A hint to help your planning: use a garden hose or a thick rope to outline the shape of the pond, marking out the actual size in your chosen location.  It is easier to make changes at this stage than during the excavation. Trees located too close to the pond will affect the flowering of aquatic plants during the summer and falling leaves may pollute the water in the autumn.  Include in your plan a border about one meter wide all around the pond. This area can be landscaped with perennials, annuals, rocks, stones or pebbles.

A pond with a depth of 60 cm is adequate for the wintering over of aquatic plants.  Fish can spend the winter there with no problems if a pump is left running over the cold season.

Once all the elements have been detemlined, measure the desired area of the pond, then calculate the required size of the liner.

One of the least expansive and most durable methods for constructing a pond is to use a PVC or an EPDM (liner) and one or two layers of a protective felt called textile or geotextile (Geosol).  The PVC and EPDM are waterproof and resistant to freezing; they remain flexible even after several years. The textile is a non-woven felt which does not decompose in water and its solidity provides protection for the liner against accidents which could perforate it.

PROCEDURE

The time-tested procedure is to :

• 1.Dig out according to the desired dimensions;
• 2.Line the hole with a layer of newspaper to act as a cushion,
• 3.Plut down a layer of textile;
• 4.Place the PVC liner in position;
• 5.Cover with another layer of textile;
• 6.Place a few stones on the textile to prevent it from floating;
• 7.Fill with tap water;
• 8.Finish the edging of the pond with the planting of perennials and some stones;
• 9.Let the water settle for a few days;
• 10.Add BACTA-PLUS for biological balance;
• 11.Add aquatic plants and, a few days later, introduce fi sh gradually;
• 12.Admire your work, relax and enjoy.

CALCULATING THE SIZE OF THE LINER

Add two meters (6 feet) to the length and two meters (6 feet) to the width of the planned pond.  This calculation is used for a pond about 60 cm deep with overlaps of about 30 cm.

Example:

• Desired pond size: 4 m x 5.5 m (13 ft x 18 ft)
• Required liner: 6 m x 7.5 m (19 ft x 24 ft)

PUMPS AND WATERFALLS

For the pleasure of hearing flowing water, one can add a fountain, a waterfall or a stream.  The water will circulate in a closed circuit, thanks to the work of a submergea pump (quiet, sturdy and economical). We advise you to protect the pump by installing it in a container filled with lava rocks. These rocks serve as a biological filter. This filtration is essentiel for the fish in the pond.

As a rough estimate, for a vertical drop of 5 feet 1 200 g/h for a waterfail of 15 to 30 cm (6" to 12") wide; 2 400g/h for a waterfall of 30 to 60 cm (1 2" to 24") wide; 4 000 g/h for a waterfall for more than 75 cm (30") wide.  Use 1.5" or 2" pipes to increase the efficiency of the pump.  We have the appropriate adaptors in stock.

For all types of projects, we have a consultation service at our aquatic gardening centre and at home.