those small preforms as his first pond. He has since dug a bigger pond (most of us catch the "bigger is better" bug), so he decided to keep the small preform as a lily pond. The surface is covered with lily pads and beautiful blossems. He also keeps a few goldfish in there. I think his filter is similar to yours, powered by a small pump.
queencreekaz
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks so much nancym1956! We are off to find someone who sells pond plants today. Thanks so much for your help, now we sort of have an idea of what we are going to do. :)
queencreekaz
Original Author
15 years ago
We went to the nursury and purchaed some pond plants but they didn't have much... we were told they are seasonal and spring is a better time to buy. Anyhow we got some Lettuce and Onion and few potted larger plants for in the pond, that was really all they had. We also bought a palm and put it in pot next to the pond for shade, they didn't really have any large leaf plants that would survive in full sun they said.

Yesterday we added an airstone and 3 tropical 'fancy?' goldfish. They are still very little, we bought them at the Ocean Floor fish store, we also purchased the vitamens and water softener they recommended. Would spent several hours slowing getting them used to colder water and now their in the pond, I hope they do ok.... they don't swim around much, when they do they eat at the algae on the pond walls alot.... its tempting to feed them but I know we shouldn't, so we aren't. The guy at the ocean floor said a few pellets twice a week at most. Thanks so much again for your help! :)

We just built a small pond, need ideas on what we can do with it

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We just built a small pond, need ideas on what we can do with it

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