AgentOrange
06-13-2012, 06:29 PM
I call my small pond my frog pond. I installed it around Thanksgiving 2001. It was originally the top level of a 3 pond system. The ponds were 220 gal things bought from Home Depot. Each one emptied into the next aand then the water was pumped back to the top pond. It worked well and looked good. The fish and frogs were happy, but my turtles kept escaping even with the little fence I built around it.
Here it is decorated for Christmas in 2003:
http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe1698834016306877aa3970d-500wi (http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe1698834016306877aa3970d-pi)
Around 2005 I put in a 4000 gal pond and took out the two bottom level ponds. I left the top one and put in an annual flower bed below it of 10 foot X 15 to match the looks of the new pond.
I don't keep any fish in there, it is just for frogs and tadpoles. The frogs move around all over the yard, and to the lake and back. It is amazing how big they get.
Here are some photos today sitting here in my chair about 50 foot from a frog.
http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe1698834016306877de4970d-500wi (http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe1698834016306877de4970d-pi)
http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe169883401761570c53b970c-500wi (http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe169883401761570c53b970c-pi)
http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe169883401630687811d970d-500wi (http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe169883401630687811d970d-pi)
Frogs eat anything dead or alive that they can swallow as they have no teeth. One this size can eat most anything that shows up at the pond. I have seen them jump straight up into the bush to try for birds. There is a light there at night that draws bugs and frogs. The frogs here never look skinny so I guess they are OK.
I have a UV zapper light hanging low in the back of the big pond with the bottom cut out to kill and drop bugs into the water. Every night the fish and turtles congregate below the light, and frogs sit off to the sides. The light pays for itself with all the great protein it provides to my critters.
As you can see, one of those big plastic tubs from Home Depot can make a long lasting care free pond. The only maintaince I do in this one is to wade in and scoop out the dead leaves in Spring, takes ten minutes. There is a small pump about 500gph in there working a small water fall for circulation and to add oxygen. After ten years, it is still clear and clean.
As my yard slopes, I built a box out of pressure treated lumber to mount it and the few bushes you see. Over ten years later, it is going strong and entertains me every day.
Here it is decorated for Christmas in 2003:
http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe1698834016306877aa3970d-500wi (http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe1698834016306877aa3970d-pi)
Around 2005 I put in a 4000 gal pond and took out the two bottom level ponds. I left the top one and put in an annual flower bed below it of 10 foot X 15 to match the looks of the new pond.
I don't keep any fish in there, it is just for frogs and tadpoles. The frogs move around all over the yard, and to the lake and back. It is amazing how big they get.
Here are some photos today sitting here in my chair about 50 foot from a frog.
http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe1698834016306877de4970d-500wi (http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe1698834016306877de4970d-pi)
http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe169883401761570c53b970c-500wi (http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe169883401761570c53b970c-pi)
http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe169883401630687811d970d-500wi (http://yardcrap.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5528fe169883401630687811d970d-pi)
Frogs eat anything dead or alive that they can swallow as they have no teeth. One this size can eat most anything that shows up at the pond. I have seen them jump straight up into the bush to try for birds. There is a light there at night that draws bugs and frogs. The frogs here never look skinny so I guess they are OK.
I have a UV zapper light hanging low in the back of the big pond with the bottom cut out to kill and drop bugs into the water. Every night the fish and turtles congregate below the light, and frogs sit off to the sides. The light pays for itself with all the great protein it provides to my critters.
As you can see, one of those big plastic tubs from Home Depot can make a long lasting care free pond. The only maintaince I do in this one is to wade in and scoop out the dead leaves in Spring, takes ten minutes. There is a small pump about 500gph in there working a small water fall for circulation and to add oxygen. After ten years, it is still clear and clean.
As my yard slopes, I built a box out of pressure treated lumber to mount it and the few bushes you see. Over ten years later, it is going strong and entertains me every day.