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I bought a house several years ago with an existing concrete pond. It measures 82'' x 62'' x 15'' and is approximately 325 gallons. For years, it has been overgrown with parrot feather and has been little more than a mosquito farm. Well, today I finally decided to clean it out and start from scratch.
I am looking for any type of advice you guys can give... from the type of filter, to recommending some plants and fish that might do well. I know that I want a biological and a UV filter.
The ground all around the pond is rock about 6'' below the surface, so burying an external filter box is not an option. I was thinking of going with either an internal type with a submersible UV, or an external box type that would sit outside the pond at approximately the 12 o'clock position and just spill back into the pond. I guess I could build some sort of stone "house" around it or just try to conceal it with some potted plants. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
As far as fish go, I would love some koi, but I realize that my pond is less then ideal size. I thought about perhaps buying four or five 4'' long specimens and just keeping them until they get too big and then trading them in for smaller ones. I also like fancy goldfish - orandas, ryukins, moores, etc - I would think these could live forever in my pond... any recommendations on how many I could safely maintain? I know commets are good, but I don't really care for them that much.
Finally, plants... I live in Birmingham, AL which is in USDA zone 7b. The pond gets about 4 - 5 hours of direct sun every day. Is this sufficent for any type of waterlilly? I would also like to have some of those tall, straight plants that grow up above the surface (cat tail??). Can these be left to grow in pots?
Thanks in advance!
I am looking for any type of advice you guys can give... from the type of filter, to recommending some plants and fish that might do well. I know that I want a biological and a UV filter.
The ground all around the pond is rock about 6'' below the surface, so burying an external filter box is not an option. I was thinking of going with either an internal type with a submersible UV, or an external box type that would sit outside the pond at approximately the 12 o'clock position and just spill back into the pond. I guess I could build some sort of stone "house" around it or just try to conceal it with some potted plants. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
As far as fish go, I would love some koi, but I realize that my pond is less then ideal size. I thought about perhaps buying four or five 4'' long specimens and just keeping them until they get too big and then trading them in for smaller ones. I also like fancy goldfish - orandas, ryukins, moores, etc - I would think these could live forever in my pond... any recommendations on how many I could safely maintain? I know commets are good, but I don't really care for them that much.
Finally, plants... I live in Birmingham, AL which is in USDA zone 7b. The pond gets about 4 - 5 hours of direct sun every day. Is this sufficent for any type of waterlilly? I would also like to have some of those tall, straight plants that grow up above the surface (cat tail??). Can these be left to grow in pots?
Thanks in advance!