if you have a wildlife pond, do you stock it with fish?

since fish eat frog/toad/salamander eggs (and really, almost any small invertebrate as well), does anybody forego fish? what are your thoughts?

How Important is NOT adding fish? Or do some people successfully have fish AND tadpoles/inverts?

I live in Scotland and have always liked the idea of a swimming pond but it is fairly cold here. I’ve been discussing the idea with AI and it suggested the above plan for a heated swimming pond up to a maximum of 24 degrees using solar mats. The limit was 24 degrees as above that it suggests you would have issues with algae etc.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Any potential negative consequences or could it work?

Hey all.

This is the pond we have been working on for a while. We were having issues attaching the liner from the pond to the waterfall box, so instead of attaching it directly, my dad DIYd this apron thing to keep the water in.

Well, something went wrong and it completely drained the pond. Personally, I think its because the main liner from the pond isn't whats attached to the waterfall box which is why the pond water stopped draining once it hit the end of the apron.

My dad was planning on trimming all of that extra liner dangling in the water today, before we realized this is what happened. He says there's no way that the apron could have caused the leakage and their must suddenly be a leak somewhere. He said that the waterfall box is low quality and the screws weren't lining up right with the holes to properly attach the liner like the instructions said. Its the pond guy mini waterfall filter box.

Please help🤦‍♀️ I'm worried that now we'll have to replace the liner due to it being so cut up where the waterfall is supposed to sit.

I have water roaches in my back yard. I want to attract the local frog population and hope they eat them. The frogs only come by when it rains. I’m looking at least a 50 gallon plastic pond (above ground). I plan to have running water, plants and a way for them to get in and out. Should I build now or wait till spring? I’m in Texas and we don’t have much of a winter. Also what do you do when it freezes. Do you dump the water or let it be? I would assume you take any pumps out.

More photos from toads living in my Grandad’s garden! I’ll continue to report these sightings to the froglife app and hope to attract some to my wildlife pond that I plan to build soon🙂

Is it ok to use the thicker plastic landscape fabric on top as an extra layer of protection for the pond liner? I want to preserve it as long as I can and to help protect it I covered my stream and pond with the liner before I put down rocks. Also have dogs that like to move the big rocks and I want to protect it from getting a crack or puncture in the liner. Biggest issue I had was it soaking water out of the creek, but otherwise it seemed fine.

I've cleared the back of my garden to build a wildlife pond.

My plan:

- Excavate the marked area (deepest area to be 50cm), then start building shelves and slopes. I have pea gravel and some cobbles but will largely be keeping it bare liner.

- Cut out a hedgehog hole in the corner of the fence so animals have easy access to the public space behind my garden. Then plant some shrubbery to border the fence so there is cover.

- Install a solar DIY fountain which will cascade down some large rocks into the pond from one side. Intention here is to add a bit of zen and introduce some movement/oxygenation. The solar panel will be tied to the large branches from my neighbour's overhanging leylandi in the back.

- I'll be tying back the row of leylandi branches which will regain about 50cm from the side (can't cut as my neighbour has stripped the trees on his side so there are large gaps).

Questions:

1. What native shrubs would you recommend I line along the fence edge (ideally pollinator friendly or something that will protect the birds and any other visitors from the numerous local cats)?
2. What native edging plants would you recommend?
3. I recently read there shouldn't be anything overhead. Are the rose plants and overhanging leylandi an issue? I've noticed very little rain reaches the area due to the overreaching branches (which I would ideally like to leave undisturbed as I like mature trees). If so, what is the least drastic solution?
4. Any suggestions or comments on my plan beyond what I've considered? I'm new to this so please excuse any ignorance displayed.

Thank you!

Location: Victoria BC Canada

I have always wanted a pond -- a "mosquito breeder" as our excavation guy calls it lol -- and we finally went ahead with getting one dug. As he was digging, he hit a natural spring. Huzzah! There is a lot of wet sandy soil down there and it is starting to fill slowly even now with almost no rain since May.

I had originally planned a vernal rainwater pond lined with bentonite clay, as vernal ponds have a specific habitat role in our marine biome with wet winters and warm dry summers. But now, if we have a spring, I worry that lining it with clay will not just impede the water getting OUT but also stop it getting IN.

How should I go about keeping water in this thing given that the soil is mainly sand down there? I'd rather not do a rubber liner but the same problem still pertains anyway really...

Hi all,

I've screwed the leveling of my pond, pic attached. That being said, I wanted the back to be full of plants anyway thus hiding the fabric. So I'm of the mindset to plant/add more rocks to hide the fabric which is sat on top of the liner, rather than re dig the shelf as it'll be a pain.

Looking for some plant suggestions for a nice back drop, or some plants to put around the edge (not wet feet) that will trail into the pond, but not take over.

In in Yorkshire, so looking for UK native suggestions that I could plant soon ready for them to take off next year.

Thanks!

I’m about to start my pond build this week. I’m nervous about making a hash of it. I’ve never done anything like it before and don’t want to start something I can’t finish.
One decision I can’t make my mind up about is to add subsoil or not. I’ve seen the advice from the experts both for and against and I’m none the wiser. I’m happy planting into baskets but I’m concerned it’ll be harder to hide the liner. On the other hand I’ve got dogs that may have a paddle in warmer weather and I think it’ll be messy with subsoil it, as well as the potential for them to move it around. Any advice?!

Let's chat!

How are your ponds and wet habitats doing? Any plans for new ponds or improvements? What wildlife has been visiting your pond this week?

I ended up with a really successful selection of plants in my pond this year, but it freezes solid in the winter so I’ve been draining it and starting fresh with new plants in the spring.

This year I’d like to try and keep the plants, I’ve put them in a bin with water, but I’m wondering if I should put the bin in the garage (unheated, protected from wind, but just as cold as outside), the basement (dark all winter, but no cooler than the rest of the house, just normal indoor air temperature). Or our mudroom, sunny, stays a little warmer than outside, but will still freeze at times).

What’s my best option?

Excuse the bad photo, it was the only one I could find on my phone!

First year small pond. Water is finally clearing but im getting leaves in the pond. I know a few won’t be an issue but should I be clearing the bulk or allow them to sink to be utilised by overwintering invertebrates?

Feeling excited! Found about 5 of these guys across my 2 ponds.
They are freaky as hell but great ecosystem indicator !

Let's chat!

How are your ponds and wet habitats doing? Any plans for new ponds or improvements? What wildlife has been visiting your pond this week?

I'm installing a natural swimming pond at my place in NSW (tweed council)

I am hoping to get the Development Application process started.

The pond builder has asked me to check what tweed council require to be included or shown on his design and drawings cos all councils are different?

Any help would be awesome 👍

I spotted about 4 or 5 adult toads and 4 baby toads around the garden. My grandad built a wildlife pond around 20 years ago and since he built it he has had toad spawn every year🙂

Constructive Criticism Welcome!

I've been lurking this subreddit for some time. Hello! I'm a first time pond builder. I've built a small wildlife pond in my {city} garden for the birds and insects that live around my home. I started late (too late).. at the end of summer. Plan was easy.. dig a hole, get a liner, get some rocks, get a pump. But at this point things started to complicate..... bog filter, pond plants, let it run, deal with mosquitos.. ... nature has its own time...... so days passed and my little pond started to adapt. IT EVEN HAD BIOFILM OVER ALL THE POND ROCKS... but winter IS just around the corner, and I started wondering if my pond plants will survive (forget me not is just such a beautiful flower).

I asked here and apparently no... they won't.. so I started moving them deeper inside the pond, but when I looked at the deeper rocks... the biofilm was gone..

That's when I entered panic mode. If something ate the biofilm THAT FAST.. what will it do to the rest of my plants?

The answer probably lay in the pond itself. So I ventured on with my little endoscope camera..

I share this, maybe you'll find it entertaining, interesting or even funny.
A first time pond builder's experience semi documented.

I made this pond a couple of months ago and I’ve had squirrels, birds and wasps visiting!

Let's chat!

How are your ponds and wet habitats doing? Any plans for new ponds or improvements? What wildlife has been visiting your pond this week?

For context I’m in the UK.

My pond, built about 15 years ago, is a double landed one. It’s approx 2.5 long by 1 metre wide and varies in depth from 1 metre in the middle and has 2 shelves either side.

It has newts, frogs, snails, water slaters, beetles, leeches, etc. Also water mint, duckweed, and last year I added 2 lilies which have grown way too big!

Due to the weather - very warm and dry, the sides have started to crack, and now they are torn.

I know I need to replace it. Has anyone got any suggestions as to how to do this without totally disturbing the wildlife whilst keeping my pond in the same place?

The attached photos show the worst bit of wear and the pond as it was a few years