A pond or waterfall needs to be integrated into the landscape plan for the location. A well planned water feature will look like it is part of the natural environment. In addition to ensuring the design is appropriate, we need to have a constant water source, electricity and drainage as part of the feature.
Water features will see varying rates of evaporation depending on the size, type of flow and climate they are exposed to. In our climate water features will generally lose 1″ of water a week, in hotter months (July – August) evaporation may be as much as 3″ a week.
In addition to evaporation, you will need to circulate the water in your feature continuously. This circulation is required to keep your water feature healthy. One of the things to be aware of is that heavy rains can overfill your pond, to help with this, you should have a path or overflow pipe from your water feature to divert excess water to place where it will not cause damage.
Ecosystem
A pond or waterfall is an ecosystem just like a lake or a stream, just on a smaller scale. Nature has taken thousands of years to create balanced ecosystems, so your water feature is going to need some help to become a well functioning Eco-system.
As mentioned above, your water feature needs to circulate, but you will also need to regular remove debris from the pond. You can do this with a skimmer or skimming net.
You will need to ensure you have healthy bacteria to help the pond break down its waste and add nutrients back into the ecosystem. These bacteria live on surface in the water so it is important your pond has rocks and gravel to provide surfaces for the bacteria to attach to.
Ponds & Waterfalls Guide
There is a lot more to learn about water features. One of our main suppliers has an excellent online Academy. Visit Aquascape Academy for more info.
Aquascape has some great resources to get you started!
Frequently asked questions
What size pump do I need for my pond?
Your pump should have the capacity to circulate the entire volume of your pond once per hour. For example, a 2000-gallon pond requires a pump that delivers 2000 gallons per hour (gph). The pump size will be affected by the length of pipe and the height difference from the surface of the water to the spillway. Collect your pond specific information, and we will help you choose the correct pump and right size pipe.
How many hours a day do I need to operate my pond pump?
Your pond pump should run 24hrs a day, 365 days a year to maintain a healthy pond.
What is a pump curve?
Pumps are rated based on the delivery of water, without a change in height. A 2000 gallon per hour (gph) pump will deliver 2000 gph pump will deliver 2000 gph across a level surface. The amount will decrease as the height of the outlet rises. At some point, the outlet will be too high for the pump and no water will flow, this is known as the pump cut-off. The pump curve is the graph that shows how much water the pump will deliver at varying heights.
Should I put chemicals in my pond to keep it clean?
A healthy pond is one that has vibrant natural cleansing system. Bacteria not only eats the waste, but also feeds the fish and plants. If this system is working correctly, the pond shouldn't need any chemicals. Most urban ponds benefit from the regular addition of helpful bacteria to support their cycle. If you have algae or other challenges, we have many natural additives that will help alleviate those problems and build a healthy ecosystem in your pond.
How often do I have to add water to my pond?
The short answer is regularly. The long answer is: it depends on the exposure, flow, time of year etc. A pond can lose up to 3 inches of water a week in the summer and as little as a ½ inch a week in the winter.