Is there alot involved with maintaining a pond?

[arkansascory]

I'm checking into building a pond right now and was wondering if there is alot involved with maintaining a pond such as algae and other things. I've heard there are certain fish that will keep a pond clean. Just wanting some opinions on the subject. Any help appreciated.

[turnagerg]

A pond is a pretty complex thing, so I would talk to the ag extension agent or someone like that in the area who can help with experience. Water depth and clarity influence vegetative problems to a great extent. Some recommend carp to control vegetation... I've found that they will keep the water churned and the pond will stay miuddy. Some links...
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/fisheries...0/420-250.html
http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=5
http://www.pondboss.com/
http://www.sdafs.org/
http://county.ces.uga.edu/habersham/...anagement.html
http://www.msstate.edu/dept/srac/fslist.htm

[Anjou]

Pond depth is certainly important for minimizing the growth of aquatic plants. I wouldn't have a pond under 6 feet deep. Fish also help keep the plants under control. Much of the maintenance depends on how much sediment, nutrients, and other detritus (like leaves) end up in the pond. My grandparents had a pond about 50 feet across and nver did much to it except scoop out the accumulated mud every 20 years or so. Make sure you've got a good bed of clay or you might have problems keeping the water. Sure a pond is a complex ecosystem, but nature is pretty good at taking care of itself.

[Pat]

I have 10 ponds and don't do much as regards routine maint. In general the bigger they are and the less you do to them the better they work. There are obvious considerations, such things as: watershed (size and cover), vegetaton on the dam, if any, to reduce/eliminate erosion, proper drain wth anti-vortex protection, proper overflow routed away from back of the dam, and on and on.

So far my biggest interventions have been to remove a 14 ft long willow root mass from an overflow pipe of one dam and repair eroded overflows that were not engineered properly to start with (previous owner.)

I have ben thinking of putting an aquarium bubbler in one of the ponds to see if it will prevent it from completely freezing over. The extra oxygen can't be a bad thing and it won't cost much to try it out.

Ponds can be essentially maint free for decades at a time if done right.

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]