Hi, I just found this forum and am excited to get some help in what I hope will be my next chapter in pond-keeping. HEre's a quick introduction to me and some of the questions I hope to answer over the next few weeks and months.
I've had a pond for 12 years but never read a single thing about it and just winged it based on my knowledge from keeping fresh and mostly saltwater aquariums over the years. THe small pond (probably 40 gallons) was already installed when we bought our house, which is a rowhouse in the heart of Washington, DC. This is a very densely settled urban area. Our yard is about 15' x 15' with some cut out for the walkway to the stoop. We have a cherry tree in the yard and mostly flowers with an oval shaped pond that is about 3' x 2' with max depth of about 14". The whole garden is raised about 2' from the sidewalk, which gets heavy foot traffic, so our humble little garden and pond are seen by many many people.
Shortly after moving in, my wife ran out and bought a filter when the fish, neglected by the previous owner, started jumping out from the water that looked like pea soup. I kept up maintenance by changing water occasionally, rinsing and occasionally changing filter media, putting in additiives now and then, adding a few plants, and feeding. Our current population of four comets has been stable for years until a recent death. The fish have grown to about 8".
Now we're thinking of taking it to the next level. Rats have eaten through the lining and we want to renovate our garden and install new retaining walls, so I'm going to start over and do this right. We'll replace 100% of the soil and get new rat-proof garbage cans to discourage the rodents from returning (The water was and will always be very attractive to them).
Where to begin? I'll start by reading up on this forum. Because our yard is raised and highly visible from the sidewalk, I was thinking of installing a pond with an acrylic panel on the sidewalk-facing side, perhaps built into the retaining wall. This could be a neat feature for passersby to enjoy. Other than the tiny space we have available, the sky is the limit. I can't wait to start planning and look forward to learning from experienced pond-keepers.
Steve
I've had a pond for 12 years but never read a single thing about it and just winged it based on my knowledge from keeping fresh and mostly saltwater aquariums over the years. THe small pond (probably 40 gallons) was already installed when we bought our house, which is a rowhouse in the heart of Washington, DC. This is a very densely settled urban area. Our yard is about 15' x 15' with some cut out for the walkway to the stoop. We have a cherry tree in the yard and mostly flowers with an oval shaped pond that is about 3' x 2' with max depth of about 14". The whole garden is raised about 2' from the sidewalk, which gets heavy foot traffic, so our humble little garden and pond are seen by many many people.
Shortly after moving in, my wife ran out and bought a filter when the fish, neglected by the previous owner, started jumping out from the water that looked like pea soup. I kept up maintenance by changing water occasionally, rinsing and occasionally changing filter media, putting in additiives now and then, adding a few plants, and feeding. Our current population of four comets has been stable for years until a recent death. The fish have grown to about 8".
Now we're thinking of taking it to the next level. Rats have eaten through the lining and we want to renovate our garden and install new retaining walls, so I'm going to start over and do this right. We'll replace 100% of the soil and get new rat-proof garbage cans to discourage the rodents from returning (The water was and will always be very attractive to them).
Where to begin? I'll start by reading up on this forum. Because our yard is raised and highly visible from the sidewalk, I was thinking of installing a pond with an acrylic panel on the sidewalk-facing side, perhaps built into the retaining wall. This could be a neat feature for passersby to enjoy. Other than the tiny space we have available, the sky is the limit. I can't wait to start planning and look forward to learning from experienced pond-keepers.
Steve
can't say I'm upset with that one 
