New Blagdon Affinity Pond

[sadguppy]

I was after a water feature - fountain and plants no fish - and I was lucky enough to win one of the new 200l outside 'rattan' look ponds with waterfall feature. Does anyone have one if these? Do they do ok over winter? How do you cycle an outdoor pond - surely the ammonia route is dangerous?
Do you have to do regular changes as with a tank? I would love to get a few goldfish which could eventually move to my parents' huge pond. Would they have to come indoors at any point?

 

[willowstwin]

Is it one of these ponds?. Because I was looking at these the other day and was thinking how small it is for a "pond".

+1 does anyone else have any info on these?

How did you win it btw? I never see comps like that.

 

[sadguppy]

Is it one of these ponds?. Because I was looking at these the other day and was thinking how small it is for a "pond".

+1 does anyone else have any info on these?

How did you win it btw? I never see comps like that.

It's similar but the smaller 'pillar' version. It was a competition on the PFK Website, I was well chuffed... Although two days earlier I bought an old oak barrel with the idea if making a water feature so could have saved myself a bit of cash as I don't need two!

 

[Cazgar]

They're ok as a temporary summer pond, but in our Uk winters, I doubt any fish would survive in one.
I've looked at them several tmes, & while they look nice, they are quite flimsy

 

[sadguppy]

They're ok as a temporary summer pond, but in our Uk winters, I doubt any fish would survive in one.
I've looked at them several tmes, & while they look nice, they are quite flimsy

I don't know, its certainly sturdier than I was expecting.

I did wonder what would happen when it freezes. What I don't get is that if they weren't safe over winter how would they still be allowed to sell them?!

Going to set mine up today, get a hole dried in the wall for the pump etc and get the fountain working...

 

[willowstwin]

hmmm indeed, why wouldn't they be safe in winter? I've found the big octagon one in my LFS now they've had a refurb and I'd love one with some sarasa's in it. I was thinking of one of these a) because it requires no digging (and therefore less chance of me messing up and ending up with a leaky pond) and b) if we rearrange the garden it's easier to move.

 

[sadguppy]

Just a quick update, we now have three goldfish which have been in about a month now and no problems so far, with all the rain we've been getting I've not spent much time outside watching them I must admit! Have made a mesh cover to stop cats and birds perching on the edge, and it has a few plants too, a couple of irises and some bamboo grass which grow out of the top. Algae is a bit of a problem but have just been cleaning it off, not yet resorted to the chemicals which came with it.

The waterfall was far too noisy and there seemed no easy way to limit the flow so we have the fountain attachment which is much more pleasant to listen to. All in all, it seems to be going well so far!

 

[MBOU]

What sort did you get in the end? The Octagon, the half moon or the pillar?

There is a new one out called the AquaRattan as well, looks neat but completely unsuitable for fish with the water pounding down!

You can buy a unit to fit into the 4 in 1 filter you get with the Affinity Ponds on the one you have now, it has a round blanking cap and the uv unit you can buy fits in there its about £50 i think and makes a heck of a difference!!

Also, dont use an algae pad etc aimed for glass to clean the 'windows' on it, use one aimed at acrylic no one considered this with ours and its so scratched up you cant see through any more! (best stop algae in first place!).

When it comes to winter, you will need to buy a pond heater, the fish will end up freezing, they arent designed to withstand winter without extra care. Personally, i would try building some kind of protective frame, even if just with some trellis and line it with plastic sheeting and bubblewrap or fleece or insulation padding.

Any pond or feature that is above ground is risky as the ground protects ponds that are sunk down and keeps them a little warmer lower down, without that protection.. its very risky.

Plan ahead now and it wont be a panicked rush come winter. You want to protect it from the snow and ice anyway, it will end up fading it wearing at it as with any garden furniture.