Knowledgebase
Welcome to the BTL Knowledgebase. Ever since we started lining ponds, creating covers, and helping people with their projects, we've gotten asked a lot of questions. Many of these questions are repeatedly asked, so we put together the BTL knowledgebase to help answer any questions you had about a particular subject. We are adding new questions every month, so continue to check back often!
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Why are my fish staying at the bottom of the pond?
While some fish are bottom feeders and you expect them to hug the pond floor, rarely seen except perhaps at feeding time, other fish like koi and goldfish are expected to be seen frolicking closer to the surface.
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Can you put a pond on your property?
Municipalities and counties have different rules and ordinances about constructing ponds on your property.
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Does adding a pond increase property value?
Ponds can add property value in some cases and in others can actually have a negative effect.
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What is the best way to fill in a pond?
Filling in a pond can easily turn into an all-weekend project, so consider inviting several friends over to give you a hand.
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What can I do with an old fish pond?
The best part about working with one of your old fish ponds is getting to learn from earlier mistakes.
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What plants keep ponds clean?
A strategic variety of plants in your backyard pond can ease the job of maintaining your pond by providing shade and taking up excess nutrients in the water, both of which help to inhibit the growth of nuisance algae.
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What fish will clean my pond?
A small team of carefully selected algae eating fish can contribute happily to your goal of keeping a pristine pond.
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Will Salt kill algae in a pond?
It’s surprising, the number of beneficial uses of salt in your backyard pond. In fact, in safe quantities, salt can improve the health of your fish and build up defenses against parasites and harmful bacteria.
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Should I put rocks in the bottom of my pond?
As a general rule, a well constructed pond can manage either with or without rocks.
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Can I put pond sludge on the garden?
All those living microbes that you’ve scraped and raked from the bottom of your pond are perfectly suited as a fertilizer.
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How often should you change pond water?
You’ll hear a lot of different philosophies on changing water in an established pond.
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What does pond muck look like?
Muck, mulm, sludge, sediment: there are lots of terms that refer to that slimy, cloudy, smelly mass that collects at the bottom of your pond (and many lakes - remember the squishy stuff that oozed between your toes as you waded?)
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How do you keep pond water clear without filter?
If you simply want a pond that doesn’t have dark green-tinged water from an overgrowth of algae, you definitely have some options.
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How do I keep my pond clean naturally?
Who wants to spend their leisure time mucking out muck, scrubbing algae off rocks, and stressing over emergency water changes?
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How do I make my pond water crystal clear?
Pristine water is a sign of a healthy, balanced ecosystem. To achieve this, it’s important to approach your project with careful research and planning and above all, patience.
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What are the best fish for an outdoor pond?
There are hundreds of types of fish that are well suited for outdoor ponds, and choosing which are best for you depends largely on your intended use and your personal preferences.
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Can fish survive in a pond without being fed?
Fish in the wild somehow are able to find enough to eat, and it certainly doesn’t arrive at dawn like manna from heaven.
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Can I put fish in my natural pond?
Let’s be honest here: lively, colorful and curious fish who crowd to the surface in hopes of an occasional treat just can’t be beat.
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What fish will survive in a pond?
Just as there are fish the world over, in every possible environment, there are fish that can thrive in almost any pond, providing the conditions are healthy and the fish are well matched.
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Do pond pumps use a lot of electricity?
Pond pumps have gotten a lot more energy efficient in the last couple of decades, and you’re unlikely to have to cut your food budget to keep your koi pond bubbling happily away.
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How do I circulate water in my pond without a pump?
Wildlife ponds in nature don’t have mechanical pumps to help them out, but they typically have some sort of natural mechanism that keeps the water flowing.
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How do you circulate pond water?
Think of water as the lifeblood of your pond. It needs to circulate efficiently to distribute oxygen and organic compounds throughout. Just as in the human body, there’s really no efficient way to accomplish this task except through a pump.
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Will tree roots grow through pond liner?
Yes, tree roots can and will eventually grow through your pond liner if given a chance. The battle to defend your pond from tree roots may be never ending, but you do have a number of tools on your side to help you keep the roots at bay.
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How many fish can I have in my pond?
Fish need room to swim, oxygen to breathe, and a volume of water adequate to maintain a healthy environment with a constant influx of fish waste.
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How do I make my pond water clear naturally?
For an overall healthy pond, improving water clarity can be as simple as improving filtration, ensuring a vigorous colony of beneficial bacteria, avoiding overfeeding, and addressing environmental disturbances such as debris from trees, mud or excess runoff from storms.