EAST BRUNSWICK  NATURE NOTES

THE BEGINNING

    I love things of nature…birds, flowers, dragonflies (and other insects, too), salamanders, frogs and turtles. It’s wonderful having these things around, allowing me to enjoy nature all the time. Our property is landscaped, to some extent, to help with this interest. We provide food, shelter and water, and have plenty of nearby natural vegetation. Our backyard qualifies as a Certified Backyard Habitat by the National Wildlife Foundation. To this end, and for over 25 years, I have maintained several bird feeders to attract as many different species to my property as possible. This effort has brought 90 species of birds and a variety of other 'visitors' here for us to enjoy and photograph, and provides an endless source of pleasure to see, especially during the time of year when everything outside is bleak and gray.

    Gail and I have wondered how we might improve this effort, make the backyard more beautiful and inviting, for us and for wildlife.

Pre-pond photos of the backyard.
Looking from near the house directly to where we would place the pond. The large mound of soil in back is from a previous landscaping project.	A view from the mound of soil back to the house. The pond would be in the center and the hill with the falls and stream would be on the near left.

    So we visited two regional home improvement shows to get ideas. One show contained two elaborate and beautiful displays of ponds, complete with trees, flowers and shrubs. Not that we thought we might put in a pond, but it was at least worth investigating and it’s always good to know your topic thoroughly before proceeding. Being at these shows during the winter was a plus with all the flowers and shrubs on display, the ponds and the wonderful sounds of flowing water when everything outside was gray and covered with ice and slush.

    Solely for information (of course), I asked the two contractors to come to our home and to discuss possibilities. I made certain to let them both know that this was exploratory and that our budget, IF we proceeded at all, would have to be modest.

    The two visits, about ten days apart, provided an interesting contrast of sales styles. The first contractor looked at our backyard, listened to me explain that I hoped any pond would eliminate a major recurring problem: excessive water retention after repeated rains. (Our section of East Brunswick is known for a thick, heavy clay layer just beneath the surface. Water can sit on this clay for days before finally making it through. In fact, several winters ago, after repeated rains, we actually had 2 Mallard ducks swimming in five inches of standing water.) We also discussed the size of the pond, waterfalls and other aspects of having the project. After about 40 minutes, we walked back inside to continue discussions. He was most forthright about telling us that his projects usually fall somewhere between $25,000 and $75,000, and that he usually left with a deposit. He had grandiose ideas of what we should have and discussed what he usually did with his customers. When we could finally breathe again, we asked politely if he had remembered our discussion of budget at the home show. Apparently he hadn’t.

THE OFFER

    The next contractor, Bob Masino from Oldwick Country Gardens, spent quite a bit of time studying the yard and sizing up the drainage problem. We discussed the size and shape of any (potential) pond, and the possibility of creating a stream leading to the pond. He discussed his ideas for design, based upon previous projects, landscaping the pond, and what would be necessary to create a hill to contain the stream and falls. He told us he could do it, and gave us a ballpark figure. It seemed more than reasonable for what we envisioned. Several days later he formalized the offer with a drawing of his plan, including a good amount of very nice landscaping, and we accepted his offer.

THE WORK

    On Tuesday, May 31, the work began. Bob arrived with four very strong young men (good backs and knees) and a large tractor with an imposing backhoe. We went over some of the major points, just to make sure we were on the same page, including placement of the pond, stream and falls, and where the drainage problem had been the worst. (The hill would eliminate the water problem.) They began by unloading lots more rock than I would have ever imagined being needed for this project. There were (tractor) buckets of large river stone…in the 10” to 12” range, and a lots of much larger and flatter stones that would be used to line the top of the pond and stream.

Tractor depositing large river stones and flat stones.	Removing old trees and foliage.

    Next, we finalized things. Bob spray-painted the outline he believed matched our discussion, and I made minor adjustments…mostly by enlarging it a bit and altering the orientation with relation to the backyard. Once this was agreed upon, excavating began. This proceeded quickly, and, with a delicate touch with the backhoe, most of the soil was removed in a short time. Next came the task of ensuring the proper depth and leveling the bottom. We chose to remain just short of 24” deep so as to not require a permit or fencing.

Guidelines for digging and orientation of the pond are agreed upon.	The excavation begins and progresses quickly.

Once the general shape had been completed, a one-foot wide shelf was created and compacted for the river stones to anchor the liner (a very thick, fully waterproofed, rubberized material similar to that from an car tire inner tube).

Compacting the shelf to support large river stones.	A Laser Level is used to check for level and uniform elevations.

    When all elevations were to specs and everything was level, an under-liner, a heavy felt-like material, was put in place. While every effort was made to ensure that there were no sharp stones or other objects left to possibly puncture the rubberized pond liner, the felt liner would afford an extra level of insurance against leaks. If this step were eliminated and a leak occurred, it would necessitate removing all the water, plants, and tons of stones in order to locate the leak and repair the liner. An under-liner is cheap insurance and well worth the cost and effort. Once the under-liner was pushed into place to conform to the excavation, the main, rubberized liner was carefully placed on top of it. Great effort was made to work the liner into all planned nooks and crannies. Excess liner near the curved sections of the pond was folded as neatly as possible. Any excess at the top rim was folded over large flat stones (to ensure that water doesn't overflow the top).

The under-liner is put into place. The area near the shovel is reserved for above ground plantings.	The heavy, rubberized liner is pushed into all corners, curves and contours. This single, large sheet is for the pond itself and will ensure a leak-proof pond.

    Next, the entire floor of the pond was covered with 3" river stone to form a durable base. This is a surface that can be walked on (with waders, of course) as necessary. Such stones also provide a very large surface area for algae and beneficial bacteria to grow. The algae will be the major source of food for fish as they really don't require feeding from us. Bacteria will help ensure a balanced ecosystem that can control ammonia and nitrates (both a result of fish waste). A well balanced pond environment can take care of itself with a minimum of intervention. I should point out that feeding can be a major source of enjoyment for the pond owner.

The 3" river stones form a floor for the pond. Aside from protecting the pond liner, the large surface area of the stones provide an excellent environment for pond bacteria and algae to grow.	Large river stones line the walls all around the pond.

    After walls were carefully constructed, larger, flat stones were placed on the shelves and along the top edges of the pond. At the same time, the SkimmerFilter was placed where it will allow for the intake of water, filtering and pumping up to the upper section of the system where the waterfalls will be. This unit is 24" in height and must be placed sufficiently low that the center of the intake area is even with the intended surface of the water. This unit has a large basket to catch leaves and other fairly large debris, as well as a large, mesh filter to catch most smaller items. Water must pass through both filters before being pumped to the upper stage.

    It is most important that the waterproof liner be attached securely all around the water intake. Twenty screws are used to secure the faceplate (which holds the liner in place) to the main unit to prevent any leaks.

View of the main pond and the smaller bog area (on the left) with the SkimmerFilter unit in place (but not yet attached).	Bob Masino, trimming excess liner from the SkimmerFilter opening. Note the many screws used to secure the liner and ensure a watertight seal.

 
    Next came the really satisfying part…when water was put into the main pond to check for level and for leaks. There were no leaks and the level was perfect. With the main pond well on its way to completion, attention moved to creating the hill for the falls and stream. First, the waterfall filter was put into position and at the desired elevation. Next, great volumes of soil were added on all sides to create a stable hill. The common mistake here is to not make such hills sufficiently wide. Ours was quite wide to ensure a stable base. We must have used about 20 cubic yards of soil here.

Water is added to test for level and watertightness.	The hill is constructed for the stream and falls.

    Once the proper height was reached, contouring began and stream beds were formed. I wanted the stream to split into two sections and enter the pond in different places: the bog area and the main stream. Liner was placed into the stream beds, making certain to overlap sufficiently so water could not back up the liner and begin to erode the hill. As with the pond itself, the next step was to cover the bed with small smooth stone. Also, there must be enough liner used over the area where the falls will enter the stream. This is a very easy point to miss and water could leak out at that point if the liner placement isn't correct.

The stream is formed and is contoured and pitched carefully. This will enable a vigorous flow of water that produces a very pleasing sound.	Smooth round stones line the stream. Note the overlap of the stream liner over the pond liner (much as roofing shingles overlap) to ensure that water doesn't escape where they meet.

When the pitch was correct, larger, flat stones were used to line the sides of the stream. A large pump, with sufficient capacity to move several thousand gallons of water each hour, was installed in the SkimmerFilter. Next, a flexible line attached that unit to the falls unit on the hill.

Large flat stones are positioned around the stream.	The pump is installed and a large, flexible line (to the falls) is attached.

Here, the trench for the flexible line is being dug.	All water lines and the falls are tested for leaks and other problems. (Note, the cover is not in place in this photo.)

A combination of evergreen shrubs and perennial plants are put into place to make the hill appear more natural, and to secure the soil in place.	Generous amounts of mulch will reduce any erosion, retain moisture, and help maintain the contour of the hill.

    Once the pond was finished, it took five days for the water to clear completely. No matter how well the stones are rinsed (and they were) there was still a sufficient amount of very fine particles to cloud the water. Larger particles and pieces of debris were filtered out mechanically. The smaller particles, smaller than talcum powder, settle out and become part of the ecosystem.

The pond, now completely filled and landscaped, as it appeared five days after beginning the project. The water would clear within a few days and plants and fish would be added within a week.

    The pond's specs are as follows:

    Length of the main pond--about 20 feet…depth—about 22"
    Width of the main pond--about 8 feet
    Length of the bog area--about 4 feet…depth—about 12"
    Width of the bog area--about 3 feet
    Height of top waterfall over the water surface--about 33"
    Length of stream--17 feet
    Total volume--estimated at ±2,000 gal.

    With such a large surface area of water being presented, we thought the pond might be a large attractor of mosquitoes. This was a major concern to us, and we knew that I would be a good test case as I am considered to be premium dessert for mosquitoes. In fact, there were fewer mosquitoes this year than last. There's no way to be certain that this is entirely, or partly, due to the very dry conditions we endured this past season, but, with the sprinkler system going throughout the summer, the area and nearby woods (leaf litter) remained somewhat moist much of the time and this would have equaled things out somewhat. I would imagine that the high number of frogs present each day has taken care of some of the problem (although, oddly, I rarely catch them eating), and the fish have taken care of any larvae. So it's either a wash, with things being somewhat close to how they have been in the past, or it has improved the situation. We'll know when we have a more normal season for rainfall. I tend to favor the situation as having improved, as I was much less bothered with mosquito bites this summer.

THE END…WELL, ALMOST

    Most people who view the pond are amazed on several levels. First of all, and most obviously, it's lovely to look at in its entirety. The fish are a constant source of enjoyment. Dragonflies and butterflies are little jewels that adorn the environment. The frogs are a source of constant amusement. And the sound…it's just wonderful. Sitting by the pond, even if your eyes are closed, is magical. Yes, it's a great stress reducer! Has it been a lot of work to maintain? Not really. It took a little while to bring the salt levels up to a good level. (Fish need some small amount of salt in the water to be healthy; it helps maintain the slimy coating on their scales.) Most problematic was the pH levels. Apparently some of the stones were creating a somewhat alkaline level and the pH was close to 9.0. That's about 1 point too high but not difficult to control. Many ask about feeding the fish. They don't really need it. But we do feed them…for our own enjoyment. The 15 fish have become quite tame and will follow us around the pond if they think they are about to be fed. The food is dry and relatively inexpensive. One container lasted two months during the summer.

    What about winter? We're told they really don't need to be fed at all. The fish will go into a very slow metabolic period when the water becomes cold and they hardly eat at that time. Whatever food is required is obtained from the algae that is on the rocks. All we need to do is to use a small heater to maintain a fairly small opening in any ice that may form. This will allow for a gas exchange…CO₂ out and O₂ in. Sounds too simple, but we'll see. Fall begins in a few days, and the days will start to cool. We understand that we can feed the fish until the water temperature drops to about 50°. After that, we should wait until things warm up again in spring. Most of the plants we have are perennial, and after cutting off most of the foliage, sink them to the bottom of the pond to winter over. In the spring, they will be replaced on the slightly higher stone shelves to begin growing again.

---

What about the fish?

    We didn't know anything about pond fish before we began investigating building one. We learned that one of the favorite fish that people put in ponds is Koi. These are the ornamental components of the Carp family. They have the potential to grow very large (often more than 24"), but this often has much to do with the size of your pond environment. A small pond will not enable fish to reach their potential…but this is often desirable. There are many types of fish from the goldfish family, and we selected those. They won't become as large as Koi or Carp, they aren't nearly as destructive on pond plants and their food needs are much less. Specifically, we now have four Golden Orfes, two dappled blue-gray Subunkins, two mostly white Sarassa Comets, four orange Sarassa Comets, and two Red-capped Orandas. This is a lovely combination where one type doesn't overpower any other. The Orandas and the Shubunkins are the most sedate, while the Orfes are like little hot-rods on steroids. They are school fish, those which frequently swim together. But sometimes they chase (but never seem to want to catch) some of the comets and the other Orfes. Orandas have wonderful, flowing tails and fins and are very graceful to watch.

    The fish have certainly become comfortable with having people around them. When they first were introduced to the pond, they spent much of the time hiding between the large river stone that line the pond walls. After several weeks, they spent much less time hiding and more time just looking for food (usually algae) or (with reference to the Orfes, just racing). Feeding time is both fascinating and comical. When we approach the pond, all the fish come swimming over to the side nearest us and hungrily open their mouths at the surface. In fact, just today (Sept. 22) they began trying to nibble my finger when I touched the surface of the water. (Don't worry…no teeth.) While they don't require food, we chose to feed them because it's interesting and they have become pets of a sort. It makes us feel as if we are helping them. They will eat voraciously for a minute or two, the Orfes acting as power sweepers, often getting to food way before the others have even reacted to the pellets hitting the water. After a short while, they all slow their eating and nearly stop within just a few minutes.

Are plants necessary?

    The quick answer is: sometimes yes. If your pond has sufficient aeration, then oxygenating plants aren't needed. However, plants do look wonderful in a pond, no matter what the size. Our only constraint is that we have only four hours of "full" sun during the summer, as the pond is on the north side of the house and is situated less than 10 feet from it. Some plants will do very well with this sort of light condition, but those requiring 6 or more hours of sun won't. There are many plants that will thrive in partly or mostly shady conditions, but don't expect these to flower profusely or with the vigor of those in full sun. Another point is that many fish do eat plants, either the roots and/or leaves. Koi are particularly voracious eaters of plants and can often decimate your plant collection. As mentioned previously, many plants are perennial and others not. Among those that are not are large selections of tropical (NOT winter hardy) plants. However, like many of the annuals that we purchase for our gardens, this will likely seem a worthwhile expense each spring as these plants can add more beauty to an already wonderful pond. Plants also have another benefit, they attract dragonflies, which can help rid your yard of less desirable insects (see this link).

Do It Yourself?

    Some have asked whether I could have done this project myself. The answer is probably, but, of course, it would have taken much longer. I would have had to coordinate delivery of parts, stones (estimating the volume of stones needed is an interesting discipline), soil and landscaping plants. I certainly can't see the digging as being more than time consuming, but I think I could have handled it. What made THIS project better to have a contractor work on it was being able to rely on his expertise. He's been there before and has completed many dozens of ponds in the past. Ours was one of the larger ones (but not the largest) he has worked on. Very likely this was one of the more challenging ponds (because of the hill needed for the falls and stream).

    Having seen the process, I certainly have a much better idea of what would be needed to accomplish such a project. And, now that it's done, I can see where I might improve the design a little. No, we wouldn't enlarge the pond, but might, next year (or later), change the stream a bit and landscape somewhat more lushly. It's not that we are dissatisfied with the result in any way, but, once you have learned about ponds, you can see additional possibilities, which are endless. As for the satisfaction, that seems to be endless, too. I think we are going to enjoy this very much, and for a very long time.

---