Clearwater Maintenance Free Biological Filter System

Basic Maintenance Free Fish Pond Building

Wild ponds and streams are biologically designed by Mother Nature to nurture and feed all of nature's plants and animals, however, backyard fish ponds probably shouldn't be designed to invite all of the neighborhood critters and plants. Wild plants will take over the fish pond, if not controlled, and neighborhood animals can/will eat fish.

The first step, figure out the surface area and shape of pond. Dig basic fish pond a minimum of 36" deep, straight up and down sides and a flat bottom. Eliminates encrochment problems, helps with algae reduction, allows space for the proper size and depth filter media bed for maintenance free biological filter system.

Independant studies have proven, this basic pond configuration is "CRITICAL" to Mother Nature's biological water quality guide lines for artificial fish habitats. (Changes will create increased maintenance Problems.)

Only imagination limits what can be added to water gardens or water features outside of the basic fish pond.(without adding maintenance problems) Streams, water falls etc. may be added so long as the design of basic fish pond remains constant.

Plant and rock ledges can be dug around the perimeter of the basic pond to accomodate rocks and bog/plant areas. This ledge is the ideal place to hide liner/concrete and let the surface water level disappear into the rocks, instead of exposed liner/concrete.

Water plants of all varieties, bog or bottom, placed inside the pond area, should be planted in pots or baskets, with liners, so roots can be controlled and not get into the filter media bed in the bottom of pond.

Water Circulation