How deep should my pond be?

Mrs_Imp

We're going to move our current pond from the middle of the lawn to the edge. The new pond is only going to be small (approx 1m x 0.5m). Any advice on how deep it should be to keep our frog happy would be great. Currently we have no fish.
Thanks

FreeBear

At 1m x 0.5m, that is more of a puddle than a pond

You'd probably want to aim for a minimum depth of 0.5m, and if you plan to keep any fish, go to 0.9m deep.

Mrs_Imp

I know, but it's a compromise. Mr Imp wants to do away with it altogether as we have 2 small children who like running around, and I want to keep something for our frog, who's been here longer than we have.

All the preformed ones I can find are around 0.3m deep. Are there any deeper peformed liners out there that I just haven't found yet?

no1catman

Koi fish like deep ponds, goldfish less so - two & a half feet, amphibians yes even less.


Try:- the first one Grenada -


https://fishkeeper.co.uk/productshowroom/pond/ponds-liners-waterfalls

Froglet

The deeper you go,and the more volume you have,the less likely you will struggle with green water and blanketweed.It also gives you more scope for planting and helping other water inhabitants,such as newts,to survive.At a time when ponds in the wild are drying up,and these dear little creatures are struggling to find a place to live and breed,you would not only be helping them but creating a wonderful,interesting world that can bring a lot of pleasure.


A lined pond is best and cheaper than a premoulded one.It needs very gentle sloping sides ,which you rarely get with the premoulded one.So long as you don't try and add fish,you won't need a pump and you can pack it full of plants .It does need to be at least 18 ins, more if possible as frogs hibernate in the mud at the bottom of the pond over the winter and it is a risk when they freeze right over if not deep enough .


Well done for caring.

Shrike

Tadpoles like a shallow area too, so a liner pond you can design yourself with a 'beach' for easy access and the tadpoles, a mid depth shelf for plants and a deep bit is ideal.

Feral_Moon

If it's too shallow it will just freeze solid in winter or evaporate in summer. I think minimum recommended is 2ft if keeping plants and fish. Make sure there's a shallow slope into it to prevent hedgehogs drowning.

Froglet

Don't ever add fish to a wildlife pond.Their needs are completely different and not compatible.


Even though you cannot stop frogs getting into a fish pond,when we had that problem we just dug them their own,nearby.!

Mrs_Imp

Thanks all.

We used to have fish, but our pond was really really filthy. We spent an afternoon giving it a good clean, but then, alas, the fish were visible to cats and herons

Can anyone recommend a good website for diy pond info?

166million

Mine's just a half wooden barrel with liner tacked inside. Frogs live there quite happily.

Shrike

I've found this forum pretty useful
http://forum.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/

Though its obviously biased toward fish ponds rather than nature ponds. You'll find individual articles on constructing a nature pond easily enough by googling.:)