5 Tips to create a complete pond ecosystem

I love my DIY ponds and these are 5 things, that I think can help you, if you want to have a low maintenance, ecosystem styled pond.
I Recently did a few videos on garden pond basics so if you know nothing or very little about building a DIY pond that might be a good place to start.
• Pond basics
If you are looking for the PDF file on building a pond or other helpful products like diatomix and nualgi you can find them here- ozponds.com/po...

[@MarvinBowen]

You know, Kev, one of the reasons I like your videos is because the subject matter and your presentation style are very well matched. Ponds are peaceful and calm and your presentation style is the same. Earlier this year I was having real problems with my very small pond having dense green water all the time. I then learned about the microorganisms and how important they are. I went to a local natural pond and scooped up a gallon of that filthy looking water with duckweed and everything. I poured that into my pond and the next day the water was crystal clear. Micros really help.

[@Ozponds]

Thanks Marvin, that’s a great first hand account of the benefits. 👍

[@Breydwildlife]

I also think that if you really want to help the wildlife too I would suggest using native plants and using native fish. Some fish like goldfish will just take over and they won’t feed any predators becuase of there mucus. Bluegill are really good local fish to my area they help birds of prey fishercats otters and other predators.

[@Ozponds]

For sure 👍

[@adarshkumar8542]

Its great unfortunately i dont have a pond .. so i just watch ur videos out sort of interest... i love ponds and marine life..❤

[@Ozponds]

One day. 🤞.

[@brendapetropoulos3259]

Hi Kev, so nice to catch you swimming in your pond! That is the main purpose of ours. Your vid’s have inspired my to kick the chlorine habit and convert our pool to bog filtration. Just went out collecting big rocks this afternoon! I sure hope it works. I’ve watched all your videos but still kinda 😳.

[@Ozponds]

Just remember it’s still a pond. Won’t be as clean as a pool, but not it feels good being in water that’s alive!

[@brucepearson4666]

Love your work Kev

[@Ozponds]

Cheers 👍

[@sweetkoiyo]

Another great video!!! Thanks Kev. 👍

[@Ozponds]

Cheers 🍻

[@thelittlegreyshed9843]

Thanks Kev.

[@kymbo72]

very good advice once again, thanks Kev

[@Ozponds]

Thanks mate 🍻

[@yorke87]

Thanks! - Alper

[@Ozponds]

Thanks so much Alper. I hope you create something special 👍

[@MandyJane123700]

It was really interesting to watch my new pond go through the phases. I had green water, then green string algae, then the floating plants really took off and now all that is gone and the water is clear. The only additives I put in there were some pond bacteria, a four week treatment of Nualgi. I don't even know if I needed the Nualgi, I kinda think that would have sorted itself out over time, but I did have a nutrient explosion caused by tadpoles getting sucked into the filter. Once I fixed that, the algae probably would have cleared up by being eaten, and being outcompeted for nutrients by the floating plants. The Nualgi just probably sped it all up. It's a good product, and will last forever since you only need a few drops for each treatment. Oh, in the beginning I added water from my aquariums, thinking some micro organisms and bacteria would transfer, which it probably did. I know I got some detritus worms from an aquarium. I really need to get out and start a resurrection jar!

[@Ozponds]

The phases are very interesting and can cause many people a lot of panic. Therefore I don’t mind people adding bacteria, nualgi or diatomix as they are very natural and certainly won’t harm the natural process, only enhance them. I’m so glad your pond has found its happy place.

[@OdM3141]

thanks a lot. your videos are great and extremely informative- by far the best YT channel for DIY ponds. I'm currently designing a 0.6 cubic meter (small) koi pond for my yard. with approximately 1 cubic meter per hour pump. mostly because I got some free stuff... I'm planning my bog to be 0.5 cubic meter (before rocks and pebbles). do you believe the bog is too big for the pump? any experience with extremely low flow velocities in a bog?

[@Ozponds]

Slow flow is fine, but if I were you I would keep small fish. For one the biological load will be smaller and your slower flow will be somewhat mitigated and two 600L pond is very, very small for even just one koi fish.

[@Brad-lt4lw]

Hi Kev..lm just about to install my Bog/Wetland filter using olive barrels and drainage trenching...Q- Do l need to cut more holes in the drainage trenching or are slots on the side enough foe the water to escape upwards?

[@Ozponds]

I didn’t cut any extra. I assume your using the same as me.

[@Brad-lt4lw]

@@Ozponds yes mate exactly the same setup but abit bigger...3 x olive barrels being fed from 5 x drainage trenching each....lm hoping that will be big enough to keep the pond clean..

[@red-baitingswine8816]

Curious... Why do the bacteria function well with a bog filter, and not just by being in the pond?

[@Ozponds]

It’s just more surface area. More surface area = more bacteria.

[@red-baitingswine8816]

@@Ozponds I get it - all those rocks/stones.

[@sweetlorikeet]

We basically did this kind of by accident at our last place. Now I've got to figure out how to do it on purpose at our new place in different conditions.

[@Ozponds]

You can do it 👍

[@suzannemoran7281]

Hi Kev ,looking good there Mate , swimming with the fishes. 😊🏊🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🐡🐠🐟 Well my bog filter ( even though it was ridiculously undersized ) was awesome!!! I even think that you could of drank from my fountain. Plus I fed my fish far too much . They are little fatties now. 😂😂Clear, clear, warm water for my lovely goldfish who just grew and grew. 🐡🐠🐟🐡🐠🐟 So I have a problem again I need a new bigger pond . Fast forward and :- The newest pond is 1.5 m by 1.5 m and 70cm in height. Do you think Kev ,because the actual square meterage is relatively small on the bottom of the pond that I could use an aquarium under gravel filter. ??? I just happen to have loads of the damm things when I ordered the wrong thing one evening after a couple of wines. 🍷🍸🍹 . I will still use my filter. Thank you Kev 😅

[@Ozponds]

Absolutely I think you could incorporate the under gravel filter in the overall filtration of the new pond. I’d actually love to hear how it performs. And don’t worry about the impulse buying after a few cheeky reds, we’ve all been there 😉

[@horsey123]

Hi Kev, My bog filter is 500kg, half an IBC container. And i find the water seems to be flowing mainly on one side only, the side the water enters the manifold, for to maybe higher pressure from the pump. I'm worried i have stagnant water and wonder if this is a problem? Also so much stringy green algae in the bog top and the steam! Not in pond but do i just leave this until it's run its course? Also do you have a preferred brand of food for goldfish? Cheers 😁😁😁

[@Ozponds]

If you drain the bog does it only fill on one side? If so that’s no right, but I’ve never seen that before is the rock to small? Even so I wouldn’t expect a new bog to be clogged already. The pump pressure shouldn’t be an issue if you’ve used my guidelines. I try not to feed my fish, I like the ponds lightly stocked. I have some fish pellets there I’m not sure what brand they are, just bought them on eBay.

[@horsey123]

@@Ozponds no fills up evenly, I drained it fee weeks ago to check the holes in the manifold but all was good and filling evenly, but has faster flow on one side draining out by the looks. Definitely not clogged! Definitely followed your design! Water crystal clear so maybe I shouldn't worry as much

[@Ozponds]

Have you go two outlets? If they aren’t perfectly level one quite probably does have more water coming out that side. Anyway as long as water is clean and clear don’t worry. 👍

[@horsey123]

@@Ozponds no, that's where I went wrong. Only one outlet in middle, and the way I have designed my waterfall with granite, I can't now put 2 outlets in grrr! I also have the waterfall filter, water is clear so I won't worry too much. All a learning experience!

[@Acoustix77]

Wondering again... our pump shuts down at night because we live between other houses. Is that a problem for a nog filter? Please say no 😅

[@Ozponds]

Ideally you want the filter running continuously, however all filtration is a balancing act between expectations and outcomes. If you don’t get your desired results or outcomes you probably need more filtration or in your case a filter that runs continuously. I’ll make a short video on my latest solar pond, it’s new, it’s full of algae, I’m not panicking because the pond isn’t established, if it still looks like this in a year I need to revisit my filtration because that’s not the outcome I want. Actually I might make a full video on it, I think it deserves further attention.

[@Acoustix77]

@@Ozponds thanks again for your long reaction :-) my pond is pretty clear at the moment. I think I will go for a small pond instead of a bog filter. We'll see what happens! When all goes green and dirty I'll revisit too..

[@Ozponds]

It’s always fun just testing. You’ve got lots of rock and moving water you might be ok.

[@Owais221b]

What are the plants and grasses you have planted around pond (8:10)

[@Ozponds]

This video will show you DIY Ponds and DIY gardens | Plants I like to use kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpzWhpaorLGnhqs

[@AaronHahnStudios]

TIP #6 - Call your Mother! Or else she'll push in the pond one day.

[@Ozponds]

😂 sage advice 👍

[@NopeAndYep]

😆 😂

[@MarekLabrenc]

.

[@Ozponds]

🍻

[@moomoon1410]

Amazing as always. Please ain't you on IG?

[@Ozponds]

I try and just stick to KZbin and the website. It’s all too time consuming.

[@moomoon1410]

@@Ozponds I perfectly understand that. We are lucky to have you on KZbin at least anyway!

[@Ozponds]

Thank you 😊👍