Frequently asked questions about ponds & water features in Phoenix arizona (AZ)

​THESE ARE A FEW QUESTIONS WE ARE ASKED ON A REGULAR BASIS, ESPECIALLY BY NEW POND OWNERS. IF YOU HAVE ANY THAT ARE NOT LISTED, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT US

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If you are not already a Pond Gnome client, kindly email photos of your pond, along with your contact information, so that we may better assist you.

WATER FEATURE GIVING YOU GRIEF?

​How do you keep the water so clear?

Clear water in an ecosystem pond is really not that complicated. It's using the life cycle to create a balance of rock, plants, fish, and beneficial enzymes & bacteria: Mother Nature's recipe.

How big of a pump do i need?

This is a good question for a swimming pool contractor, or someone digging a well on your property. It is not, however, of utmost importance for a living water feature.
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Without getting too technical here, let’s just say that you want to turn over the water in your pond completely between 1 and 2 times per hour.

How many fish can I have?

There are different guidelines for stocking density, depending on how low maintenance you want your backyard pond to be, and how many fish it was designed to support (filtration, predator protection, etc.):
  • If you want a lower maintenance pond, you should calculate a ½” of fish per ten gallons of water. This will allow you to have a simpler filtration system.
  • The highest level of stocking that we recommend is calculated as 1” of fish per ten gallons of water. We typically build our ponds to this ratio.
  • You can have a few more goldfish than Koi, should you wish. You can also mix the two, substituting two goldfish for every Koi. There are many lovely choices of both!

What kind of filtration should i have?

​The type and amount of filtration you have really depends on how much maintenance you want to do. We recommend having both biological & mechanic filtration to keep the pond as low maintenance as possible.

Will a pond attract mosquitoes?

​Most biologists agree that a well-built backyard pond, stocked with fish, is the cure for the West Nile Virus. In other words, a pond full of hungry fish will devour anything that lands in the water, like mosquitoes, as well as any larvae that manage to get introduced.

Will a pond attract wildlife to my yard?

​Build it and they will come! Everything needs water to survive, and if you have a living backyard pond in Phoenix, you can count on company coming. Some of these will be a delight to the eye; others may not be so welcome. An organic, healthy water source is a boon for local wildlife, as well as migratory birds. But everything in life is a package deal, especially when it comes to backyard landscape ideas.

Can I have frogs?

​What most people have in and around their property and Phoenix ponds are Sonoran Desert Toads, which are the largest western species of toad, and considered to be one of the more aquatic of the southwestern toads.

Can I have turtles?

​You betcha!  Many of our Phoenix pond clients enjoy their turtle pets!  That’s the short answer.  Turtles can provide hours of entertainment and education, and truly become members of your family.  However, there are some considerations.

Is a pond okay for pets?

​Having a pet-friendly pond in Phoenix is almost as important as having a kid-friendly Phoenix pond!  Pet owners more often than not consider their pets to be their furry babies, and with good reason!

Will a pond or water feature improve my property value?

​There’s been a lot of back and forth discussion on the subject of how water affects property values, particularly from real estate brokers looking to sell/buy homes.  Some state emphatically that a water feature adds absolutely nothing to the purchase price, but if it’s nice, may make the place more saleable.  On the other end of the spectrum, some say that it can add between $5,000 and $10,000 to the sale price, depending on the feature.

What kind of plants can I have in my Phoenix pond or water feature?

​There's quite a good selection of aquatic plants that work in our Sonoran Desert environment. The trick may be finding them for sale. We include plants with the ponds that we build; however, we do not have a retail operation from which to sell plants to others --yet.

What do I do about bees around my pond?

​Concern about bees is something that we hear A LOT when it comes to backyard pond maintenance.  With the Africanized bees and the Honey bees inter-breeding, there have been a lot of scary incidents on the news.  Most of those, however, are due to someone interfering with the bees in some way, whether intentional or not.  That being said, it's always a good idea to use some caution when dealing with a potentially dangerous situation.

What do I do about snails in my pond?

​Snails that originate in an aquatic environment do not survive in the desert outside the pond.  The aquatic snails feed on algae and dead plant material (pond detritus), and are therefore considered a beneficial critter in that environment.  There are very few varieties that feed on living aquatic plant material, and we only rarely see these varieties.  If you do see them, they will most likely be eating your water lilies.

Is my ph level too high?

​Pretty much everything you read regarding pH for backyard ponds is focused on a perfectly controlled environment for the fish.  Here in the Arizona desert, with our hard, alkali water sources, attempting to keep the water in your backyard pond at a neutral pH is impossible.  People will drive themselves crazy with this effort, when in fact the fish can handle a wide variety of water conditions.  Yes, even Koi.

Do I have to clean the pond?

​Once a year, we recommend a clean-out of the pond, especially the biological filter (and this includes the “pondless” waterfalls).

The extent of the annual pond cleaning depends on the age of the pond and fish load, as well as other factors that are fairly easy to assess visually.

How do I know how many gallons of water are in my pond?

To determine how many gallons are in your pond, use the following formula:

Length x Width x Average Depth x 7.25

What do i do about pest and/or weed control around my pond?

​Did you know that there are 950,000 species of insects? And that most of those are beneficial to our environment or food for other beneficial critters? Most people are really only trying to kill about 10 unwanted insects in their yard. When you take that into account, does it really make sense to broadcast poison over your entire property? And if you have beloved pets, that can be a serious issue! We recommend Integrated Pest Management practices.

Will you match the price i found online for...?

​We have been asked on occasion by folks why the price we quoted for a certain part is more than what they found from an online source. It's absolutely a valid question, and deserves a reasonable response.

You'll find some retailers who will match online pricing from other sources, this is true. However, licensed contractors are expected, and required by law, to provide a warranty with their work. This is a value added on top of the part itself, and, to be perfectly honest, it costs real money to offer and to honor.

What are the problems or drawbacks to having an ecosystem pond?

​Ecosystem ponds can be gorgeous and low maintenance. They provide hours of pleasure, while requiring only minutes per week of care. But they have their drawbacks and they’re not for everyone.

which water feature is really best for me?

​Do you have analysis paralysis? Been thinking about a water feature, but confused on which one would be the best choice for you? Take this quick 10-question quiz to find out now!
You can also find answers to common troubleshooting issues on our Maintenance page.
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