Some friendly advice on planning your home project...
Water features divide themselves into decorative projects or water gardens. The
distinction is that a water garden contains life, while a decorative feature (including
most waterfalls) does not. This choice is your first major decision and needs to be
made before you start considering how to build your water feature. Each type has its
own characteristics that must be considered:
| Decorative Features |
Water Gardens |
| Formal or informal in shape |
Typically freeform in shape |
| Suitable pool depth to cover pump |
Suitable depth not to freeze or overheat |
| May use an automatic water fill |
Sensitive to evaporation |
| Use any nozzle that works with pool size
& shape |
Nozzles avoided in small ponds |
| May use bleach or non-foaming algaecide |
Limited chemicals (use plants!) |
| A pump intake screen may be sufficient |
Potentially elaborate mech./bio filters |
Example #1: Q: "Can I put that neat looking nozzle in
my fish pond?" A: A fine droplet spray nozzle would be fine in a decorative fountain,
but in a water garden it will: 1. Plug with fish waste; 2. Increase evaporation, leading
to greater concentration of dissolved solids and potential nitrate toxicity; 3. Disrupt
the growth and blooming of aquatic plants.
Example #2: Q: "Can I throw a few goldfish in the
fountain for the kids?" A: Well, this means: 1. You can't use bleach or
algaecide anymore; 2. Your pump intake screen won't cut it as a filter; 3. Your
fountain may be small, above grade or too shallow to let the fish winter or endure summer
heat; 4. The site may suffer from storm runoff, inadequate sunlight
for plants, or ease of doing things like cleaning and partial drain/fills.
Site Planning and Pool Material
After selecting the type of project, consider the site location, and construction
materials. A pool under a tree may seem picturesque, but will fill with leaves during the
fall, and if built out of flexible liner may get punctured by roots. Here
is our humble experience with different pool materials:
Materials |
PVC Liner |
Rubber Liner |
Concrete |
ABS Preform |
Poly Preform |
Fiberglass Preform |
| Cost |
(cheap) |
Good |
Fair |
Good |
Good |
Fair |
| Ease of Installation |
Fair |
Good |
Fair |
Fair |
Fair |
Very
Good |
| Ease of Repair |
Poor |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Poor |
Good |
| Initial Appearance |
Fair |
Needs skill |
Needs skill |
Fair (sags) |
Fair (sags) |
Good |
| Fittings/ penetrations |
Poor |
Fair |
One
Chance |
Fair |
Fair |
Excellent |
| Reliability (general) |
Fair |
Good |
Good |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
| Reliability (winter) |
Poor |
Excellent |
(cracks) |
(brittle) |
Very Good |
Very Good |
| Overall Results |
Poor |
Good |
Fair |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Your pool should have a raised edge to avoid storm runoff that can run into the pool.
This is very important with water gardens where the fish can be killed by insecticides or
other chemicals. Winterization should be planned for in advance of freezing conditions.
Your site will need a source of electricity for its pump. Submersible equipment must
have Ground Fault Circuit Interruption (GFCI) protection, as well as have its other
aspects of installation conform to Article 680 of the National Electric Code.
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