This last year I have learned that fish ponds can be addictive, you can’t have just one! January 2015 my daughter Lindy came home for a few a weeks and helped me set up a small 30 gallon fish pond. This pond brought me so much joy that I asked my husband and son to help me put in two more. Yes, two more!
Our first 30 gallon “starter” pond.
John and Tyler installing two additional ponds.
Over the summer I purchased two 125 gallon pond liners from Lowes and a section of four inch diameter PVC pipe. After the ponds were put in the ground and leveled they cut a hole in each of the ponds and connected them with the pvc pipe. Silicone Aquarium Glue was used to seal around the pvc. Now the two ponds are connected allowing the fish to swim freely back and forth.
I used two 2.5 gallon liners and a few cement blocks to create a waterfall on one end. I placed the pump in the other pond on the far opposite side. This helps circulate the water through both ponds and through the bio filter hiding in the foliage along the side of the pond.
The top water bowl was transformed into a bog by filling it full of pea gravel and planting the Florida native water hyssop (Bacopa monieri) inside. The pea gravel provides a second filtration system as the water is pumped through the bottom of the gravel. The water hyssop is the host plant for the white peacock butterfly. We haven’t seen any yet, but I keep looking. It’s always exciting to bring new butterflies to the garden.
My husband and son’s hard work was completed the first day, but mine was just beginning. It has taken me approximately two months to complete the rock gluing, rock placement, and plants both inside and outside of the pond. I am finally satisfied with the results.
We have filled the pond with gold fish, silver mollies, guppies a Chinese algae eater and our star, a twelve inch hypostomus plecostomus named Cornelius.
I wonder what will be next?
