Why have backyard fishponds become so popular with homeowners over the past decade or so? It is a question I have been asking myself lately and I think I have come up with the number one reason people want to have a fishpond.
Aesthetics It is purely the aesthetics and wow factor of having a water feature that is attractive, awe inspiring and gets a lot of favorable comments from visitors.
Aesthetics.
It just looks good, especially if it has colorful koi or large gold fish swimming in it.
And everyone wants his home to look good.
If you stock it with a few koi fish, it becomes a high class koi pond.
Otherwise, it is just another garden pond.
Even though a pond is one of the most popular backyard additions, a project of this magnitude can be a path to frustration, a lot of expense and aggravation to an unwary or uninformed homeowner.
A satisfactory project can be a reality, but it requires a lot of forethought and planning.
A popular myth is that it can only be achieved in sprawling or huge yards that have walkways and large empty areas.
If you are ready to have your own fishpond and you do not have a large back yard to put it in, there are many design ideas that can be used to build your pond without having it overpower the rest of your yard.
Your imagination is the key.
The sky is the limit when you are designing a water feature for your yard.
There are so many construction techniques and materials available that anyone can have a beautiful water garden or fishpond without breaking the bank.
The aesthetic value depends on several things: Consider the following simple guidelines: Location Aesthetically, the pond has to serve as the focal point of your back yard.
It probably should be placed near the center of the yard or in a corner if the yard is smaller.
It has to be appealing enough to make people want to walk around it.
Take into consideration the proximity of fences, trees and shrubbery when planning the location of your new pond.
No matter where you put the pond in your yard, it should be higher than the surrounding ground level.
This serves two purposes: 1.
The fish will come as a surprise to first time visitors.
And, 2.
This will keep rain water from washing fertilizers and pesticides into the pond.
Consider the climate in your area when deciding on the location of the pond.
Warmer climates have the advantage of the sun almost all year round and some water plants need sun exposure to grow.
Colder climates require deeper ponds to allow the fish and plants to live through the winter.
If the pond is not deep enough, it will need protection from freezing.
It may be necessary to transfer your fish to an indoor tank if the pond will freeze solid.
Types of Fish You Put in Your Pond There are literally dozens of fish types that you can stock your pond with.
Just make sure that the fish you select are hardy, colorful and lively enough to attract attention.
Koi fish, fantails and pond comets are good choices for a pond, but the comets and koi are more aggressive than fantails.
It might not be a good idea to mix fantails with more aggressive fish.
Consider what kind of fish can survive in your outdoor fishpond.
Goldfish are compatible with most ponds, but they might not live as long or be as colorful as koi in an outdoor pond.
If you want to make your pond more appealing, landscape it or place plants around it to attract frogs and birds.
This will increase the natural feeling the pond gives and make it a more relaxing place to hang out and provide another food source for your fish.
How Well You Maintain Your Pond Outdoor fishponds always require a certain amount of maintenance to keep healthy and vibrant fish and plants.
Building it can depend on your preferences, but ease of maintenance should be put into the design.
If you find that maintaining an indoor aquarium is difficult enough, consider how much more effort a much larger outdoor pond will require.
Filtering systems, bacteria control and aerating will be necessary to reduce the level of maintenance needed.
In Conclusion There is relaxation and therapeutic value in watching fish swim in a pond or aquarium.
Think about how often you see aquariums in medical offices.
They are there to do more than just take up space.
A backyard fish pond tells people how much energy, time, and money you are willing to devote to make your home be more attractive.
No matter how large or small your pond is, it shows that you appreciate beautiful things that bring a luxurious and relaxing feeling to your home.
You will not only impress a lot of people but you will get all the benefits of pond ownership as well.
But, building a backyard fish pond is not an easy project but it can be a rewarding accomplishment for a do it yourselfer.
Get all the information you can.
Then consult your local pond professionals and zoning board before building a pond yourself.
Make a list of material you need and do not hesitate to ask questions to avoid making costly mistakes.
Aesthetics It is purely the aesthetics and wow factor of having a water feature that is attractive, awe inspiring and gets a lot of favorable comments from visitors.
Aesthetics.
It just looks good, especially if it has colorful koi or large gold fish swimming in it.
And everyone wants his home to look good.
If you stock it with a few koi fish, it becomes a high class koi pond.
Otherwise, it is just another garden pond.
Even though a pond is one of the most popular backyard additions, a project of this magnitude can be a path to frustration, a lot of expense and aggravation to an unwary or uninformed homeowner.
A satisfactory project can be a reality, but it requires a lot of forethought and planning.
A popular myth is that it can only be achieved in sprawling or huge yards that have walkways and large empty areas.
If you are ready to have your own fishpond and you do not have a large back yard to put it in, there are many design ideas that can be used to build your pond without having it overpower the rest of your yard.
Your imagination is the key.
The sky is the limit when you are designing a water feature for your yard.
There are so many construction techniques and materials available that anyone can have a beautiful water garden or fishpond without breaking the bank.
The aesthetic value depends on several things: Consider the following simple guidelines: Location Aesthetically, the pond has to serve as the focal point of your back yard.
It probably should be placed near the center of the yard or in a corner if the yard is smaller.
It has to be appealing enough to make people want to walk around it.
Take into consideration the proximity of fences, trees and shrubbery when planning the location of your new pond.
No matter where you put the pond in your yard, it should be higher than the surrounding ground level.
This serves two purposes: 1.
The fish will come as a surprise to first time visitors.
And, 2.
This will keep rain water from washing fertilizers and pesticides into the pond.
Consider the climate in your area when deciding on the location of the pond.
Warmer climates have the advantage of the sun almost all year round and some water plants need sun exposure to grow.
Colder climates require deeper ponds to allow the fish and plants to live through the winter.
If the pond is not deep enough, it will need protection from freezing.
It may be necessary to transfer your fish to an indoor tank if the pond will freeze solid.
Types of Fish You Put in Your Pond There are literally dozens of fish types that you can stock your pond with.
Just make sure that the fish you select are hardy, colorful and lively enough to attract attention.
Koi fish, fantails and pond comets are good choices for a pond, but the comets and koi are more aggressive than fantails.
It might not be a good idea to mix fantails with more aggressive fish.
Consider what kind of fish can survive in your outdoor fishpond.
Goldfish are compatible with most ponds, but they might not live as long or be as colorful as koi in an outdoor pond.
If you want to make your pond more appealing, landscape it or place plants around it to attract frogs and birds.
This will increase the natural feeling the pond gives and make it a more relaxing place to hang out and provide another food source for your fish.
How Well You Maintain Your Pond Outdoor fishponds always require a certain amount of maintenance to keep healthy and vibrant fish and plants.
Building it can depend on your preferences, but ease of maintenance should be put into the design.
If you find that maintaining an indoor aquarium is difficult enough, consider how much more effort a much larger outdoor pond will require.
Filtering systems, bacteria control and aerating will be necessary to reduce the level of maintenance needed.
In Conclusion There is relaxation and therapeutic value in watching fish swim in a pond or aquarium.
Think about how often you see aquariums in medical offices.
They are there to do more than just take up space.
A backyard fish pond tells people how much energy, time, and money you are willing to devote to make your home be more attractive.
No matter how large or small your pond is, it shows that you appreciate beautiful things that bring a luxurious and relaxing feeling to your home.
You will not only impress a lot of people but you will get all the benefits of pond ownership as well.
But, building a backyard fish pond is not an easy project but it can be a rewarding accomplishment for a do it yourselfer.
Get all the information you can.
Then consult your local pond professionals and zoning board before building a pond yourself.
Make a list of material you need and do not hesitate to ask questions to avoid making costly mistakes.