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No rocks
"JGW" wrote in message ... We're getting ready to build our new pond. The contractor wants to line the walls and bottom with rocks, which he says will serve as a great huge biofilter. I have read that it's impossible to keep the pond clean with rocks on the bottom, and that they can trap hydrogen sulfide gas. What are your thoughts? Thanks. Joan ___________________ |
"JGW" wrote in message ... We're getting ready to build our new pond. The contractor wants to line the walls and bottom with rocks, which he says will serve as a great huge biofilter. I have read that it's impossible to keep the pond clean with rocks on the bottom, and that they can trap hydrogen sulfide gas. What are your thoughts? ======================= They'll look good but I think you're right. They'll collect debris and soon be a mess. How does he suggest you clean them? I had gravel on the bottom and shelves of my first pond. Cleaning them was impossible. -- McKoi.... the frugal ponder... My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b ~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o |
I think it is a matter of personal choice, depending on the size of
your pond and the look you want to achieve. If you choose to go with rocks, you will not be able to keep them clean, so don't even try. Algae will grow on them, unless you use a strong algaecide, clorox, etc, and do not plan on having any plants or fish. (I call this the "swimming pool" look.) I prefer a more natural look and have a layer of fairly large river rocks covering the bottom of my pond (600 gal., Rubbermaid stock tank, 6 ft. diameter X 2 ft. deep). It gives the fish (esp. the little ones) good hiding places. The "gunk" does settle down in between the rocks, but the plants love it. I have a water lily that hopped the pot years ago, in favor of rooting under the rocks in the bottom of the pond. In the spring, I clean the pond out by shoving the end of a syphon hose down in between the crevaces of the rocks to pull some of the debris out. Also, I use a pond enzyme powder about once a month in the summer. The water is almost always clear, and fish and plants are healthy. This has worked well for me for over 10 years. Hope this helps, Gary |
"JGW" wrote in message ... We're getting ready to build our new pond. The contractor wants to line the walls and bottom with rocks, which he says will serve as a great huge biofilter. I have read that it's impossible to keep the pond clean with rocks on the bottom, and that they can trap hydrogen sulfide gas. What are your thoughts? Thanks. Joan ___________________ Some use rocks, some don't. Whether it traps hydrogen sulfide depends on the nature of the material used. Obviously, if you create a thick silty, clayey bottom, there is a definite possibility that H2S build up will occur. If, however, you have good water flow, use large pebbles or rock in a thin layer (I use 1/2"-3/4" natural-color rounded quartz/chert pebbles in a thin layer more for appearance than anything else - also the fish like to root around in the rock), have good filtration, and good biologic growth, and regularly maintain your pond, you should have no problems. I think the rock gives it a more natural look. On another note, if your pond is prone to heavy sludge build up, cleaning can be tedious, and usually involves scooping up the rock and rinsing it, then cleaning the bottom. Frequent use of aquazyme or similar products can significantly reduce sludge build up (the source of sulfide-reducing bacteria). |
" George" wrote in message news:RxSHe.214366$_o.1195@attbi_s71... "JGW" wrote in message ... We're getting ready to build our new pond. The contractor wants to line the walls and bottom with rocks, which he says will serve as a great huge biofilter. I have read that it's impossible to keep the pond clean with rocks on the bottom, and that they can trap hydrogen sulfide gas. What are your thoughts? Thanks. Joan ___________________ Some use rocks, some don't. Whether it traps hydrogen sulfide depends on the nature of the material used. Obviously, if you create a thick silty, clayey bottom, there is a definite possibility that H2S build up will occur. If, however, you have good water flow, use large pebbles or rock in a thin layer (I use 1/2"-3/4" natural-color rounded quartz/chert pebbles in a thin layer more for appearance than anything else - also the fish like to root around in the rock), have good filtration, and good biologic growth, and regularly maintain your pond, you should have no problems. I think the rock gives it a more natural look. On another note, if your pond is prone to heavy sludge build up, cleaning can be tedious, and usually involves scooping up the rock and rinsing it, then cleaning the bottom. Frequent use of aquazyme or similar products can significantly reduce sludge build up (the source of sulfide-reducing bacteria). That should have read "anerobic, hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria". |
"Gary" wrote in message oups.com... I think it is a matter of personal choice, depending on the size of your pond and the look you want to achieve. If you choose to go with rocks, you will not be able to keep them clean, so don't even try. Algae will grow on them, unless you use a strong algaecide, clorox, etc, and do not plan on having any plants or fish. (I call this the "swimming pool" look.) I prefer a more natural look and have a layer of fairly large river rocks covering the bottom of my pond (600 gal., Rubbermaid stock tank, 6 ft. diameter X 2 ft. deep). It gives the fish (esp. the little ones) good hiding places. The "gunk" does settle down in between the rocks, but the plants love it. I have a water lily that hopped the pot years ago, in favor of rooting under the rocks in the bottom of the pond. In the spring, I clean the pond out by shoving the end of a syphon hose down in between the crevaces of the rocks to pull some of the debris out. Also, I use a pond enzyme powder about once a month in the summer. The water is almost always clear, and fish and plants are healthy. This has worked well for me for over 10 years. Hope this helps, Gary I've even seen some ponders incorporate sunken logs into their ponds to give it a wild look. |
We're getting ready to build our new pond. The contractor wants to line the walls and bottom with rocks, which he says will serve as a great huge biofilter. The walls will be okay, but depending how you do the floor, the rock may trap detritus and be difficult to clean. All that stuff will settle somewhere, in this case between your rocks. I would think this would be a maintenance issue you'd rather not have. C// |
" George" wrote: "Gary" wrote in message roups.com... I think it is a matter of personal choice, depending on the size of your pond and the look you want to achieve. If you choose to go with rocks, you will not be able to keep them clean, so don't even try. Algae will grow on them, unless you use a strong algaecide, clorox, etc, and do not plan on having any plants or fish. (I call this the "swimming pool" look.) I prefer a more natural look and have a layer of fairly large river rocks covering the bottom of my pond (600 gal., Rubbermaid stock tank, 6 ft. diameter X 2 ft. deep). It gives the fish (esp. the little ones) good hiding places. The "gunk" does settle down in between the rocks, but the plants love it. I have a water lily that hopped the pot years ago, in favor of rooting under the rocks in the bottom of the pond. In the spring, I clean the pond out by shoving the end of a syphon hose down in between the crevaces of the rocks to pull some of the debris out. Also, I use a pond enzyme powder about once a month in the summer. The water is almost always clear, and fish and plants are healthy. This has worked well for me for over 10 years. Hope this helps, Gary I've even seen some ponders incorporate sunken logs into their ponds to give it a wild look. Hello, I would think a constant trickle of fresh water would keep the pond natural. Other wise the fish food and pooping will turn it into a glorified cesspool. __________________________________________________ _____________________________ Posted Via Uncensored-News.Com - Accounts Starting At $6.95 - http://www.uncensored-news.com The Worlds Uncensored News Source |
We are with the no rocks cohort. They don't give you all that much
surface as compared to plant roots. Easy clean bottom is overwhelmingly best. Jim JGW wrote: We're getting ready to build our new pond. The contractor wants to line the walls and bottom with rocks, which he says will serve as a great huge biofilter. I have read that it's impossible to keep the pond clean with rocks on the bottom, and that they can trap hydrogen sulfide gas. What are your thoughts? Thanks. Joan ___________________ |
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