Aquatic Ponds

Knowing what brand of equipment to buy for a pond is not always an easy decision to make. Pondmaster products made by Danner Manufacturing have been making pond equipment for over 50 years. The company prides itself on making high quality products to be sold at reasonable prices. 

Some people see a well-maintained pond as a thing of beauty. Others see it as a water-filled hole in the ground where fish food floats before sinking to the bottom to foul the water. There are ways to take the stress out of building and maintaining a backyard pond, while keeping its finned inhabitants happy and healthy. Let’s start at the beginning before construction starts.

Anyone planning a backyard pond should begin by deciding if the pond will have fish and, if it will, what kind. Koi are, probably, the most popular fish for ponds and water features in both commercial and residential uses. Unless you are experienced in building koi ponds and know the type of equipment you will need, the easiest and least stressful way to begin is with a pond kit.

Most kits come with the basic pieces of equipment to get started from construction to full operation. What makes a pond kit perfect for the beginner is that the contents of the kit are matched to the size of the pond being built. This takes all the guesswork out of matching the filter to the pump, or deciding how much liner or tubing is needed.

Basic koi pond kits come with a liner, pond pump, filter, tubing and connectors, and water treatment chemicals not to mention instructions. More elaborate and expensive kits contain a skimmer or even two to aid in the removal of debris.

Most kits will not include ultraviolet light systems which eliminate bacteria and control algae. This is an item that will need to be purchased separately. You will also need a starter supply of pond fish food formulated for the type of fish selected. You may consider Pondmaster when thinking of the above items.

While on the subject of fish food, today’s food products formulated to keep the fish healthy, but not contribute to poor water quality. Fish food that falls to the bottom of the pond before it is eaten fouls the water, so food is made in the shape of sticks and pellets to float longer until the fish have eaten it.