LOCATION

A vital consideration for a healthy pond is choosing a suitable location. Therefore, plan carefully where you would like to construct your pond.

Choose an area in medium shade that is open to the south and west with approximately 4-6 hours of sunshine a day. The north side of the garden is therefore less suitable.

An architectural pond can be constructed close to the house. A biotope however, should be situated in a quieter area of the garden. An area underneath trees is not suitable due to the shade and the falling leaves.

When you decide on a location for a pond you should also consider your neighbours: the noise of a fountain or watercourse can irritate some people after a while and has caused more than one argument between neighbours in the past. Frogs can sometimes create an incredible level of noise that can rob people of their sleep. Last but not least you should consider the important subject of safety i.e. for children.

A further important factor to consider is the water supply and disposal. The pond water can be tap water, rainwater or water from a well. Pure, sterile tap water is not commendable for fish. However, certain additives can change the water quality so that is provides a good medium for fish to live in.

You should never use rainwater for the initial fill of the pond. It lacks minerals and carries pollutions from the air. Therefore it should never be used directly but only for topping up. It is unavoidable that rain will enter the pond. Hence it should be treated regularly to compensate.

Well water is not suitable either for the initial fill. Generally it lacks oxygen and carries substances from various layers of the soil, which could be harmful to occupants in the pond. Therefore check the water quality before the initial fill.

Finally you have to account for the use of filters and pumps right from the start. To provide plants and animals with an ideal living environment it is important to choose the correct location for filter and pumps to enable effective operation.

If you plan to install lighting systems you need to consider the need for power supply, cable and switches. Don't forget you will need to use an approved RCCD (Residual Current Circuit Device) or GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interupter).