We are just about to dig our pond. Does anyone know how close to existing trees you should dig? We cut down very large Maples in a small valley.
The pond hopefully will be approximately 200' X 60', and a narrowing in the centre. We were thinking of having one end about 4' deep, for ducks, and the other end about 8 'deep for fish. We are very unsure as to how to set up the aerators and pumps etc. And we are going to have to run hydro down to it and its around 200' from the house. Does anyone know what amperage should be run.
With the cost of all the accessories we would like to do it right. We read the book by Tim Matson called Earth Ponds, which is a big help but need more details.

Thanks for any replys.
Megan

Since you read that book, you're ahead of me in knowledge of earth/farm/big ponds! What little I could provide (mostly links to companies catering to larger ponds) can be found at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/farm.htm

Most large, natural ponds have trees right up to the water's edge. If it's a natural bottom, you don't have to worry about puncturing a liner. So, it's more a matter or either wanting or not wanting shade in the summer and leaf litter in the fall. How trees fare when their root systems are damaged by digging depends on their size and type of root system. I would say to stay 10 feet from huge trees and at least 5 feet from moderate sized ones to avoid damaging their roots to the point of killing them or having them fall into the pond.

Since I've never set up a large pond, I can't really answer your questions about how best to set up aeration, electricity, etc. I hope someone else here can answer some of your questions.

Megan,
The amperage depends on what/how much you're going to plug into it. If you're just going to run a couple of pumps and some lights, a 15 or 20 amp circuit from your main house breaker box should be fine. If you're running on a pole, just use romex. If you're going under ground, thread it through conduit and bury it at least 8 inches in my area, which is zone 7. When you come up out of the ground, it's great to attach it to a pole or something, and be sure to use a gfci outlet, preferably an outdoor one with a cover.

Do you have someplace to bring the ducks in in the winter? My sister, in zone 5/6, has to bring their 22 ducks into a garage in the winter.

Mary Anne

Wow, 22 ducks in a garage! That must be a sight.

Hi Megan, What are you using to seal the bottom of the pond? I have a 65 x 130 foot clay bottom pond, but I have problems with keeping the water level up all year long. Also because you will have such a large surface area your need for aeration will decrease. I had a pump in mine for a bit but pulled it because the clay bottom would get stirred up and the pump would plug all the time. For the last year I have had NOTHING in there. I have Koi and Goldfish and they thrive in there and grow like crazy and have LOTS of babies. Unless you want to run a large waterfall, I would just focus on putting a really good aeration system in there. I would also add plants, but they will grow in there naturally too. Is your new pond spring fed?

MaryAnne, Are these live ducks? :blink:

I would run a 220 volt line out to the pond. There is a company called Kasco Fountains and Aerators that have a great floating aerator model #8400JF. It comes with 5 different spray patterns and its own control box to mount on a pole. There is also a light package for it. I bought one from this place in New Jersey called Aquatic Gardens & Koi.

220v seems a lot. Are you suggesting 220v pumps too then?

I have a 110v 20amp gfi line that runs a 4500gph pump, and two low voltage transformers for all my landscape lights, underwater lights, and 150w post lamp.

Well it is a floating fountain with a 2 hp pump. By using 220v it reduce the electrical cost becasue 220 runs more effecient then 115v. It really depends on what she wants with this pond. By keeping it natural with no liner you really cant use submesible pumps becasue they will clog, and with the size of the pond she needs to move the surface alot so that the philamentous algae does build up. Also by stocking with koi, esspecially with ghost koi to keep the cost down they will help with the algae as well. Ecological labs also makes a bacteria called HC which is formulated for large natural ponds. You would have to build a huge biological filter to do that size pond.

Thanks for all the valuable information everyone. I did reply earlier this week and because I'm not a computer person, the reply I wrote for some reason just disappeared, my son even tryed to help me find it. I just get frustrated and leave.
I was concerned about the trees being to close to the water as I had read that the roots could break the seal in the pond, I just wanted to know if anyone had had a problem with that before. I would like them as close to the water as possible. I am in Canada just east of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. I don't know what zone that is. I wanted the pond to be shallow enough for ducks because I had a Wood Duck here last year in one ofmy Maple trees that has alot of cavities, but didn't stay. I want to build a nesting box for one. We have 100 acres of swampy forest. According to a water tributary map there are (or were) 3 creeks that started on this property and because there is farmland all around the property the creeks got plowed under. This area behind the house ( where the proposed pond is going) is in a small valley with a 15 foot drop from the house. On the property line where this wet area drains to, there is an underground drainage tile that takes the water away. There are 2 other swampy areas and I have seen Mallards quite a few times. I don't want to keep ducks as pets or over the winter, I would hope they would fly south. The soil type is clay, we dug some test holes and it was very grey at the bottom, and I am hoping that there is a spring. They are supposed to come this week (finally) to dig the pond. I'll X my fingers for good weather. Because of the very wet property, our sump runs frequently, and all last winter because the ground didn't freeze, in fact I timed it running at one point every 45 minutes. So when the machine is here we are going to get him to run a trench from the house down to the pond area, and run a natural grade drainage line for the sump pump. And at the same time we were going to run the hydro as well.
About the earators, how do you know what size hp, and gph to get, or do you need more than one. Like maybe one at each end?
I was thinking of getting trout, after waiting a year.
Thanks for any responces
Megan

Let us know how the digging went! It sounds like you have a lot of interesting facets to your land! The people who sell the aerators should be able to tell you how many you should have. I would think you'd one one or even two per acre of water if possible. It depends on how big the aerators are since they come in various sizes.

I don't know too much about trout but do know that they like water that is very cold, clear, clean, well aerated, and moving. They're not the easiest game fish to keep. You might want to start with a species of sunfish native to your area.

Be sure to send us some pictures of the pond and maybe those wood ducks next spring!

Hi Megan! I know of quite a few people here in Northern British Columbia that keep trout with great results. I know one pond very well that is 40 x 120 and 25 feet deep and they keep their trout all year around and it gets COLD -50 here. All they use is an aerator and nothing else. They also eat alot of their trout in the fall (NOT MY THING BUT......to each his own) But......they have also wintered them over several winters. The thing with trout is they like it cool, so you have to make sure you have the depth for them!! These ponds also do not have a spring or anything so the only water movement is from the aerator. Trout rarely do well for more than a few years, they are a good fish if you are looking to eat them :( Not, so great as pets :)

JRN, I agree and understand about 110v vs. 220v. Although 220v is more effecient, I believe the startup costs (equipment) are more. Would you agree?

Hi Koi Krazy
Thanks for the info: 25 feet deep! Is it a dug pond? I think we are going to shoot for 8 feet on one side and 4 on the other. I would love to go deeper but then you have to do something with the dirt. And we are going to have hundreds of stumps to get rid of as well. I'll be running the skid steer with as much dirt as I can. But we have had alot of rain here lately and the clay soil gets quite slippery. I wish the steer had tracks for that but then you can't drive on your lawn with them. Tires get stuck much more easier. Yes we want the fish for eating, I guess all you can do is try a few and see. I really like the Koi fish, but I've heard that because they are so tame that the herons and raccoons get them. I have lots of them here and snakes as well.
I've been checking out the burial wire to get pricing and they have a 12/2, 300 volts, 12 gauge, 2 conductors, 20 amps for 5.49 a metre or a 14/3, 110 15 amp split receptacle /220 volts 15 amp receptacle for 5.69 a metre. I have to check around some more to buy it by a 75 metre spool.

Yes, it is a man made pond. I'm not sure that 4-8 feet will be deep enough to keep them healthy, but like you said, all you can do is try right?? It seems like everyone's application is different and with varying results. If you are planning on eating them every year and getting new ones you might be alright! Yes, Koi do make good targets for the birds and other prey, I worry about mine all the time :rolleyes:

JB no not really, the wire and hook up might be alittle more but the alot of pumps come able t wire one way or the other. I know that there is only about $150 different in the Kasco Fountains.

Meagan you really wouldnt have to worry about herons becasue of the depth. The hero will only go in water up to its lower body, so i would say just start your deeper slop not to far from the sides and he would fish the whole pond.

JRN and JB
Thanks for the info, I tryed to find the web site Aquatic Gardens and Koi with no success. I did find it at Dunns and I phoned the salesperson, he told me that pump was rated for a 1 to 1 1/2 acre pond. But they are clearing off end of the year fountains from Kasco. The price depended on the size of extension cord. When I get a chance I'll research somemore.
Megan