Exploring the Many Types of Water Features -- Matchmaker Edition

Water features are as unique as their owners.  No two are the same -- big, small, loud, quiet, splashy, subdued -- just like people.  And each person has a water feature that is just right for them.  Let us play matchmaker for a minute.

Ponds

Of course the most well-known water feature is a pond. Most people who have ponds will have at least 3 versions of a pond before they get "the one."  A "pond" is a water feature with a body of water that fish can live in successfully. It can have a waterfall or a fountain or maybe nothing, but it has to have a body of water with a stable water level that fish can swim in easily.

Ponds sometimes get a bad rap for maintenance issues.  But I assure you, a pond build correctly, with the right components can be low maintenance.  Once the ecosystem is developed and balanced, it becomes almost self-sustaining.

Who should choose a pond?

If you love fish or water lilies, then you need a pond!  And ponds aren't completely maintenance free, so there will be a little time spent emptying the skimmer net and adding treatments weekly or bi-weekly.  If the pond is small, it will probably need to be cleaned each year (larger ponds are better at developing an ecosystem and don't need to be cleaned) so you must be willing to get in and get dirty or hire someone like Cool Ponds to clean it for you.

But the enjoyment of a pond done right... nothing beats it!

Pond-free Waterfalls

If fish and water lilies aren't important to you but the sight and sound of running water and almost zero maintenance are a must, then we have found your match. Pond-free waterfalls have a waterfall and possibly a stream depending on the design, but no visible body of water. There is a reservoir, but it is hidden beneath rock. 

An advantage to a pond-free waterfall is that there is no ecosystem to maintain since there is no body of water.  What does that mean?  Well for one, we don't have to be as careful about the water treatments we use.  We always want to use products that are safe for critters and animals to drink from but we can use a critter safe algaecide in a pond-free.  (You shouldn't use algaecides in a pond with fish.) There is no waiting for the pond-free to "balance" like a pond.  The day it is installed, it's ready to go.

Who should choose a pond-free waterfall?

Again, if you love the sight and sound of water and don't mind not having fish and water lilies, this is a good choice for you.  If you will be gone from your home from time to time choose this type.  You can simply unplug it while you are away! What's interesting is that converting a pond to a pond-free waterfall has become the natural progression recently.  After enjoying a pond for years, people want a lower maintenance water feature and the conversion works!

Bubbling Boulders, Small Contained Fountains, etc.

What is it called when there's no body of water and no waterfall?  This is where we have to get creative. It usually starts with whatever the centerpiece it.  Many people have boulders that have a hole drilled through the center where a pipe is inserted.  Water then pumps out and spills over the boulder.  For us at Cool Ponds, we usually use a decorative piece like an urn that water spills over.  The type of feature can either be low maintenance or high maintenance depending on how it was installed, where it was installed, and what equipment was used.  Again like a pond-free waterfall a safe algaecide can be used and it can also be turned off and on at will.

Who should choose a fountain-type feature?

For people who aren't ready to "take the plunge" into a pond or pond-free waterfall, this type of water feature usually fits the bill. This water feature is also good for someone who wants a second water feature or maybe a front yard water feature that's small and adds a little curb appeal.  It's an easy DIY project also that can be installed in just a weekend.

So there you have it, some broad categories of water features, their benefits, and whom might like them.  Here at Cool Ponds we have examples of all of them in our Display Gardens. If you're in the central Indiana area, stop in. We would love to give you a tour!