When you convert your pool to a pond, its all about water quality and getting this right is an ongoing issue. Once the water was good enough to allow plants to survive, we just started putting things in. It was trial and error.
One of the most difficult thing is that the pool is too deep for most water plants which like wet feet, or in some cases like to be completely submerged, but don’t generally like sitting under a metre of water. We placed things on the pool step but it doesn’t really replicate the gradual deepening of a pond as would happen in nature – with a back yard pool to pond, it is either dry, partly submerged or drowned. I wanted the edges to look like a garden bed, with variations in height and texture but it proved hard to achieve.
Meanwhile, Richard wanted a full blown aquaponics set-up with aquaponics beds filtering the water, taking out all the nutrients, leaving the ponds sparkling and the fish thriving.
The process of transforming the pool surrounds was gradual and a bit random. We started to remove the pavers, in some cases just cutting into them with an angle grinder to create pockets where we could improve the soil and plant. We added a raised bed, and then inserted old pool filters to create water pods where we added more plants with the intention of creating a safe haven for frogs. Old ceramic pipes were added for sculptural affect. We even used an old galvanised iron coffin as an in-pool planter so we could create more of a garden bed effect along the pool edge.
It is in a constant state of evolution both in terms of plant choices and fish choices. For a while we were eating trout from our pond, however they have voracious appetites and cost too much to feed, plus they didn’t cope with the Sydney summer. Since then Richard has tried Perch, Bass, Murray Cod, Catfish and goldfish. The Murray Cod had to be re-homed given the size of their mouths.
