Ponds add beauty and interest to practically any setting. When most people think of a pond they visualize them in an outdoor location. Ponds can be incorporated into the inside of your home as well however! Indoor ponds can be as small as washtub or as large as your space will allow. The can be quite elaborate or elegantly simplistic. With just a little attention to design detail anyone can have an indoor pond!
The first step in building an indoor pond is deciding just what it is you want from your pond. Do you want a place to keep a few fish and some aquatic plants? Do you want a pond with a waterfall or sprinkler to add the soothing sound of moving water to the inside of your home? Do you just want a quite pool to reflect light off your walls and ceiling?
The size of the pond and its intended function will determine the specifics of its construction. You can even build a pond from recycled containers! For very small ponds the basin of an old birdbath or even a plastic wash tub can be given new purpose as an indoor pond. To disguise the container and make it more aesthetically pleasing you can pile a few stones around the perimeter or even add some artificial plants.
Larger ponds, of course, offer more versatility in function and design. Larger ponds can also incorporate recycled elements however. A child’s wading pool or even a livestock watering tank makes an excellent choice for a mid-sized pond. These can also be ringed with rock and enhanced with the addition of artificial plants. More elaborate ponds can be constructed log-cabin style using landscape timbers and a pond liner. Simply build the sides of the pond one layer of timbers at a time then line the inside with a pond liner that you purchase from a water garden supply shop. Make sure that you secure all the parts safely together using nails or bolts for the landscape timbers and concrete mortar for any rock features that you choose to add. A poorly constructed indoor pond is an accident waiting to happen!
If you intend your indoor pond to feature moving water you will need a pump. The size of the pump, of course, will be dependent on the size of the pond and whether or not it features a waterfall or other elements that depend on moving water. If your pond will house fish you will also need a filter. Numerous models and makes of pumps and filters can be found at practically any discount store these days. Just compare the specifics of each with the size of your pond, the number of fish you will add, and the amount of water that you will need to move over a specific period of time.
A final consideration in the indoor pond is lighting. Adequate lighting is particularly important for maintaining healthy plants in the pond. Plants require full spectrum light if they are to thrive. Locating the pond by a window or a skylight might be sufficient for some species of plants but others will require artificial lighting as well.
Ponds are a welcome addition to the indoor setting at any time of the year. They offer visual interest that other design features cannot replicate. Not only are they easy to construct, they are easy to maintain and modify as your interests change.
