A living pond is an artificial body of water with the functional capability of supporting aquatic life. The proper function of a living pond has little to nothing to do with its aesthetic makeup. The visual appearance of a pond relies upon a combination of how well it fits into the surrounding space and what …
Best Pond Practices | Naturalistic Pond Edge Treatments Read More »
Zombie projects like this one are projects that come back to life after a long period of disappearance. The general contractor, Blue Heron, originally contacted me three years ago to provide the design and supply the equipment instead of coming in after the infrastructure was finished. The good thing about this project is that I …
In early 2018, I received a call from Anthony in Aliso Viejo, California, who needed assistance designing his pond. Anthony was in construction and had acquired some glass panels. He wanted to build a pond with windows on the sides. Anthony and his wife Linda’s backyard was small, so a raised pond would be a …
Best Practices | Glass-Paneled, Raised-Pond Construction Read More »
In the past couple of years, I have been fortunate enough to help design and supply equipment for clients who are interested working with both their pool and landscape contractors to build a formal pond. Occasionally a client will retain me and then go from contractor to contractor. The contractor-client relationship can be a delicate …
Best Practices | Collaborative Formal Pond Design Read More »
Just like in real estate, the location of a water feature is key. The most natural-looking man-made pond is one that could have been created naturally, given time and the interaction of weather, geology and gravity. The processes are always the same, though geology and terrain will vary. Water flows out from the side of …
A few months ago, I received a call from a couple relocating from California to Las Vegas. They had just purchased a new home and needed to move and quarantine their fish while a pond was built. Not only did they need help moving their fish and temporarily housing them, but they also needed assistance …
Best Practices | Raised, Formal Backyard Pond Design Read More »
Welcome back to the second half of the story of Chad’s dream pond. As I mentioned in the previous article, which appeared in the September/October 2018 issue [link here], Chad’s formal, “still” pond is mostly gravity flow with only the upflow sand and gravel filter operated with a traditional pump. I was attempting to create …
Best Practices | Part 2, Drain and Filtration Design for a ‘Still-Pond’ Look Read More »
Over time, I have been drawn to the “still-pond” look. Being able to view fish through an undisturbed surface is the main attraction. I’m partial to formal ponds, but this doesn’t mean a garden pond can’t have the same still-pond effect, with a few adjustments. Part 2 of the Series | Drain and Filtration Design …
Best Pond Practices | Drain & Filtration Design for a ‘Still-Pond’ Look Read More »
A few months ago, I got a call from a gentleman named Roger who had just bought a house and wanted a pond in his backyard. He had kept fish before, but it was some time ago. Roger also wanted an in-ground spa next to the pond. His friend Jeff had created a dimensional drawing, …
Best Pond Practices | Filtration Design in a Desert Koi Pond Read More »
My first pond construction project was in early 1999. My father’s neighbor, Pam, lived in the cul-de-sac behind him and had removed a tree from her courtyard. She approached me and wanted to use the space for a pond like my father had at the time. At the time, I had just left a 26-year …
Full Circle | Polyurea Solutions for Ponds Old & New Read More »