Hello everyone! Very happy to have found this forum. I recently bought a home in the Pacific Northwest with a spacious but rather empty yard and I am exploring the possibility of creating a pond as one of the garden elements. After researching many options, and for reasons of cost, topography, and practicality, I am leaning towards burying a ~100 gallon plastic stock tank and using it primarily to experiment with growing water plants, perhaps eventually adding a few small fish. I am particularly drawn to the dimensions of this round 4 foot wide 2 foot deep stock tank (https://www.ntotank.com/120gallon-acerotomold-green-stock-tank-x2390875), or I might go the oval Rubbermaid route.
As this is my first time with any type of water gardening, I'm eager to learn and avoid mistakes and I would greatly appreciate any feedback and tips. Here are my specific questions:
1) SIZE/COLOR CONTAINER
The stock tank I am most drawn to is green. It seems most people use black tanks, and the Behlen tanks are blue. Does anyone know of any issues using green/blue tanks rather than black? Would it give the water an unattractive hue?
Likewise, does anyone see any problems with burying a ~100 gallon stock tank, or have any recommendations about size? We have a very sunny and open yard (future plantings will provide some shade), and I'm worried that something in the 30 to 60 gallon range would heat up too much and grow algae too quickly, as well as limiting our options for planting.
2) PUMPS/FILTERS
It seems that some people successfully maintain healthy container/tub ponds with no pumps or filters, using large numbers of plants, beneficial bacteria, and sometimes fish to control algae, whereas others insist that a pump is necessary for anything other than a tiny pond. For something in the ~100 gallon range, would you recommend a pump? I was thinking I'd start without a pump or filter, but leave the option open to add a pump/waterfall later on.
3) ROCKS/GRAVEL/FILL
Does a stock tank pond require any gravel or rocks on the inside of the tank? It seems many people maintain patio ponds / tub ponds with little to no rocks or gravel inside, but I'm wondering if there might be a benefit to adding some, such as giving more surface area for beneficial bacteria?
4) TIMING
Are there particularly good and bad times of the year to set up a garden pond? Our major garden excavations/hardscaping cannot start until later this month and we're hoping to have the garden grounds prepared and the pond in the ground by mid September. Would that be too late to add water and plants? Would it be better to wait until spring?
Thanks in advance for any help!
As this is my first time with any type of water gardening, I'm eager to learn and avoid mistakes and I would greatly appreciate any feedback and tips. Here are my specific questions:
1) SIZE/COLOR CONTAINER
The stock tank I am most drawn to is green. It seems most people use black tanks, and the Behlen tanks are blue. Does anyone know of any issues using green/blue tanks rather than black? Would it give the water an unattractive hue?
Likewise, does anyone see any problems with burying a ~100 gallon stock tank, or have any recommendations about size? We have a very sunny and open yard (future plantings will provide some shade), and I'm worried that something in the 30 to 60 gallon range would heat up too much and grow algae too quickly, as well as limiting our options for planting.
2) PUMPS/FILTERS
It seems that some people successfully maintain healthy container/tub ponds with no pumps or filters, using large numbers of plants, beneficial bacteria, and sometimes fish to control algae, whereas others insist that a pump is necessary for anything other than a tiny pond. For something in the ~100 gallon range, would you recommend a pump? I was thinking I'd start without a pump or filter, but leave the option open to add a pump/waterfall later on.
3) ROCKS/GRAVEL/FILL
Does a stock tank pond require any gravel or rocks on the inside of the tank? It seems many people maintain patio ponds / tub ponds with little to no rocks or gravel inside, but I'm wondering if there might be a benefit to adding some, such as giving more surface area for beneficial bacteria?
4) TIMING
Are there particularly good and bad times of the year to set up a garden pond? Our major garden excavations/hardscaping cannot start until later this month and we're hoping to have the garden grounds prepared and the pond in the ground by mid September. Would that be too late to add water and plants? Would it be better to wait until spring?
Thanks in advance for any help!