Before beginning installation of your water garden, you need to answer 3 important questions that may affect your decisions for the finished pond results

 

If the water garden will contain fish life, the general depth of 1.5ft will not be sufficient. Sunterra recommends a depth of 3ft whenever adding fish to your pond. (This is important to note, as a liner will not make the same finished pond size at both depths).

Also, fish will require additional filtration and additional plant life. Make sure to stock your pond with aquatic plants not only for the benefit of fish, but also to reduce algae production and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the pond as well.

Make sure to keep the pond about 40-60% covered with floating plants during the summer months. This helps cut down on algae growth, helps regulate the temperature of the pond water, and provides fish shade from the sun.

Depending on the climate zone you live in , the temperature may dip down into the freezing ranges and freeze the pond solid. This is very important to note, especially if fish are present. The pond will need to be at least 3 feet deep in such a case.

If you live in a climate where the water will freeze, and wish to keep the fish in the pond year-round, make sure to use a floating de-icer to keep an air hole in the layer of ice. This allows oxygen to reach the fish, while also allowing for toxic gases to exit the pond water.

If including fish, the location of the pond is very important. Most fish and plant life will require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. This means that that pond should not be located in an extremely shady area of the yard.

For maintenance reasons, the pond should not be located directly under trees, as this will increase the amount of debris falling into the water and will increase the necessity for cleaning.

You should not locate your pond at the bottom of a steep slope, as run-off chemicals or rainwater can damage the pond's ecosystem.