Basic Pond Planning Information

Liner

  • Length of Pond + (Depth x 2) + 2 = Length of Liner
  •     Ex: 10' + 4' (average depth x 2) + 2 = 16 feet long
  • Width of Pond + (Depth x 2) + 2 = Width of Liner
  •     Ex: 5' + 4' (average depth x 2) + 2 = 11 feet wide



Volume

  • Length x Width x average Depth x 7.5 (# of gallons in a cu. ft.) = gallons of water in pond
  •     Ex: 16' x 11' x 2' x 7.5 = 2,640 gallons



Pump Sizes

  • Fountain: Spouting figures use 90-170 gallon per hour pump
  • Waterfall: For every inch of width at widest point in stream multiply by 100 to get pump size in GPH (gallons per hour). If size is not a pump size, use the next larger pump.
  •     Ex: 24 inches (widest point) x 100 = 2,400 gallon per hour pump



Filters

  • Should be sized to work with the pump.
  • Can be internal or external
  • Biofilter: Circulate half the volume of water in pond each hour.
  •     Ex: If you have a 700-gallon pond you need at least a 350-gph pump.
  • Heavier fish levels need greater filtration.



Plants

  • Keep the water clear, shade the pond, and provide hiding places for fish.
  • Shade Coverage: 60-70% of pond's surface should be covered with plants for a pond in full sun.
  •     One water lily covers 10-15 square feet.
  • Under water grasses / oxygenating plants:
  •     A pond less than 25 square feet, one clump per square feet.     A pond more than 25 square feet, one clump per 2 square feet.



Fish

  • Pond less that 25 square feet, 1 inches of fish per square foot of pond.
  • Pond more that 25 square feet, 2 inches of fish per square foot of pond.



Snails & Tadpoles

  • One per square foot of surface area.