Newbie from NJ

[leet13]

Hi all I am new to ponds and water gardens but it has always been something that fascinates me.

Early this spring my husband and I bought my grandmom and grandpop's house. On the property there is a 1/4 acre pond that my grandpop used to keep fish in years ago. We had so many that we could go fishing in it. I also remember swimming in it as a child and even ice skating in the winter. The fish are long gone but we have a ton of bullfrogs and turtles in it right now. The pond was cleaned up this year since now we are living in this house... it looks good and i would love to have fish and some plants in it. I cannot tell you how many wheel barrels of leaves we have pulled up from the bottom since the beginning of 2012. Pretty gross.

Also, I just got an overwhelming interest of making a fish pond/water garden pond closer to the house- mainly so i can enjoy it as i look out my kitchen door. It is about 1300 to 1500 gallons and i have a waterfall (just added two days ago but still under construction) and a 4 in 1 filter/fountain on the other end of the pond. I currently have 2 small koi and 2 shubunkins in it. I may possibly add 1 or 2 more koi (I want a platinum colored one so badly).

My pond is not near finished but its getting there... today i need to go out and work on adding stone to my waterfall...basically its a basic frame and i need to hide the hose and sides/back by piling up slate.

 

[Figgy]

Hi leet13, welcome to the forum from me.

 

[j.w]

leet13
The big pond sounds neat w/ the turtles and frogs in it. Wonder tho if you put fish in it if the heron will come and give you problems? I like the idea of the new one you have closer to the house w/ the fish in it so you can enjoy it up close and keep an eye on any critters easier. We would love to see pix of your place and ponds :razz:

 

[don't ask]

welcome
leet13

were you looking to stock the one pond with bass or crappie or something along those lines for fishing? or having two koi/goldfish ponds?

 

[sissy]

welcome leet and hope you have lots of fun there as it is nice that it stayed in the family .You don't see that much anymore .

 

[mtpond]

Welcome!

 

[sissy]

hope you took pics as you were building it .

 

[leet13]

Hi all. My mom wants me to put tilapia in the big pond... dont you know, when i came home with my 2 koi and 2 shubunkin for the little pond, there was a heron at the big pond... and it was back the following day.

I dont know what to stock in the big pond. I am happy with the frogs and turtles.

Yep. got pics of the build on my cell.. still a work in progress. making a home depot trip today.

 

[leet13]

oh... i was not planning on fishing out of the big pond if i do stock some fish-- my mom might be planning it though. We just got it cleaned up a bit so that one needs some more work.

 

[addy1]

darn herons, beautiful birds, but geez go out to a wild pond!

to our group

 

[don't ask]

funny thing is all those nuisance predators are like good golly how lucky can i get when they find a stocked pond and no deterrents...

 

[sissy]

ahhh addy how do they know the difference in a wild pond and yours ,you post a sign and they know how to read ,arrow maybe :arrow: :arrow: :arrow:

 

[addy1]

ahhh addy how do they know the difference in a wild pond and yours ,you post a sign and they know how to read ,arrow maybe :arrow: :arrow: :arrow:

I have tried that, big sign, no eating allowed...............didn't work

 

[don't ask]

try a no loitering sign

 

[sissy]

I guess when there is a free sushi bar they are not going to pass it up .It was a taste test and you passed the inspection .