Upgrading My Pond With New Fish and Native Plants! Backyard Pond Build On a Budget!

In this step by step DIY tutorial I'll show you how to upgrade a backyard pond that is natural and cheap!
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[@henkle9]

Love that you get local fish for your pond. Next time handling the fish, wet your hands before touching it to avoid damaging the slime layer which protects the fish from fungi infections.

[@katycheckley]

agreed - also maybe dont keep them out of the water for ages while you film them...that kind of stress can cause illnesses later on.

[@ViKee010]

I just found your channel. We are thinking of a small pond and you came up. But as I watch you, I just want to tell you, that you encourage me. I have a 20 year old grandson and he is kinda lost right now. Not knowing what to do in this world. It makes me sad for him but also for our world. This age group of people just seem to be drifting a lot and that is just sad to me. Of course, at one time I was his favorite person in the world but now I’m just Gramma. Not as cool as I used to be to him. I don’t know how old you are but you have a young family, so I’m thinking not much older than my boy. But you do and go and make the world more beautiful each day and that truly gives me hope that he will find his way soon. Thank you for this. Thank you for being yourself and allowing us to see the unique person you are and it gives us all happiness, that one day when you’re my age, our world will keep spinning. I just wanted you to know this my young friend. Thank you so much. ✌🏻🤍🤞 Love your pups as well. 🫶🏻. Also my daughter, his mom was born in Texas. Dallas specifically so Hi neighbor. 👍

[@pablopanesso1057]

It’s crazy when you think back to the time when you first bought the house…There was nothing in your backyard at all and now there’s half a jungle surrounding your house lmao. So cool to see what we can create if we put hard work into it 💪

[@kidtrunks2568]

This channel is sick. Dogs, nature, plahnts. All my favorite things.

[@paulplantu]

Helll yeah, thank youuu

[@littledoggieandajeep7733]

omg , ranger took a dump on the plant deserves a like in its own.. future series the adventures of ranger :D

[@tdmartin73]

Love this and all your ideas that you have incorporated to bring the total flow of the pond to give it such a natural appearance.

[@santahampton]

Aww, Ranger just needs a baby pool of his own to splash & play in and I'm sure it will keep him out of fishpond which is looking great!

[@paulplantu]

You’re exactly right!! I need to find one that looks good and that I can put a couple fish into to eat them mosquitos

[@barbaramills7429]

@@paulplantu Baby pool at Walmart $11.95. My golden loves his. No fish, just dump the water every week or so and rinse with hose to hold down algae - mosquito larvae have not been seen in mine hardly ever (I also live in Houston) If water is clean, dog is cleaner when he come in house. Love your dogs and your Channel.

[@toadie1111]

You rescued that beautiful fish from a life in a polluted mud hole! I am so delighted by your recognition of his beauty. I just discovered you, and I love to see how excited you are about your projects! ♥️🐸♥️

[@Saintletha]

guilty conscience: "I don't want to be offense to this water plant, dude." awesome lol

[@striketochill]

Ranger is so chaotic lmaoooo. I love that you let him be a dog though. I feel like so many people would yell at their dogs to not go in the pond but he's just doing his lab duty like you said. Love the video!

[@paulplantu]

I agree there are certain traits that are found in a breed and when people get mad at their dog for behaving as their breed was intended it makes no sense. Hahaha, he's goofy as hell.

[@hermanlively8197]

Honestly lol I got rid of mine bcz way too much chaos and I bought expensive trees and plants

[@striketochill]

@@hermanlively8197 You got rid of your dog for your plants?? LMAO savage...

[@paulplantu]

@@hermanlively8197 I mean you can train them too 😅😂

[@ingesexton811]

My dog is so bad lol when I yell at her she just gets all excited and keeps doing the bad thing 😂

[@melonywilson7630]

U coming back to back with these videos and I'm here for it. Ah I've been looking for a house since Jan I just want to start my food forest with a pond. You inspired me to

[@autumnnoel318]

Houses are so hard to find

[@kelvinthompson2681]

@@autumnnoel318 what state are you all looking? More competition in the suburbs and cities. Try looking for USDA properties and you can really cut your green thumb loose 👍🏾🌱

[@asamoes3179]

Hopefully, you research fish care requirements like tank size and stuff. Can't wait for aquatic content.

[@wawaoo11]

These are fun videos...wouldn't mind much more often, regular even, updates. Love how nature is taking it over & changing it...

[@ab0ngr1p68]

blue gills like course sand/pea gravel rock to make spawn beds in they are really cool u should put an area of it in so u can see them do their thing maybe find u a pleco to help clean up algae in stuff as it starts to grow

[@FlonationOfficial]

You need a fence of chicken wire so you can still look at the pond but ranger won't jump in it

[@heathercrider8841]

I love that you love the wildflowers and want nature to just be herself. I love unadulterated nature too. I’m working on making my yard a little homes for bees and butterflies.

[@nezia5480]

I love all of your yard, plant, pond, small/large projects content. Its brings me happiness! So, thanks. Keep em coming!

[@mikeygabbard9268]

You're doing a great job with your pond. When my wife and I bought our new house it came with a fish pond in the backyard and it's hard work. Big ups, brethren!!!

[@paulplantu]

Dang, y'all lucked up!! I'd love a big pond in my yard, eventually I'm going to go that direction!

[@joshuaheredia1272]

Man, I just discovered your channel and I love it! Gave me so really good ideas for my own backyard pond. Love seeing fellow young folk caring about what they plant and the environment around them. Super cool to see a fellow Texan as well! Stay cool out there. All the best with your channel!

[@christiridley1009]

Love your yard and pond! My kids and I put a pond in our yard about 10 years ago, and we did put in some baby bluegill, too. I found that the bluegill quickly outgrew their home. I like keeping mosquito fish in the pond since they are smaller, are livebearers, and are mosquito-eating beasts! They are native to North America, too!

[@paulplantu]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to put smaller fish in the other ponds.

[@lakeishasmith3569]

You are so hilarious!!! 😂😂😂😂 I like seeing your projects but u funny as hell too! 😅😅

[@BigSho0ter]

Love from metro Detroit. You could tilt the pot a bit so the water will build up in the pot and flow into the pond more naturally. You could then fill the pot with however much lava rock that you want. Anywhere around a pound of lava rock would be perfect, anything more is overkill, but it’s so cheap that two pounds would only help filter even more bad stuff out of the water. More is better honestly. Lava rock is more than 10 times better at housing that beneficial bacteria than your general filter. Lava rock matches the color of that pot too. Maybe every month as a good habit, lightly rotate the lava rock with your hands. Not even necessary tbh, but It knocks off some of the dead bacteria and just keeps things fresh in my humble opinion. A painted turtle might be a good pet. Biggest I’ve seen in the wild is about a foot in diameter, but they live at the top of the food chain in Michigan once they’re too big for a muskie to swallow whole, so about 6 inches. Biggest I’ve seen basking here is about 12 inches. They get to that size after about 20-40 years though. Painted turtles swim more horizontally, than up and down the water column. they enjoy obstacles and plants/driftwood to post up on, in and half out of the water. Turtles are yoga masters bruh. They won’t die if the water quality gets a little fishy when you’re away, and you can make a mini enclosure that it can chill out in to catch some sun. Just enough for it to walk around and spread its legs. A turtle is a messier eater than a bluegill but the upgrade in filtration with the lava rocks in the pot with the water flow from the pump would allow you to house house 5 bluegills and a 12 inch turtle. Lava rock is that good for filtration. I don’t do water changes in my aquarium, so the only way I’ve lost a couple of beautiful black guppies are from the turtle getting lucky, cause none of my fish have looked unhealthy. Even the newborn guppies. Pellets are all you need for turtle protein, and you could even grow a plant in its basking area that it could nibble on every once in a blue moon. You got the perfect climate to have a pond that only needs lava rock to succeed year round. No need for a heater or a million filtering plants. You just need a decent water flow through the lava rock area and your mind will be blown. No algae would grow on the lava rock either if you were able to put it in the pot. If not, just take a tub of it, put a semi-aquatic plant inside, and put that hydro pot in front of the pump for the waterfall. You just gotta make sure that the volume of water that cycles through the lava rock per hour is equal to or greater than the total volume of water in the pond. Should be easy af since it’s under 50 gallons and you’ll be able to put over a pound in. I have a half pound of lava rock in my 2/3 filled 55 gallon, and haven’t cleaned it once, because I haven’t had any water quality issues so far. If you got any questions I got you bruh. The yard is looking unbelievable. Sorry for the spiel, I tried to summarize the lava rock info you need so you don’t have to research for hours.

[@paulplantu]

I’m not sure if you saw the pond build video but there’s a plastic prefabricated waterfall spillway piece that I put lava rock into and a filter pad. So the water isn’t filling up the pot then flowing out. You do have a good ass idea but that pot has a crack in it… I may use my other giant pot on the next pond and do the waterfall technique that way if it’s not cracked or just buy a more solid pot. Do you have lava rock as your substrate too? I do want to put a turtle in my patio as it’s enclosure, do they usually eat plants?

[@BigSho0ter]

@@paulplantu I forgot you had to make that waterfall. You could still just throw another planter with a elephant ear by the pump in the pond that goes to the waterfall. Filling it with lava rock instead of river rock. It’s super beneficial for whatever you’re growing too, since there’s a whole microbial world for the roots to grow with. All the water in your pond will cycle through that planter pot as much as the waterfall’s lava rock, since that’s where the water is getting pulled up from. I believe that using it as a substrate could possibly cause an algae bloom in those weeks where it’s 100+ degrees. Sunlight, heat and bacteria can make some pretty nasty stuff on the substrate, and eventually in the water. A painted turtle might take a couple bites of the aquatic plants every now and then. Aquatic turtles need to be underwater to eat, so you may see a single nibble out of a leaf from a plant on land, but they usually only come out of the water to catch some sun rays. They won’t uproot any plants, aquatic or terrestrial. Just buy some protein based pellets for food. Pest bugs are a good treat for them. They won’t go after anything bigger than themselves, so the bluegills should be fine.

[@laceygarcia6557]

Not me looking at my apartment backyard ready to put in a baby pond. These videos have brought me so much joy! Thank you, you’re appreciated.

[@foragingandurbanfarmingatt4745]

We were so incomplete here, after the last fish pond video. Way to go fishing in a puddle and foraging yourself more fish 🐟👍😀👏👌😉🐟

[@lauramurphy3463]

Super cool!

[@jamesvasquez8975]

Big boy Blu Murder was the Case. Add a Crayfish

[@asamoes3179]

The pond content is lit

[@Daveisnowhere.]

Build a cage to keep the pump in place so it dont get knocked over. Dope nonetheless.

[@LovesOfJuneBug]

Omg! At first glance those crawfish 🦞 looked like straight up guts 😳 Anyway, nice job on foraging and showing appreciation to native landscapes!

[@suzannemarie86]

I love your videos, finally videos that do DIY ponds that are *actually* easy enough to DIY if you’re a first-timer and budget-friendly. I love that you just try new things and see how it ends up. I’ve decided after watching a few vids that I’m going to try doing my own small pond too. Also you’re hilarious, and Ranger taking a dump on the cilantro cracked me up. My dogs do stuff like this too, glad I’m not the only one. 😂

[@cathyengstrum5189]

Try putting a little kids pool somewhere in your yard for ranger to play in . I love the videos!!!

[@paulplantu]

I did, it didn’t work. He likes being fully submerged! Hahaha!!

[@Angie-ci1lp]

Greetings from zone 6a Michigan! Loving your energy and ideas! Earth Recycling YES! Native plants yes! Your dogs are having a BLAST😆😆😆

[@joak.vintage]

Love this stuff, look forward to the next pond too! It's amazing to see so much life growing!

[@jeanneseaman1]

I'm loving your yellow Crocs!

[@HCV2962]

Thanks for blessing us with another plantu video

[@melissacrockett1095]

Bru! I respect you & what you're doing.

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Does your dog have his own kiddie pool? Maybe it would keep him out of the lush pond. Great job!

[@deedeekim1940]

My bluenose pit loves trashing my garden as well… but he’s happy… so I’m happy. So far my pups aren’t too interested in the pond… but we will see as time goes on. I just started up a small pond and your video gave me a lot of great ideas! I keep adding to the pond using the pond forms. It’s the quickest way to get some size with minimal effort. Today I’m going to go out and find a decent sized flowerpot for my waterfall as I like that idea you had with yours. I also have the perfect broken pot that I am going to put into the bottom as well, for the feeder goldfish I purchased a few weeks ago… again great idea. I’m going to get some rocks for the waters bottom and need to find some aquatic plants as well. I didn’t realize you can put elephant ears into the pond. I have a few and am going to try planting one in there as well. Looking forward to seeing your next pond build and definitely would like to see an update video on how your pond looks after time has passed. Thanks for sharing!

[@AquaBuddies08]

Gosh I love this guy he went all cheap with his diy pond, tho I’m a cheapskate I end up spend over $1500 with tanks supplies, fish and turtle supplies lol 😂was thinking of a pond too

[@paulplantu]

Hahaha, it's easy to go overboard when it comes to plants and filtration. If you create a pond and have turtles add a layer of soil capped with like 4 inches of sand and hella plants. They'll somewhat help filter things out.

[@ghoormann]

Your resident fishing expert was using a hook about 3x bigger that it should have been. No wonder your worms were getting stolen. Lol

[@Curty2408]

Definitely do turtle pond 🥲

[@steeltoeboots9591]

Nice upgrades filling in nicely👍👍👍 You might need to make a lil splash pond for Ranger so he will stay out the other one..

[@kennycarino942]

Paul Plantu’s hat game is strong

[@raphlvlogs271]

the slow motion footage also adds character to your video

[@josephgmann3878]

That’s definitely looking like spawning behavior to me. You should add some fine gravel to the bottom so they can make themselves a spawning bed.

[@Mar-rs8uc]

Another great video! Keep them coming 🙏

[@chuckorjackiepatterson9409]

Get Ranger his own pool 👍

[@izrye_el]

"That's GOD ART right there." I dig that

[@leonoll2820]

Maybe you could get a little kiddie pool for the pups? Keep ‘em away from the pond maybe? Keep up the amazing work!!

[@hereyago9460]

I love learning from you. Much Appreciated 💚

[@maryannfoster4734]

Love and enjoying your channel earth man!

[@billzdabandit2771]

Gotta keep ranger inside man lol im really enjoying this pond videos keep em coming bro

[@mariafletcher6603]

Hay Paul. You don't just throw fish right into a pond. You can kill the fish it's like having a shock to there system. You have to hold the bag and the fish in the water so the temperature is the same in the bag as as the temperature in the pond. for at least 5 to 10 minutes. That's why one of your fish died. Try putting a fence round the pond that will stop the dogs. It's only Common sense. Where there's a pond your likely to get cats as well. I wouldn't put to many plants in your pond. there is more than enough. All so you could end up smother it to death. from UK

[@WEST559SIDE]

Caught that bluegill on the pink jig 🤙🏼🤙🏼 rippin lips

[@MrTouchednut]

the plant channel got a young clipper cameo before the main channel did 😭 btw the fishing clips are lit

[@paulplantu]

All my friends have careers, hard to go on all day vid adventures like we did when we were 18-21

[@dawnz6288]

Love the pond! It feels doable to me. I’m in the process of getting a fence in my backyard(the terminal posts are already up)The rest will be done next week. I’m looking forward to creating A peaceful backyard.❤How do you keep your dog from chasing all of the little animals that are going to show up in your yard because of the pond? I would rather not deal with my basset hound trying to eat or bring any of these critters to me as presents.😂🐶🐾🐾😬 19:32

[@itzreece6347]

Lmao, love the laughs along the way of searching for pond plants.

[@carrieannmcleod5219]

Can you get a round, plastic kiddie wadding pool for your dogs? I think you can get them from Walmart/Target for under $20. The pond is maturing nicely.

[@IO-zz2xy]

Put a temp electric fence round your pond. He will get shocked a few times and he will never go near it again. You can then remove it and your pond will be dog free. That is the best way to train your dogs and have a great garden / ponds and dogs respecting boundaries. The small portable units are ideal for landscapers setting new gardens. They can be left at customers for a week to train their dogs then removed and reused at next job. Regards from South Africa

[@ezell7079]

Go Clifford!!!

[@bankroll8869]

damm bro love this Vlog / plantu style!!!reminds me of thrifting videos! Stay blessed bro shout out from Cali! #earthismyplanet

[@paulplantu]

Hell yeah, appreciate the support!!

[@hellsbelle7533]

Ranger definitely needs a lil’ plastic pool so he stops causing devastation lol!

[@8thLife]

All the frogs at night come alive :)

[@susanbailey36]

It's looks great!

[@iillusionzi]

YES, sick video brother

[@austincain9499]

Man this is awesome🤙 I can't wait to do something like this myself!

[@jakestephens171]

Bruh my boy ranger is a menace 🤣🤣🤣 went back and watched the original pond vid and now I’ll be working on my yard for the next few days lol shit looks great homie ✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽🖤🖤🖤

[@paulplantu]

He really is, that fool tries to be slick with it too. Ayyye good luck out there man!!

[@thetAlltAilor]

Just started my window garden

[@carmenwalsh2924]

Love love ur videos 🥰

[@wawaoo11]

Are you still planning on doing the bigger ponds too? Cant wait for those vids!

[@kickinghorse2405]

"I hope there's no gators or shnakes." Irish not Irish = Beast of the Southern Wild. Lol Awesome vid - thanks!

[@chosen2030]

Looks amazing! My only question us whether that's a big enough pond for bluegill since they can get up to a foot long? Or do you release them when they get too big and catch a juvenile to replace it with?

[@isubzerol]

Bruh, awesome vids and I appreciate u being genuine. I think 50 gal is too small for bluegills mah doo. Just get something bigger before you get even more invested into this one. Drop some herbs in da mix to reduce the fishy aggression, nah mean.

[@muzman777]

You should be buying specific plants from aquatic retailers, you need to keep diseases out of the pond.

[@paulinasantiago3965]

Hey not sure if you have but you should look into aquaponics and.. I know its native fish but I’ve seen some people do tilapia and then harvest them

[@paulplantu]

I’ve seen that viral video of that insane aquaponics set up. It’s cool as hell I just don’t have the time to did dedicate to something like that. Captive fish care isn’t easy.

[@thehonorablelos5133]

this is dope as fuc

[@Lucifergreenthumb]

Throw some calocasias and lillies in there for color and height

[@leroystpierre]

get Greg Wittstock to make you a good pond

[@PavalonTech]

Topping up with tap water probably isn't the best you might need to invest in some kind of rain water collection facility or something...

[@gamegreen25]

Bro with all this hella fishes getcha hella biatches footy you gotta get the underwater gropro shots

[@cx7140]

🔥🔥

[@myrabbitispink]

why not fence in the pond so your dog cant continuously ruin it?

[@paulplantu]

I just think the fence will look bad tbh

[@mauriliochacon]

Yooooooo

[@jeramy12141]

We need a dedicated live feed for the pond

[@TropicanaTeana]

yahweh bra

[@_VICK_]

Bro becareful!!! Them gators be out there!!!

[@sinoakoresident]

Paul Plantu, OMG, ur sooo very handsome ♥♥♥ and hey, i suggest that u can add Money Plant around ur pond, and let the Money Plant go through the water while it grows. Tight Hugs, and i just discovered this youtube channel of yours only today accidentally, and im falling in L♥VE WITH U -- OMG ♥♥♥

[@joshuaperry4112]

I had to subscribe for your dog literally shitting on your art.

[@donnamcguffin4028]

Hey …perhaps you can get your dog a cheap kitty pool 😅😅😅

[@jonathanstewart8997]

Ranger what are you doingggggg

[@muzman777]

Why don't you just train your dog? And put out an old half size tin bath with water in it so your dog can cool off. You are the alpha, you control the pack - so train your dog and he won't do it anymore. It's that simple.

[@Gilbertmar123]

What are you using to heat the water for the fish?

[@khidstar4423]

Make another pond

[@Angie-ci1lp]

Buy a kiddy pool for dogs

[@thefultzman1]

snails are mollosks

[@runeespe]

Cillantro never was an edible option

[@king_ish8342]

Is that young clippa

[@andr3wrsessimofo]

Gotta keep that boy in check 😠

[@susanfuller9522]

Fence off the pond [f2f to keep the dog out.

[@rustystork7477]

Love your spirit and love of nature dood…but I think technically it’s illegal to collect natives?

[@paulplantu]

I honestly don't know. I asked my neighbor who's a warden and he didn't seem to care. I don't run around digging up plants but unfortunately I can't find retailers that sell native water plants and individual blue gill so I make due with what's around.