Patio Pond Shell- By Sara H.

After a fair amount of shopping both online and at hardware stores and garden centers, I found quite a few different places to start with my new patio pond.  Most of the retail options were a little more expensive than I was hoping for and I didn't want to completely build something from scratch.  I opted to start with a simple molded plastic pond liner and fountain pump.  It will be smaller than I originally anticipated, but I've decided to start small to be sure I'm comfortable with the maintenance.  If so, I plan to add another larger pond on the opposite end of my patio.  I purchased a MacCourt 20 gallon polyethylene liner from Lowe's for under $20.  I placed it on the patio against the building wall.  I plan to either creatively cover the shell or build it in with a retaining wall creating a raised planting bed around the pond.  I've still got some decisions to make regarding my next steps, but I'll post pictures soon.  

New Patio Pond

Indoor/outdoor living is more popular now than ever, especially in Florida's climate.  Rare is the home that doesn't have some type of designated outdoor living space. Many people designate significant time and resources to making their outdoor spaces just as comfortable and aesthetically appealing as the inside.  In addition to staples such as comfortable outdoor furniture, pleasant landscaping, insect control, etc., aquascapes are a fantastic way to add interest to your outdoor design.  Even in an apartment or condo, often neglected patio space can be made much more inviting because of the ambient sound, aquatic foliage, and even animal life a patio pond adds.

Sara H. is one of our experienced marine aquarists that doesn't keep freshwater fish and has never had a pond.  She is planning a makeover for her condo's screened lanai and wants to include a water garden.  She's planning one very small table top container water garden, and a roughly 2x3x2 above ground water feature with aquatic plants, fish, and a small waterfall.  With the help of a Tampa Bay Aquatics' aquaculturist and suggestions from our readers, she plans to get started this weekend.  Please feel free to contact us at tampaaquatics@gmail.com and share your thoughts, tips, and pictures of your aquascapes. We look forward to hearing from you.  

Pond Hobbyists

We would like to extend a sincere thank you to our early visitors.  While we've had a fair amount of discussion about marine environments, the aim of Tampa Bay Aquatics is to be a comprehensive resource for all aquatic hobbyists.  While we continue to build content, we would like to welcome ideas and submissions from those with an interest in or experience building ponds or water gardens.  We would especially like to see, and perhaps feature photos of your creations.  Please feel free to contact us at TampaAquatics@gmail.com.  We look forward to hearing from you!