Draining Pondlettes....

Don't give up on your 'pondlette', even if you can't keep fish in it you will get all sorts of other wildlife grateful for even a small amount of water. We have a large pond put in by the previous house owner - not level so there is a huge amount of liner showing! It's prone to visits from the Heron so needs to be strung with twine to stop it getting in, but the birds bathe in the pond weed edges and we have dragon-flies and damsel-flies and loads in it. So big is not always better. I also have something smaller than a pondlette! It's the top piece of a pre-formed waterfall (which was unsuccessful in the big pond) set into the garden which attracts birds and frogs - always a bit of a shock when clearing any debris out.

I'm going for a 'lets start again' approach today. I'll pop some photos up later. I think I will concentrate on getting my water plants healthy and hope to attract some wildlife rater than put any more fish in for now :)

It will accumulate debis and smell like a rotten egg in no time at all in this warm weather. Go out at night and shine a torch into it and you will see hordes of mosquito larvae. Solar pond pumps are useless other than for decore. Sounds grim doesn't it? Here is what you must do and I hope you placed your little pond in the right place to do it. Run your garden hose over to the pond and place the nozzle on the bottom. Then every several days overflow one third of the pond water to rid it of stagnation. Also buy mosquito dunks and place one half of one to kill the mosquito larvae, don't worry, they will not harm any other life in the pond. During your flushing remove the dunk. I have five ponds all with electric pond pumps and aerators. My sixth pond is a still water lotus pond with no circulation and I do with this pond what I have just suggested that you do with yours in order to keep everything clean and smelling good. If you have the pond placement where you will get your patio wet for a while and you prefer that it does not you might consider changing the location so the overflow drains out properly. The overflowing has another advantage in that your pond plant roots will not get burned by the noxious gases produced on the bottom of the pond.

Ok that sounds like good solid no frills advice :) I m going to give the pond flooding a go as where its situated I can do that easily, its in a self contained raised bed with plenty of drainage beneath. Ok, whats mosquito dunk ? If it provesto be a nightmare I will move it. Thank you

Loosestrife- what is the ideal location for a wildlife pond in the garden? Which way should it face and should it be planted in partial shade with no overhanging trees? I'm thinking of putting a pond in my garden but not just yet as I've barely recovered from putting up my summerhouse! Thank you.

Have you got access to rainwater? If you do use it to fill up your pondlette and renew a small amount once a week, and any evaporation, from the waterbutts. I dug in half an oak wine barrel but it had to be a rush job as I had a load of tadpoles to go in. Very soon duck cress arrived and I keep about two third of the surface covered, also have water iris, creeping jenny, a marsh orchid and a failed water lily, think the tadpoles have nibbled that one to death! No mossies at all, in full sun all day but overhung by lots of plants. The water is very clear without any other maintenance.

A mosquito dunk....best way to explain this is to have you look this up on the web. All the details are there.
Amsterdam, place your pond were it will look the most attractive and in a place where you will be able to see the happenings in a relaxed fashion without using binoculars though it must be within reach of a water hose and electric should you use pumps and aerators. If you must bring electric to it have an electrician do this job or you may loose your life should you do it yourself. No pumps or aerators then no fish, frogs will provide much more interest believe it or not. Finally, do not keep your pond as clean as your bathtub. A beneficial biofilm will develop on all its surfaces which will encourage a tremendous amount of life in your pond no matter what it's size. There will be times in the spring when it will look as green as pea soup and clogged with string algae which can be removed by hand using a toilet brush attached to a broomstick. Your pond plants such as water lillies, water hyacinth etc.. will knock down the excess nutrients and a good balance will develop. Keep the pond away from over hanging trees to minimize debris. Your pond must be at least 28 inches deep for fish to survive the winter. I think that about covers putting in a pond though what I have told you is just the tip of the iceberg, you will learn much more should you decide to put one in.

I do have access to rainwater ! Thank you - great tip :)

If you are thinking about adding fish again at some point a useful rule is for each inch of fish you need a gallon of water - and don't forget to allow for them to get bigger...

Another approach to keeping the water fresh (especially useful if and when we have another hosepipe ban) is to wait until it balances, which it will eventually when you have enough water plants, though can be more difficult in a very small pond.. A problem that can arise with keeping refilling is that most UK tap water contains various minerals which feed algae, so the problem can be self maintaining. Or you can add a little bundle of barley straw (from pond suppliers of garden shops) A few ramshorn snails will help with the algae too (only one or two needed as they breed quite quickly and don't need mates)

But if its got to the stinky stage its too late...and if it cheers you up I don't know anybody who's had a mozzy problem.

I might add to Steras suggestion of snails is that when you purchase them check the snails carefully for leeches by examining them carefully by placing them in a little goldfish bowel. One of my ponds has them, leeches that is, and hitch hiking on a snail is one of the ways they could have gotten there.

Thanks everyone. Your advise is much appreciated :)

Gosh! What a lot pf great advice!

Your pondlet sounds interesting. It will be worth all the effort in the end. Good luck !

Please add a photo when it's all done!