Pond Fountain Info

Water quality and water clarity are often, and easily, confused. The answer to your question depends upon one’s perspective. For a swimming pool, we want clear water that is void of bacteria and other microscopic life. We usually try to achieve this by adding chlorine or other chemicals. For a fishpond, however, this probably means instant death.

Water quality in a fishpond means a healthy environment for the fish where chemicals such as ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are within a range that is healthy for the fish. As the algae multiplies, it consumes these chemicals from the water that otherwise would build up and become toxic to the fish. One of the complications is that we also want to see the fish. With pea soup algae, for example, the water quality may be very good but we still cannot see the fish. In contrast, string algae that grows off the rocks takes up nutrients like pea soup algae but usually leaves the water very clear.

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Thank you!

Jim Wilder

# posted by Jim Wilder @ 9:30 AM 0 comments

29. Can the rocks go on the bottom as well as on the shelf?
Yes rocks can cover the entire pond. We often do this with a mix of large gravel and cobble (3-6”). We always mortar them in place. See question

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WATER CHEMISTRY

Again, my background is in construction. What I’ve learned about water chemistry is piecemeal and incomplete. If anyone has any difference of opinion or spies incorrect information, please contact me so it can be corrected.

Thank you!

Jim Wilder

# posted by Jim Wilder @ 9:40 AM 0 comments

When you say ‘concreting’, I assume you actually mean using mortar. Mortar is cement and sand like concrete but doesn’t have any gravel like concrete.

There are some obvious differences between mortaring and not mortaring the rocks in place. There is the up front cost of the mortar and extra labor. Also, mortared rock is usually much more stable than dry-stacked (mortar less) rock. The short-term and long-term effect of the mortar on the pond health is subtler. I feel the mortar plays an important role in pond health by taking up the spaces between rocks that would fill up with debris over the long haul. This debris is usually rich in nutrients that are difficult to trap in the filter where we can remove them from the system. On the other hand, mortar contains lime that raises the pH (alkalinity/acidity progression). Maintaining a balanced pH is important for water quality and algae prevention. Therefore, if mortar (or any concrete product) is used in large amounts, it may is necessary to treat the water with pH Down to maintain the proper range. As the lime leaches out over time, it will not be necessary to balance the pH to counteract the mortar. However, it may still be necessary to adjust the pH depending upon water chemistry and other factors. There is more on pH below.

For more information about Pond and Fountain Pros, please check out our website at Pond and Fountain Pros.

Thank you!

Jim Wilder

# posted by Jim Wilder @ 9:33 AM 0 comments

ROCKS

27. What kind of rocks do you use?

Because we are in the business of building ponds and fountains, I feel particularly lucky to be living an hour north of San Francisco. My favorite is a native rock called Sonoma fieldstone. It has been used for buildings and rock walls since the time of early settlers. It comes in sizes from softball size to boulders weighing 20 tons. It is roundish, verses flat. The biggest attraction, beside it’s cheap, is that it is irregular shaped and covered on one side with moss and lichens. When used in a water feature, it looks like it is alive and has been there for a long time.

To see what kind of rock you have available may require a field trip to some building material handlers. The shape of the rock you pick is very important. Each type has its pluses and minuses in how it works for a pond and cascade. Round rock, like a river wash, are inherently not very stable as compared to flat stone. On the other hand, you may need multiple courses (layers) of flat rock to the height you need on the shelf.

For more information about Pond and Fountain Pros, please check out our website at Pond and Fountain Pros.

Thank you!

Jim Wilder

# posted by Jim Wilder @ 1:52 PM 0 comments