On 21 Aug 2005 21:11:55 -0700, wrote:

Hi all, just started up a 1/2 barrel liner pond /w fountain pump after
reading the posts here, but have a few questions..

I did not put gravel at the bottom. Can you tell me what kind of
gravel is ideal? It is in a sunny location, I picked up 25 lbs of
aquarium gravel (epoxy coated or something like that), but I thought
was expensive. Can I get the small river pebbles from Lowes
landscaping section? It is alot cheaper more natural looking.

Gravel for the botton of the container? Aquarium gravel is way too
expensive for that, the decorative river pebbles cost too much as
well. Once the water garden gets going the bottom of the container
won't be very visible, so it won't mattter. If I were going to use
rock I'd get some of the 3/4 inch crushed rock sold at Lowes in the
Building supply section, near the cement.


I got 3 plants: Anacharis, variegated Acorous, and sword plant, the
latter 2 have a small basket, Do I need soil or are they supposed to be
held in place by gravel? the Anacharis have a metal ring on it. I
read the acrorous needs shallow planting and my liner is 16" deep.
What is a good way to install the plants higher?

Anacharis can be planted is something, or just left to float. It does
well either way. Varigated Acorus should be planted in a container.
A way to raise it to the proper height is with bricks of concrete
blocks, set them on the bottom, set the plants on top of the brick.

I'm guessing that the sword plant came from an aquarium store, if so
it can go on the bottom of the container. A larger pot would be well,
if this is what I think it is the plant now is growing in mineral
wool. For aquarium use that is usually removed, I don't think it
matters here, but I'd use a bigger pot, some place for the roots to
grow. there are a lot of things called sword plants, I'm guessing
that you have some form of Echinodorous (Hope I spelled that right)
It may be tropical and not survive the winter outdoors, if that's
important to you.

I saw some bareroot water lily in bags and instrutions calls for
gardening soil, I was wondering, You can put these with garden soil in
a basket and put in the pond? Wouldn't it make a mess? Do I get the
"aquatic soil" from the same section of the store?

It's getting late in the season for starting lilies or floating
plants. (I presume you are in the Northern Hemisphere. The water
lilies work in regular dirt, or you can use some more of the rock I
mentioned, either way. Dirt does make a mess, but it settles out.
People put rocks on top the dirt to keep it from getting to be such a
mess, also to keep fish from digging in the dirt.

Water lilies don't like surface disturbance, I notice you are putting
in a fountain and have a rather small container. The lilies might not
do well. At the shop I frequent they have water features near the
lilies, and all seems well, so there is some latitude.

You could use aquatic potting soil, but that is a bit expensive and
doesn't work any better than the rock would.

What kind of floating plants do you recommend beside dwarf water lily?
I have been to the gardening centers and have trouble finding floating
plants.

for floating plants, water hyacinth or water lettuce would be good.
they soak up a lot of nutrients.

I am using tap water right now, bought a bottle of declorinator, but I
read the chlorine will disperes in a few days. Do I need to use this
or not?

The chlorine will dispurse by itself, but if you are going to put fish
in there, when the time comes to add more water you will need the
dechlorinator. Might as well use it to begine with. Do you have just
chlorine or do you have chloramine? Your water company can tell you.

Finally, when can I add a couple of gold fish?

I'd wait until you get the plants in there. They will help neutralize
the ammonia that the fish will give off. Otherwise, as soon as the
chlorine is gone, almost instantly if you use the dechlor.

Thanks in advance