I have a tiny pond which the frogs adore. I don't have any pumps or anything and it just fills with rainwater. It's a bit stinky, but I don't mind and neither do the frogs!!!

Hi Scottish, how is the pond being filled? The action of water reaching the pond normally oxygenates it. Having a broad surface area also allows fish and frogs to breathe and helps oxygenate it. It also needs to be deeper in places to stop it freezing solid in winter. I am wondering if you need a pump or not - depends how the water can get there.

Thank you Sheilar. Stinky...really stinky?
Kildermorie - Primarily I would probably have to fill with tap water. I thought that so long as you leave it standing for a while it would be ok - would this be correct? I don't intend to have fish - the deepest part of it is around 12". It would of course be open to rain getting in as there would be no tall overhanging plants. The whole thing only holds 18 gallons - not massive - but I thought I would start small :)

If you can Scottish make it a bit deeper, ponds are all about balance, it's probably best in the shady area you prefer, too much sun discolours the water, you won't necessarily need a pump but lots of oxygenating plants will really help keep the water clear and pong free! Filling with tap water is ok but if you know anyone who has an existing well balanced pond and are willing to let you have a pint or two all the better to add to yours. I have had no problems with mine, but it is a bit "suck it and see" and it would help to avoid fish in a small pond, good luck it is exciting and worth a go...

I have a small pond about 9 feet by 7 feet. It is 2 feet deep in the middle and stepped at 12 inches and 6 inches around the edges.

I would recommend a depth of not less than 18 inches and preferably 24 inches . The reason for this is that shallow ponds heat up and change temperatures much quicker than deeper ones. Hotter water will tend to lead to alot of algae and wildlife in the pond will prefer a more even temperature.

I have no pump and no filters and fill from the tap. The water is beautifully clear and it's full of wild life( tadpoles/newts etc)

I have lots of oxygenating pond plants

I wrote a blog on GOY about my pond

http://www.growsonyou.com/anchorman/blog/11683-replacing-a-pond-liner-and-creating-a-new-pond

and here's a shot of the pond last year

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31559373@N00/6059451419/

how many pumps do you see in ponds in the wild ? it will just go green but that just bothers the fishkeeper as aposed to the fish and as your having a natural pond thats fine . id be inclined to use a liner and keep the edges sloped so frogs etc can get in and out easier . also id advise a little wild part of your garden with rocks and caves etc as frogs and toads actualy spend most of there life out of the pond . i would get a lilly and some plants that dont mind a bit of shade to stop the water going of to . also be worth going down the river and netting some sticklebacks to keep the mosquitos if ya can .

In my area, a pond that doesn't have a pump needs to be at least 8 times as wide, in the smallest dimension, as it is deep, to "breathe" properly. That width may be smaller in cooler climates, since oxygen dissolves better, and stays in solution better, at lower temperatures. If you do need a pump, get one that will circulate the entire contents of the pond every 2 hours, or so--i.e., a 100 l pond will need a 50 l per hour pump. To circulate it properly, set it up so that the intake of the pump is at the bottom of the pond, and the output spreads over the surface. The simplest scenario: an immersible pump sited at the bottom of the pond, with the out pipe pointed toward the surface. The water at the bottom is forced to the surface, where it spreads out, releasing CO2, and adsorbing O2. It then heads back to the bottom at the edges of the pond.

Our pond has no pump and we have never had a problem with... I think you need them more in the part of the States you are in Tugb. due to your very different climate. A pond for wildlife will be fine in Scotland without a pump Scottish.

all oxygen enters water threw the surface . what a pump does is increase the surface area bye creating waves etc but if your having a natural pond its completly irrelivent .

Yup totally irrelevant.

thank you all very much for your input. No pump it is then. It's really quite a small preformed job - so shouldn't be a problem if I find I need to install at a later date.
NP - it will be in a little wild area - so will plant accordingly. I have already been up to the quarry to get my hands on some stone to create some edging, crevices and the like.
You say a lily - I thought they preffered a full sun situation? Was going to look into some alternative for cover. I think the pond will only take a max of 4 plants anyhow - so will need to take care what I plant.
Once again - cheers x

A water lily will need full sun to flower Scottish. Flag irises might work though.

Thanks MG. I'll look into them :)

It can be quite difficult to get a very small pond to balance and smaller ones can suddenly turn green and smelly if you don't get it just right especially if you don't have a pump and fileter. As NP says you don't get these in nature, but natural ponds are usually bigger than the one you are suggesting. As the ratio of surface area to depth is important and you need a certain depth so the whole thing doesn't freeze in the winter, a minimum of 6x8 feet is recommended. We started with a smaller one but found the larger size was much easier to manage. Starting small is tempting but I would never do it again.

Our surviving pond isn't much bigger, though deeper than the pond Scottish is talking about - go for it I say! We have frogs, toads and newts all enjoying the pond and no problems.

You'll be pleased to know that I intend to get going on it MG!
Thank you once again for all your input :)

there is a peticuler lilly type that comes from ponds in the middle of forests so dont get full sun but most do admitadly . you dont normaly get ice much thicker than about 6" and that would be a very cold winter and as your not having fish its not relevent .

6- 8 feet minimum depth seems a bit excessive! What are you keeping? Whales? :^)

Most of the articles I've read suggest 2 -3 feet. I've had a pond for 20 years which is about 2 feet deep and I've never had a problem.

2 feet is more than enough even with fish if you keep the water moving . without a foot would do easily . we dont get winters that cold here .

I guess it all depends whether, like Scottish, you want a natural looking wildlife pond or a very much more formal one...

well thats what this question is all about . it would be completly different if it was for 61 sturlet thow under know circamstances do you need an 8` deep pond . my sterlet has got up to 36" inches and still growing in a 29" deep pond as well as all the other fish . i have got water movement thow . oxygen only comes in threw the surfice so as long as your fish arnt deeper in body than the pond is they should be fine . ive seen an 18" koi pond with very happy fish .