Two Ways of Putting Gravel in Your Pond

Two Ways of Putting Gravel in Your Pond

If you own a pond or are in the middle of constructing one on your property, you’ll need all the essentials such as a fountain pump, aerator, and tubing or piping so that your pond continues to look healthy and provide satisfactory living conditions for possible fish and plants. Then comes amenities to make your pond look beautiful. These include plants, fountain decor, and pond dyes. One thing that still is a topic of debate to this day is whether or not to put pebbles and gravel inside your pond.

Some pond owners will argue that pebbles and gravel will help break up bad bacteria in the water while preserving good bacteria and provide a decent living environment for fish. Others will argue that the elements that pebbles and gravel bring will decrease the quality of water in your pond and potentially kill the fish living in it.

So, what is the truth about rocks and gravel inside ponds? It all depends on how you want your rocks to line your pool. When you buy your fountain pond pump online, you should also consider what is offered for gravel for ponds.

You can buy gravel for ponds in either loose gravel that sits at the bottom of your pond, or gravel that is bonded to a liner which lines the bottom instead. Both these types of gravel for ponds have advantages over the other. Do make sure you do not pierce the liner!

Gravel Liner

Gravel liner is the option that is most ideal for fish like koi. When looking down at your pond with gravel liner, you might not see the gravel clearly, but it’s there to do a lot for your water, fish, and plants. Gravel liner provides a layer of gravel that is smooth to the feel. While fish might not ever touch the bottom of your pond, this allows you to easily vacuum your pond from time to time in order to clean it well. This allows you to filter the pond’s organic compounds so that your pond is significantly cleaner than before. Gravel liner is easier to vacuum over loose gravel, as there is not much surface area for bacteria to be trapped in lined gravel compared to lose gravel. Lined gravel can also allow your pond’s chemical properties to be regulated.

Loose Gravel

Loose gravel is straight gravel you simply pour into your pond for that natural look and feel. In comparison. Gravel liner looks very synthetic compared to plain gravel, which is why many pond owners argue why loose gravel looks more beautiful in a pond. These natural ponds depend on a healthy balance of water, bacteria, and filtration to provide proper living situations for plants and fish, and it’s very possible when maintained properly. Loose gravel is harder to vacuum without sucking up small pebbles in the process, but due to the filtration that this gravel is capable of doing, vacuuming your pond is hardly ever necessary. Gravel that is one to three inches deep is enough to help good bacteria and decompose the bad, so that organic waste in the pond is removed naturally.

Both types of gravel for a pond come with benefits, so it all comes down to what you prefer for your pond in particular. Gravel and rocks are definitely safe for fish, so don’t be discouraged out of looking into either type for your pond.

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