Small pond basin

If you want to create a water garden in a small garden, on a terrace or even on a balcony, a small pond is a good idea. Each pond, also a small one, is calming and beautiful to see. However small the pond will be, it is wise to fill part of the pond with gravel and pond substrate. In this way you create accommodation for valuable bacteria.

Water plants in a small pond

When collecting water plants for your small pond you should not opt for plants that grow too large, that grow too fast or kinds of plants that overgrow others. The choice of water plants consequently is less large than in case of a large pond. In a small pond you can very well plant pistia stratiotes or frog bit. However, also pond plants that grow especially high, such as the Japanese pipewort.

If a pond has a depth of less than 10 inches you can exclusively apply marsh plants or floating plants that remain small. If the width is about 16 to 20 inches you can apply oxygen producing plants on the soil, which will benefit the quality of the water enormously. In this way you prevent algal growth in your pond to a great extent. If you intend to keep fish in your pond, oxygen producing plants are indispensable. Anyway, a large pond can be kept more easily clear and algae-free than a small one. The larger the quantity of water the more simple an equilibrium will start forming.

Fish in a small pond

Keeping fish in a small pond is possible, however, there are a few points to bear in mind.
• If the pond should freeze in winter, fish can not live through. This requires that the depth of the pond should be at least 28 inches. Pond heating would be a solution then.
• Also in summer lack of oxygen may occur for fish, owing to a quick rise in temperature of the water. An air pump will have to be installed in the pond then.
• Besides, fish in a small pond will be an easy prey for cats and birds. There are different solutions to approach this problem.
• Regularly add water to the pond , because especially in summer water can easily evaporate.

Suitable fish for a small pond are smaller species of fish, like fathead minnow and goldfish.

Filtration of a small pond

A special filter has been developed for small ponds. The filter floating almost invisibly on the water surface, the filtered water streaming over the upper side of the filter. The filtration process is effective owing to the special filter foam and a water proof UV-C Unit. The filter is equipped with a strong pond pump. This pump does not only ensure a clear pond, but also high oxygen water. This type of filter requires a depth of at least 14 inches.