As the pond hobby gains popularity, so do your choices and subsequent musings. This can be a double edged sword. For example, some manufacturers produce pond equipment with very little know how or R&D behind it. And capitalists flock to make a quick buck on the neophyte hobbyist. Landscapers are ready to tackle the biggest pond project without even a rudimentary knowledge of basic filtration principles. This is not to sound overly pessimistic but rather is a commentary on what I have observed over the last few years in this industry
The quality and merit of all of these options and choices can become difficult to assess and decide upon. Making the right choices is not so easy - but a little common sense will go along way
The good news is that if you get on the right track and educate yourself and think logically, you should be able to make the right choices for your situation
|
Selecting your Builder
Now that ponds are becoming more popular there are many startups trying to capitalize on the trend. They often claim "expert" status on their websites and in their literature. Of course landscape companies and garden centre's are now "watergarden specialists" but unfortunately most have little knowledge of what is really required to be successful. The bottom line is, there is simply no substitute for years of hands on experience and study
Will poorly designed ponds work at all ?
Poorly constructed ponds are perfunctory at best. They contain a long list of deficiencies which include a lack of filtration, shallow depth and poor pond plumbing. Unfortunately this translates into high maintenance, poor water quality & clarity and fish health issues for the pond owner
Consider the Source - Who do you listen to ?
Let's face it, as great as the web is, it can be a source of confusion. People read conflicting viewpoints and become bewildered at the abundance of choices. They arrive at our store confused about what to invest their hard earned money in. The word "expert" is over used. Someone who knows more than you is not necessarily an "expert". Unfortunately it takes some knowledge and guile to differentiate the players from the posers in any industry and there are casualties along the way - sadly we see them all the time
Who are they trying to Convince ?
The word "expert" shouldn't be plastered all over a website ! One illustrates their expertise with an extensive picture portfolio, educational credentials and happy clients. Unfortunately in our market here in Toronto, I know of competitors who will tell you how to build a pond yet have built just 1-2 ponds (usually their own) or even worse, no ponds at all
Reading and regurgitating is easy but the fact is, there is no substitute for first hand experience and this only comes from building a lot of ponds. I get in conversations with clients all the time and discover they are told the wrong information. Just recently a client told me that a competitor told him to setup up his pumps on 220 volt because it would save him money. I guess they didn't visit this page |
- Your pond will be built in just a few days
- Your pond will be less than 5 feet deep
- Rocks in the bottom of the pond are your filter
- Your builder can start the job tomorrow
- Your builder suggests you don't require a bottom drain
- You are getting very little equipment for the money
- The builder recommends box or small canister filters
- Your builder can't answer all your questions
- Your builder doesn't have their own pond
|
- Educate yourself in the hobby so you can make smart choices
- Be patient and take your time - question and plan
- Consider the source - is the person giving you advice built good ponds?
- Be involved in the project and avoid assumptions
- Build as big as budget and yard will afford
- Be prepared to spend some money although great ponds aren't much more costly than poor ones
- Be able to differentiate between opinion and scientific fact
- Understand that "pond construction is a process"
- Deal with hobbyists if you can, avoid the capitalists
- Ask "why". Get real explanations to design and equipment choices
|
|
Unfortunately there is a lack of real knowledge about pond construction. Pond building requires a rare blend of technical savvy, physical strength and creative flare and few possess all of these traits. In my opinion the knowledge one requires is not obtained in less than a decade of first hand experience and study because there are just too many concepts that need to be grasped. I visit many websites which say they build ponds, yet there are no pictures of any work and the copy does not attest to real construction knowledge
Another reason for poorly designed ponds is that the entire process of proper pond construction is expensive. When you're trying to sell a pond to someone, nobody wants to hear the word "expensive". So, many pond builders placate to make the sale. "You pay for what you get" is usually true. No one can do top notch work using quality components for a discount price. That being said, I'm shocked to hear what some have paid for a completely rudimentary pond. I tell everyone who comes into the shop that this is an expensive hobby - this is important to realize from the start
Hey I have a cheap quote
A cheap price means 2 things. The first, your builder is inexperienced and doesn't realize the extent of the work required. It is safe to say your pond will be lacking if the person building it is inexperienced. Second, the builder plans to cut corners and use fewer/cheaper components. This will be the only way the builder can make any money and the performance and longevity of your pond will suffer. The bottom line is, you need to understand the concept of value. Good people are busy. If you phone a builder and they show up the next day to start, you will likely be in for trouble
As mentioned, good ponds will be costly. But an initially low cost pond without the proper design and complement of equipment will ultimately be more expensive as you continually try to keep it clean, add water treatments and replace fish. I won't even mention the rebuilding costs which is where the whole mess is often headed. The aggravation and lost time can be significant with a poorly constructed pond and in the end, it has cost you a lot more
But my fish are doing great in what you call a poorly designed pond !
Have you tested your nitrite? Oxygen levels? Have any of your fish died? Are your koi growing 6 inches a year or more? Without quantitative testing and comparison, "great" becomes a subjective term.
Koi are incredibly hardy and it's worth noting that the gradient between a fish surviving and thriving is vast. Doing the wrong thing but getting the right results can happen - it just won't last forever
Sadly, there is a glut of fundamentally flawed product on the market. Opinions and techniques vary, but science and logic do not. I become dubious when everything is about hype, with little or no real explanation as to why a certain product is the best. A great example of this excessive hype is EvolutionAqua's "Answer". It is called the "Answer" but yet has been discontinued because guess what - it was the wrong answer. Educate yourself, see other ponds and take your time so that you can make the right choices. It is key to know what to ask your builder in order to ascertain whether they know their subject or not. Real knowledge is not attained from reading a product label or frequenting online forums (although forums do help). Another key point is even if one has great knowledge, it doesn't mean it will translate on the construction site - saying is not doing. It is very frustrating for myself to visit a pond, find out what the client paid and discover how poorly the job was done - I feel bad for the fish and the client
|
Classic Pond Rebuild
This flash movie illustrates a dramatic aesthetic difference in the before and after of this particular pond rebuild
But the largest improvements lie in what you don't see - the pond plumbing. A bottom drain and external 2 chamber filter system were installed bringing up the technical merits
The pond was also excavated slightly larger and made 1.5 feet deeper. The end result is better water quality and clarity, more volume, less maintenance and much happier Koi
See more of this rebuild here
|
|
Clarke Koi's philosophy is clear. Our number #1 mandate is to help you decide what products will work best in your situation. We need to consider your setup, fish load, budget and maintenance expectations to mutually arrive at decisions you will be happy with. Our recommendations are not based on what is overstocked at our shop ! And remember, if you build the pond properly in the beginning we can allow for easy upgrades in the future as the fish load and budget increase. This eliminates the necessity for an expensive rebuild
|
|
