https://www.reddit.com/r/ponds/comments/14nx2xo/update_mini_fish_ladder/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2

I posted a little while ago asking if anyone had seen, or made, a mini fish ladder/pass for a pond. I couldn't find any mention of one, so I built my own.. I don't have a big pond, and I don't have big fish, so it's not a big fish ladder:-)

Decided to fill up the pond to test for leaks, and make sure everything is solid. So far so good!

Got my hands on some small cheep pumps and used Smurf tube to run some water lines back up to the upper reservoir. Now I finally get to see a baby version of what it looks like to have water coming though the spillways while testing for leaks up there. Also got a 160L air pump hooked up to the bottom drains I’m using a few hours each day to keep the water from becoming stagnant. No updates on filter room.

The fish are terrified and it is her pond now

I was wondering if adding oysters would work, and if bears and birds would act as a natural population control, the pond freezes over almost every year and has leeches and small fish and beavers but not much else, if those wouldn’t be enough to control the population would crabs be a safe option or would that be dangerous if they ended up spreading, although Michigan does have a natural population of crab, or could adding crawfish help?

Sad. But don't ever try and fight with a Crane over food

I rescued a Madagascar rainbow fish from a coworker and had no idea what to do with it. I only had a 5gal tank to keep him in. I researched what that type of fish needed which resulted in me building this pond. I hope he’s happy now :)

Our first heron sighting, this section of the pond had been running for 9 months. I’ve had a couple fish go missing and assumed it was raccoons, but this solves it. Released the dogs, they failed. Twice 🤦🏼‍♂️😂

Looking at this house in Georgia… is this a swamp or a pond or a…bog? And how hard is it to drain and fill one of these up? Anyone know?

They’re showing signs of life. They seem friskier since I started the water. Not sure how long I can keep this on, or how much difference it will make, but worth trying.

I have a water snake that has taken up residence in my pond. He has already eaten three goldfish and the others are obviously afraid. Any time I get near the pond he hides in the rocks. Any ideas on how to get rid of him?

I discovered this spring a few years ago as a wet streak on the hill side. The top of the streak had a half gallon pool hidden under the leaf litter teaming with crayfish larva and springtails. I exposed the seep a little more to do a flow test and collected a water sample to get it tested. It’s got about a 5 gph flow. Waiting on the water sample back but I expect it to be very clean water.

I’d like to develop it in a way that respects the native ecosystem, increases habitat and it wouldn’t be the worst if I could make it large enough to submerge myself in. If I do a 250gallon pond is a 48hr turnover going to keep the water clean enough to dip in it occasionally? I have a million ideas for it and I am wanting some more experienced direction from this community.

Been waiting to share my pond but still not finished, had the bottom two ( of three that connect) pebbled by a pool builder someone was talking about this here the other day wanted to share

Southwest France one year old.

We built this over 2 years ago now and it has been amazing. The eco system takes a bit to get established but it is very little maintenance now. I treat it with a pond dye twice a year, and in the middle of summer will apply algaefix once a week. Additionally each spring I overload the edge of the pond with hyacinths.

if i could change anything, I would have added a wider waterfall area for the bio filter. Chocolate mint is the main plant in the bio filter with some pickerels and bog bean. I wish I didn’t have to use so much algaefix but with out it we get a string algae that can be hard to combat. I am also open to suggestions.

These pictures are from summer.

Christmas was weird. Life is kinda rough. I miss my summer pond, and all its wise inhabitants. Smoking a joint and getting life advice from the frogs is the best therapy l've ever had.

This sub helped me build it, so thank you all. Just wanted to share.

(25' × 25'-ish. Depth goes from 1-3' Bog filter and two waterfalls. Koi and goldfish, but they're camera shy.)

PS - Sorry if this posted twice.

It took me a shit ton of time, money (so many mistakes), motivation, a worn out shovel, a dude of craziness, and the inspiration of this subreddit……but I fawking did it. I single handedly built myself a backyard pond. This thread helped A TON! I had to start over 2 times. I murdered my back and muscles, but, gosh darn it, I’m so freaking proud of myself and I needed to thank you all in this thread for all the inspiration and motivation to keep going!

Took a few years to build. I would love to build another one!!!! Most therapeutic thing I’ve ever built.

I usually post here about the pond I’ve been building. But I thought I’d share a video I took at work the other day of this client’s spectacular pond.