When making a simple backyard fish pond, ensure that it is located where it ca get 4 to 6 hours of sunshine as this helps keep the pond lively and healthy, avoid placing the pond where run off water can easily get into the pond. The site should be away from trees which shade leaves. The depth of the fish pond should be at least 2 feet while its area depends on the amount of space available.
Pond construction
Fish ponds should have a deep and shallow end. In the morning when temperatures are low, the fish will swim to the shallow end and when the temperatures increase, fish swims to the deep end.
You can use a variety of materials to make a fish pond ad these include the damp liners, tarpaulin and concrete.
To construct a pond, clean the area and throw away the weeds, mark the actual pond area and excavate the marked area to the required depth. Dump the excavated soil near by. Remove all sharp objects like stones and tree roots from the side and bottom of the pond.
Caution the base and side of the pond with an underlying material which should be a spongy synthetic material.
Lay the liner into the pond and fit it properly.
Dig a trench around the pond to drive away runoff water.
Pond considerations
To establish the area of the liner needed, know the length, widths and depth of the pond and add about 2 meters for overlapping on both the length and width.
If you want the fish to breed, add river sand at the bottom.
Add water to the pond but ensure that the water is free from chlorine and any chemicals.
Fertilize the pond using animal manure . You need 40 to 50g of manure for every square meter of the fish pond. To fertilize the pond, put the manure in a sac, tie at the edge and dip the sac in the pond for between 5 to 7 days. After this, the pond water will turn light green and the pond will be ready to receive the fish.
