Some of the water from the large grotto pond behind this one is pumped up to the Mexican pot fountain which flows into the smaller pond here. This allows solid waste to settle out here as well as in the biofilter tank concealed in the grotto wall. Also plants in this pond process fish urine. The water then flows out of this pond down into a stepped stream back into the grotto pond. All the ponds, five in all, also have aeration which allows for a greater population of fish to remain healthy while under reduced stress in the summer and keeps the ponds from icing over completely in the winter. There are also a great number of scuds in the ponds providing the fish a good natural food supply. As well as the obvious frogs, the more secretive salamanders are residents too and garter snakes of course. Through aeration, water fall and fountain activity the potential for standing water is reduced and I do not have a mosquito problem because of that. I have another picture of this pond posted which was taken about six weeks later. Remember in this pond you see only one water hyacinth plant for starters.
20 Dec, 2014
Some of the water from the large grotto pond behind this one is pumped up to the Mexican pot fountain which flows into the smaller pond here. This allows solid waste to settle out here as well as in the biofilter tank concealed in the grotto wall. Also plants in this pond process fish urine. The water then flows out of this pond down into a stepped stream back into the grotto pond. All the ponds, five in all, also have aeration which allows for a greater population of fish to remain healthy while under reduced stress in the summer and keeps the ponds from icing over completely in the winter. There are also a great number of scuds in the ponds providing the fish a good natural food supply. As well as the obvious frogs, the more secretive salamanders are residents too and garter snakes of course. Through aeration, water fall and fountain activity the potential for standing water is reduced and I do not have a mosquito problem because of that. I have another picture of this pond posted which was taken about six weeks later. Remember in this pond you see only one water hyacinth plant for starters.
22 Dec, 2014