Trying To Build A Diy Pond/waterfall

Hello,
I am going to try and make a pond that has its own like eco system meaning I won’t have to change out water or anything and I want to have a waterfall in it. Not anything big but just small little waterfall at one end of the pond. Any ideas or videos on how I could make a inexpensive waterfall? Or an inexpensive one online? It’s going to be for some ducks so I know it needs like some sort of eco system happening inside so it dosent get all gross. I’ve heard you can use pond muck from an established pond or canal, and that helps. Would putting bottom feeders like craw-fish and shrimp, and like pleco’s help? And then I also want to have plants in it so what are the best kinds of plants? I already am planning on putting lily pads in it but what else could I put in it? Also would it be safe to start a population of feeder guppies for the ducks to chase and eat? For the bottom feeder, should I give them a space to get to and hide from the ducks? The pond is going to be about 4 feet deep so I don’t think the ducks would dive that far but who knows. Also any tips for doing this would be greatly appreciated as this is only my second time making a pond!

Thank you!

 

Ducks, geese and other waterfowl will rapidly pollute virtually any size pond you construct for them. Unless you have a constant flow-through system with sufficient turnover to do large-scale water changes daily, I don't think this is a reasonable expectation.

Do some research into duck ponds versus fish ponds; it may save considerable work and frustration.

 

Are these your own ducks (pets?)? Honestly, I'd just give them a kiddie pool you can clean out daily. They'll still love it . . .

 

Are these your own ducks (pets?)? Honestly, I'd just give them a kiddie pool you can clean out daily. They'll still love it . . .

...and within a week you will laugh at the notion of keeping fish with them.

 

Ducks and pretty ponds with waterfalls do not go together in a real world. Lol. I speak from 8 years experience raising ducks. They are adorable when they are little and they suck you in with their awkward little waddles and adorable faces. Then reality hits and you realize that they are messier than any other animal known to mankind. Lol. My pigs are cleaner than my ducks, and my pigs actually don't like mud, but my ducks do. Lol. Your pond idea is great, but only if you don't let your ducks be a part of it. They poo way too much to keep an actual man made pond balanced. It would honestly be impossible. Jjohnwm is spot on with the details of waterfowl, and Scarface is right in the idea of a kiddie pool. Changed daily if you are lucky. Most days twice. Lol.

 

I owned several species of ducks, but mostly Peking ducks. A large kiddie pool will keep them happy. A latrine and a drinking bowl is the same thing as far as they're concerned. Ignorance is bliss.

 

Yes they are pets, there are 7 of them. I tried kitty pools and they keep breaking them lol (don’t ask me how) And because it’s not summer no one sells kitty pools anymore. So if I don’t allow the ducks in this pond (which it totally fine with me I just thought they would like it) then I still have a few questions like how do I make it establish and for it to have it’s own “eco system0 and how do I do a waterfall, and dose it need a filter or something?

 

scarface Sheena-Phx
So I found this and a few other articles, do you think it could work if I keep up on any maintenance?
How to build a DIY backyard pond with self-cleaning biofilter

 

That was a great read, thanks so much for sharing! Very inspiring. Something like that on that type of scale is absolutely possible, because it's more like natural pond than a man made one. But to cross that line and get it to that point is very difficult, and not very cost effective. There's just not that many people with that much time, money, and resources. Lol. If you do at least 1,000 gallons(I would recommend more to make things easier), and go about it all like in that article from start to finish you have a good shot at making that idea a realistic possibility. But it really does have to be on a large scale like that. No shortcuts, and you'll want to keep in mind, the bigger it is, the easier it will be to manage later and establish that "natural" biofilter and ecosystem theory that you are going for. Do you plan on breeding your ducks, or getting more in the future? You'll also want to take this into consideration before determining the final size. I honestly would shoot for at least 1,500 gallons with 7 ducks, but if the family in the article was able to make it work with 1,000 then it's up to you and what you are able to do personally. But don't do any less than that for sure. It's a great concept, a lot of hard work, and even more money, but if it's what you are after and can make happen then go for it. Keep us posted, as if you do decide to do this, I definitely want updates and pics! Anyone who can pull off something like that is amazing in my book. : )

 

I have started several ponds this summer in my yard, and none of them have any mechanical filtration, and they are of different sizes.

I think my main success is due to the fact I have grossly 'understocked' my ponds. I put in about 25% of the suggested aquarium stocking levels, and I never fed my pond fish. That's right. They have been feed leftover blackworms perhaps ...four times this entire summer.

My ponds are also heavily planted. I think I did end up with 'water changes' of sorts by having ponds with large surface areas in full sun, with floating plants. When you are continually removing floating plants to make way for new plants, and topping off water, it is very similar to a water change.

I live in a very unusual climate and my overwintering will not be very extreme. Guppys will give you problems, as will most tropical fish if you get anywhere below 60*F during any part of the year.

 

First step. Make friends with someone that owns a backhoe or excavator. Yep that's the first step.

 

scarface Sheena-Phx
So I found this and a few other articles, do you think it could work if I keep up on any maintenance?
How to build a DIY backyard pond with self-cleaning biofilter

Honestly, I skimmed through it. If you can manage it, go right ahead, but I still wouldn't keep any fish in it (at least not what you are wanting to do). My previous responses were based on your age and inquiry about a self sustaining ecosystem, which I didn't see to be realistic.

 

I’ll definitely make a post if I do this but it will take some time lol. I have adults helping me out as I obviously wouldn’t be able to afford it on my own . I may get 5 more ducks in the future but only if the pond would be able to sustain more. I calculated the size to get the gallons and it’ll be about 1300-1400 gallons. Even if I the pond and ducks don’t work I’ll still want a pond and I’ll just make it for fishes, as that was my first idea. If the ducks work out with the pond, is there any fish I can put with them? They can only dive down a foot maybe two and the pond will be 5 ft deep. I also want to have some lily pads at the top so I don’t know if that would help any fish if I get some?