My wife and I have been strongly considering moving out of the city into the county to make life more convenient with work. Somewhere along the line, the idea of installing a small fish pond came to being and I can't get it out of my head. I'm not thinking anything all that big. The pond in my head is stocked with bluegill for handy, tasty fish, much fewer bass for something fun to catch and release, and a few cats to maybe help keep it clean.
The issue is, I have NO idea what all it entails, from permits to construction to maintenance to stocking. But it sure sounds nice to have a place to relax after work and a place for my son to learn to swim in a couple years.
Is there anybody that can let me know what this entails?
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When I had land my neighbor and i looked in to doing a similar thing. I had an artesian spring so water wasn't an issue. The big 3 issues we found were... 1) liability insurance - if someone drowns on your property (even if it is posted, you have legal probelms. 2) permits from F&G. You need special permits to transport live fish, and also at the time permits to have live game fish, as well as ge the pond inspected. 3) water rights. Even if the water flows across you land, you do not own it. Pumping water (even to fill a pond) is also covered in water rights, because both surface water and sub-surface water is all spoken for here in Idaho.
It is a nice idea, and all the issues can be overcome, but it will cost you some big bucks.
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I've heard on several occassions that trying to maintain a good balance [predator/prey] in a pond can be difficult. Easy for stuff like bluegills to overpopulate a pond stunting their growth. Something you'd definitely want professional advice on. I'd guess that [stocking advice] would be readily available from biologists at F&G. Another concern would be excessive algae blooms and weeds taking over and deminishing water quality. Another consideration would be depth necessary to facilitate winter carryover of fish populations when/if the pond freezes over for long periods of time.
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Pokymon built a smaller pond and a CREEK in his back yard. He planted it with a few Koi, but he has a bunch now and they are getting HUGE.
Plus although the pond is only around 4' deep, they survive the winter. He lives in Pocatello, so it gets cold.
I know they aren't the fish you mentioned, but maybe there is some good info there.
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Having had a water feature of my own I'm familiar with the survivability of koi and goldfish in small ponds as long as it doesn't freeze solid. Gradually reduce and eventually stop feeding the fish and they go into a state somewhat like hibernation and the lack of food and fish poop will keep the remaining water from fouling.
What I had in mind, however, with my earlier comment was the occassional "winter kills" or "die offs" we hear of in larger [than koi ponds] bodies of water. If I recall correctly these are generally attributed to sevierly reduced dissolved oxygen conditions. Not certain what factors bring this on, but it's worth asking a fisheries biologist when you're seeking other information and guidance.
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I've seen little windmill aerators that sit on the bank with a hose leading to deep water. The bubbles help keep an open spot and also aerate the water.
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Yeah, I've also seen submerged devices of that nature used on small lakes back in Wisconsin where winter kills were an anticipated possibility.
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You mean something like this?
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I did this one myself and I love it. Takes a bit to get it done, but with some research you can do it easily other than the digging part. That depends if you have equipment or are doing it by hand which will define the size. This pond I have around $3000 into. That is liner/pumps/filters/rock/lights/plants and permits. It is 6.5' deep, about 32' wide and 45' long with a smaller upper pond where the 2 water falls start. It holds around 18,000 gallons.
The permit is easy to get from F&G. Just fill it out and send it in. They will come look at your pond, then approve it. Real easy if it is just in your yard and no way for species to get out of your pond into a river or stream. The cost for a live transport permit is $25 and is good for I think a 2 weeks. The pond permit I think is free, but you have to reapply every 5 years I think.
I started with Koi, but they are no fun to catch. I now have Blue Gill, Large Mouth Bass, Perch, and Green Sunfish in the pond.
It is not bad at all to maintain. I clean the pump filter around every 1-2 weeks. In the fall I pull the pump out and drain it, then make sure the air pump/bubbler is going for winter, and drain my 2-55 gal filters. It is pretty much self sustaining. I do feed the fish since I have around 70 in there right now.
Here is a link that shows the contruction of it.
[url "http://www.myidahoweather.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=17"]Pond Construction[/url]
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prvrt, that's awesome, just what I wanted to know.
Did you dig by hand or w/ equipment? I know renting equipment/hiring it done would be WAY quicker, but as a slow project to keep me busy for a while by hand might be rewarding. Who is the pond permit through? Is it county, state, F&G or something else?
How did you fill it? Is it sustained or do you have to occassionally fill it? Did you have to line it? What part of the state (weather and soil) are you in?
I was thinking of just one "layer" but wouldn't be dramatically different than what I was thinking. I would avoid lights and less rocks. A bit more basic on the landscaping, but yours is gorgeous. I was thinking a couple big rocks to fish off of.
Thanks again, everyone, prvrt, especially, that hits on what I was looking at.
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My daughter dug the pond by hand, [
] well, part of it. It was a punishment for her when she was in trouble. She had it dug out to about 8x8 and 3' deep when I finally got the skid steer out and finished it. A back hoe would be much easier.
The pond permit is through F&G. No idea about the county.
I fill it with my garden hoses and it takes most of the day. My well puts out around 17gpm. I also have a sprinkler line running to it that adds water a few times a week. I live west of Blackfoot in the desert. You do have to add water as evaporation can be bad in the hot summer. The soil out here is rock and clay.
It will have to be lined or you will never keep water in it. My liner was about $1000 and truck shipment.
A few plays to look at "parts" and where I ordered most my items are:
unitliner.com
AZponds.com
webbsonline.com
Most parts I bought from AZ Ponds. Liner was from Unit liner.
Here is a pic from the other direction.
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Wow love the pond.
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[quote maghunter]Wow love the pond.[/quote]
Thanks. I enjoy it. Living in the desert I needed something wet and watching the fish grow and spawn is quite cool. I have learned quite a bit about what temps affect the different species of fish in different ways. It is also quite relaxing to just go sit and watch the fish and here water running down the falls.
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I second the suggestion on buying a property that already has an existing pond. But if you want to build your own, just do a Google search for building farm ponds. There's lots of info out there.
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Just curious about a couple of things. Where do you buy your fish from? I imagine its illegal to catch fish from local waters and try and transplant them to your pond, or is it? How do you keep it from freezing? I would love to see some pictures of your fish if you have any. I've always had fish tanks even as a young kid I would breed and raise tropical fish in my bedroom. I had fish tanks all over my room, drove my parents crazy. I would love to have a fish pond like yours, now I just need to convince my wife. Keep up the good work.
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He mentioned above getting a $25 permit for live transplantation of fish for two weeks.
How 'bout mosquito problems? Have you had any issues there, or is the deeper water not an issue?
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No problems with mosquito's. Seems the fish keep things in control. If you did have issues with Mosquito's, there are items you can get that are fish safe that will kill the Mosquito's.
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I got the fish from The SNake and McTucker ponds. The live Transport Permit permit makes it legal to transport live fish and the Pond permit allows you to have the fish in the pond. It does freeze in the winter. I had 18" of ice on it last winter. I do have the air pump that pumps air through air stone that keeps a small area open and then I put a floating stock tank heater in and turn it on when the temps get below zero. I will see if I can get some pics. It is tough to takes pics of fish in water.
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Not sure where you are from but you can usually get everything you need (pumps, pond liner, filters, etc) from sprinkler supply houses. saves a little on shipping costs.
Jim
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If you want a pond big enough to fish in, a rubber or PVC liner is going to be very expensive. I would look into clay or enhanced soil liners.
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