Pond question

[redd_angel55]

We've got a "pond" in our new garden. It looks like it has been done in a couple of hours. Lined with the bottom of an old, blue paddling pool. Not the prettiest pond, but the frogs seem to like it as there is lots of frog spawn in there. There are a few fish too.
We would love to:
* make it bigger (currently 5ftx3ft)
* use proper liner/underlay
* more plants
My question is, do we need a pump/filter?

[Totally Scrambled]

If you are just having it as a wildlife pond with a few bog standard fish in it then you don't need a pump or filtration system for keeping things alive.
Having said that a pump can provide either a small fountain or a waterfall which can enhance the pond's pleasing effect and will help the water stay crystal clear if that appeals to you.
A block of barley straw can also help keep the pond clearer of algae and the water more in balance.
If you're planning on Koi then you would need a filter system.
Dom

[wendy]

Koi are lovely but can decimate the plants I have heard, also they need a bit of room as they grown quite big.
Slightly I have, yet again, another load of frogs spawn. But the tadpoles never survive because I have a Golden Orf that is about 15 inches long and a white 'Goldfish' about 12 inches, and they eat them all
I have tried taking some out and putting it in a bucket. But that didn't work. Although I have plants there obviously isn't enough foliage and root mass for them to hide.
Any ideas ?

[redd_angel55]

Thank you Dom! We went to a specialist shop and the guy insisted we would need a filter to keep the fish alive. The one he recommended adds £85 to the overall cost. More then the liner and underlay!

Wendy, my parents had the same problem! They were able to move the frog spawn to one side of the pond and put a wire barrier in front to keep the fish off. The holes in the wire were big enough for the tadpoles to swim through and hide on the "safe side".

[Totally Scrambled]

If it's just Golden Orf and goldfish it won't need a pump.
My dad had those fish in his pond for 30+ years with no pump or filtration system and they thrived. Just needed to clean the pond out once a year to get rid of leaves and decaying stuff.
Dom

[wendy]

Thanks Guys.