Hi all,
I'm coming from hi-tec planted aquariums i.e. timed Co2 injection and water column ferts.
I've just built a small barrel pond for the back garden with a lava rock and 3 sponge plant pot bio-filter including pump which adds some nice water movement while it cleans. I'd like to keep this pond low maintenance.
I have 5 potted pond plants and want to know if I'll be okay without using any form of soil and instead using simple pea-gravel?
I plan to plant;
small water lily
Flowering Rush
Barred Horsetail
Mare's Tail (Might swap that for Pennywort as I don't want that in my garden if some comes off and finds it's way into the soil!)
Club Rush
Hosta Plantain Lily (marginal submerged)
The pond is located South facing and has lots of sun.
I've read lots of advice online with success using pea-gravel and some saying they use soil (I've got aquatic soil if required but I know it does still cause a bit of a mess and goes against my low maintenance approach.
I could always dose a fert once a week - perhaps even use fert plugs in the pea-gravel which I also have.
Any advice would be great.
I'm coming from hi-tec planted aquariums i.e. timed Co2 injection and water column ferts.
I've just built a small barrel pond for the back garden with a lava rock and 3 sponge plant pot bio-filter including pump which adds some nice water movement while it cleans. I'd like to keep this pond low maintenance.
I have 5 potted pond plants and want to know if I'll be okay without using any form of soil and instead using simple pea-gravel?
I plan to plant;
small water lily
Flowering Rush
Barred Horsetail
Mare's Tail (Might swap that for Pennywort as I don't want that in my garden if some comes off and finds it's way into the soil!)
Club Rush
Hosta Plantain Lily (marginal submerged)
The pond is located South facing and has lots of sun.
I've read lots of advice online with success using pea-gravel and some saying they use soil (I've got aquatic soil if required but I know it does still cause a bit of a mess and goes against my low maintenance approach.
I could always dose a fert once a week - perhaps even use fert plugs in the pea-gravel which I also have.
Any advice would be great.