Ecosystem ponds can be a gorgeous and low maintenance landscape option for Phoenix homeowners. They provide hours of pleasure and entertainment, while requiring only minutes per week of care & maintenance. But they have their drawbacks and they’re not for everyone.
Here are 5 drawbacks to having an ecosystem pond in Phoenix:
1. They Require Patience
The very biggest drawback is that they require patience. Patience to allow the plants to mature. Patience to get the fish friendly enough to eat out of your hand. Patience to get the water “chemistry” balanced. Just lots of patience – sometimes. You know how God created the world in 7 days? Yeah, not always so much with ecosystem ponds. However, anyone who has persevered through the process will tell you that they’re sure glad they did! But if you’re not a patient person, and you’re looking for instant gratification, an ecosystem pond is not for you.
2. Specific Maintenance Practices
Another drawback is the type of maintenance that an ecosystem pond requires. It’s not just tossing in a chlorine tablet, skimming the surface, and calling it Bueno. During the summer months, when the aquatic plants are growing aggressively, you have to garden it. You have to trim off dead leaves. You have to thin or divide the plants when they get too big. Basically, you have to make sure that the plants don’t eat the pond. And you have to empty the skimmer basket about once in a while, and give it a quick rinse. If you ignore an ecosystem pond for too long, it can become a big ol’ mess. There are pond maintenance programs provided by reputable companies, though, to help you out.
3. Fish are a Requirement
You gotta have fish. A pond ecosystem is not complete without fish. That can be either Koi or goldish, or in some cases game fish. The fish are part of the nitrogen cycle required to keep an ecosystem pond balanced. You don’t have to feed the fish if you don’t want to. But now that they’re there, you probably will. And you’ll probably name them. And you’ll probably now spend a few hours sitting by the pond watching them. That might take time away from some other hobby or TV show. Darn it!
4. Must Love Wildlife
If you build it, they will come. Wildlife is naturally attracted to water, and if you have organic water in your yard, they will come in droves! If you’re not looking to attract native and migratory bird life, bunnies, quail, lizards, and maybe even frogs or toads, don’t get an ecosystem pond. If you dislike the idea of looking out your window and seeing some kind of wildlife in your yard (maybe even the occasional bobcat or coyote), then an ecosystem pond will pose a real problem for you.
5. The Pond Patina
Algae is a given and an integral part of the ecosystem in some ways. Once the pond matures, the algae production will be greatly reduced. But until then, you may have to battle a bit of algae. A natural green fuzz on the rocks is completely normal, and actually helps filter the water to keep it crystal clear. But string (filamentatious) algae can become unsightly for some people. During the “winter” months here in Phoenix, we tend to get an algae bloom instead of freezing over. And in the spring, algae is sometimes the first weed in the garden. There are natural products to combat algae, and it makes great compost, if you’re into that sort of thing. But, again, you will have some algae, so if that thought completely wigs you out, or if you prefer a more sterile outdoor environment, an ecosystem pond is probably not for you.
All that being said, we think ecosystem ponds are worth it!
Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Arizona (AZ) & Surrounding Areas
To Learn More About Phoenix Pond Maintenance: https://pondgnome.com/pond-maintenance-phoenix-az/
