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 »
In August 2016, I was contacted by Von Winkel from the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. The Springs Preserve is associated with the Las Vegas Valley Water District and does a lot of work to preserve the original habitat in the ancient springs that rose from the desert floor of the valley where Native Americans and
Best Pond Practices | Fish-Safe Airlift Systems for Protecting Endangered Species Read More »
Winter is here, so I feel it’s time to revisit short-term pon quarantine systems. Quarantine is a practice used for winterizing fish in colder climates, caring for sick fish and separating new arrivals for a period before introducing them into your existing system. It’s important to have a system that’s easy to set up, tear
Best Practices | Short-term Pond Quarantine Strategies Read More »
When designers don’t pay attention to the needs of the system that keeps it healthy, Mother Nature tends to take their designs in a different direction. I’m still being asked to assess formal pond designs that are not optimal for live fish and plants, so I wanted to take an opportunity to go over some
Best Practices | Shell Design in Formal Ponds Read More »
When homeowners decide to invest in professional landscape architecture, many choose to incorporate a beautiful water feature as the focal point or “crown jewel” of the design. This is no surprise, because we as pond installers know that a well-functioning, attractive water feature offers homeowners much enjoyment and brings the landscape to life with the
Pond Construction | Renovate & Re-envision Existing Water Features Read More »
Several months ago, I was contacted by Glass Entertainment, a production company, to help with a project for the TV show “Tanked.” The owners of Acrylic Tank Manufacturers (ATM), Wayde King and Brett Raymer, live in Las Vegas and are the stars of the show. They were building ponds in their own backyards and wanted
Best Practices | A Reality TV Pond-Building Competition Read More »
Two years ago, I was contacted by a retired couple about helping them design a pond at their home. Having never built a pond before, Bruce wanted to build it himself. He had grand ideas but said he needed advice, equipment and a lot of guidance. The home was in Mountain Springs, a summit area
Pond Construction | The Do-It-Yourself, Desert Trout Pond Read More »