Maintenance is an important aspect of pond ownership. When done properly, it increases your enjoyment and the longevity of your pond. When done poorly, or not at all, it can become a problem. Some maintenance tasks are made easier or eliminated with the installation of the right equipment and/or features.
Size Matters
Some people believe that a small pond doesn’t require a pump, filter, or skimmer. In most cases, however, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Larger bodies of water generally foster an ecological balance and are actually easier to maintain. Small ponds, on the other hand, do not have natural processes in place to help them break down waste and, therefore, require mechanical assistance.
Fish and Filtration
Water quality is the most important factor affecting fish health. They are totally dependent on the water in which they live. Yet, fish themselves can be the biggest polluter of an ornamental pond, because excessive food and fish excrement adversely affect pond water. A pond stocked with fish must deal with a substantial amount of waste. This is why a small pond stocked to near capacity requires multiple methods of filtration.
Nearby Trees and Vegetation Increase Pond Debris
Leaves fall directly from trees into your pond. Breezes blow leaves and plant debris into your pond. Without a skimmer, floating leaves and plant debris eventually settle to the bottom, increasing the buildup of sludge and muck at the bottom of your pond. A skimmer removes floating debris from the pond reducing sludge and muck buildup.
Installing Filtration Equipment
Liners, both flexible and preformed, must be cut and/or drilled to install additional filtration features such as pumps, filters, and skimmers. Preformed liners are difficult to modify for the installation of additional equipment and those that have been modified often develop leaks that are hard to find and nearly impossible to repair. Preformed liners, however, can be cut and sealed easily without affecting the integrity of the liner.
Some preformed liners are manufactured with integrated skimmer openings; however, the equipment that fits into the manufactured configuration is highly limited, locking you into using a specific model and size of skimmer which may not be the best equipment for your pond set up or may be difficult to locate.
Conclusion
Both types of liners – preformed pond liners and flexible liners – have similar maintenance requirements. The rigid material of preformed ponds is more prone to damage when metal tools scrape against their surfaces. Scratches and scrapes can weaken the preformed pond’s surface, leading to leaks down the road. Flexible liners, however, especially those that are reinforced, are puncture-resistant and will withstand the scrapes of tools used during routine maintenance procedures. Use a reinforced flexible liner to reduce the chances of a costly repair due to routine maintenance.
Ponds require filtration for the health of fish and to keep the water in your pond clean and clear. Filtration equipment reduces maintenance chores giving you more time to relax and enjoy your pond. A preformed pond is not conducive to allowing you to install this equipment and increases the pond's chances of developing leaks. However, a reinforced flexible liner such as AquaArmor, can be easily cut and sealed to allow for the installation of equipment, plumbing, and drains; making the installation easy and worry-free.
