Pond advice

[ADL Mark]

Decided on making a garden pond, wanted one for ages but got some spare time so decided to go about this.

It's roughly 6'x8' and will be around 3' deep in the deepest section (about 3'x4') and max of 900 gallons. Planning on having several nice plants around and on it as it'll be a garden feature not just a box with water and fish in it. At the back is going to be a small waterfall, not more than 1' high, gently coming down to a beached area that goes in to the pond. Pump in the bottom will pull the water up and let it run down the waterfall. Probably a small fountain bubbling in the middle too, looks and sounds nice and helps oxyginate the water I understand.

The big question really is do I need a filter. Books I've read so no, not unless you have Koi and as long as you have a few plants and running water to keep things along.

Pond shops (unsuprisingly) say must have filter, preferably with UVC and should you want Koi the filter will be bigger than your house and you will need a mortgage to buy it.

I've spoken to people (Tricky-Ricky on here included) who have quite large ponds compared to mine and several Koi and no filter. I think I'm worrying too much and the pump will be fine, what do others think?

[edd_t]

for our ponds we never worry about filters. (we dont have Koi) just get a nice balance of plants. just dont put fish in straight away, let the plants do there thing and establish.

[tooquicktostop]

In my pond I had no filter and the only thing really was it went quite green in the summer as it was in direct sunlight, I added a filter that used the fountain pump and it kept the water much clearer, the depth of the water also helps I am told since, mine was not deep enough

[ADL Mark]

I thought they might just be selling something I don't really need. I'll have a half decent pump anyway, so can always add a filter later on if it becomes necessary.