Living in the country becomes prestigious and comfortable. Potato fields, greenhouses with tomatoes and carrot beds are a thing of the past. People try to make leisure more enjoyable and come up with something new. One of the areas of practical and interesting work is fish. In the country, she is bred in ponds of different sizes. Making a home-made pond for this purpose is not difficult. However, before picking up a shovel, it will not be superfluous to familiarize yourself with the pitfalls of the process.
Why breed fish in a summer cottage?
A pond on a personal plot is created for different purposes: to supplement the landscape design, provide plants with water or arrange a place for swimming. Why not use the pond in the country to breed fish?
The owner of the site may be the involuntary owner of an inconvenient terrain: a gully, lowland or drainage ditch. It is not rational to give up all efforts to eliminate bumps. It’s easier and cheaper to adapt it for keeping fish. Preparing a pond from scratch is a difficult task, requiring competent calculations and physical effort. High groundwater contributes to the feeding of a makeshift lake and eliminates waterproofing measures. Such soils are poorly suited for growing gardens, and fish in the country in the pond will compensate for this problem.
About fish farming
A serious approach to the cultivation of fish on the site brings moral and material satisfaction. The productivity of small ponds is much higher than huge ones. A reservoir of 20 to 50 m 2 allows you to contain up to 15 species of fish with a mass of up to 150 c / ha.
Fish in the country grows 1-2 years before reaching marketable mass. The peled by the end of the first year weighs 70-120 g. Carp for a similar period in a warm pond with a rare landing reaches 300-350 g. Silver carp are also distinguished by a fast growth rate. And tench and crucian carp will gain a comparable mass in only three years. For this reason, they begin to grow from the age of one, buying them in fish nurseries.
The advantages of fish farming on the site
Fish farming on the site is not comparable with industrial production in terms of volumes, methods and conditions. Ponds are usually multi-purpose. Fish in the country is not grown in order to make huge profits. It serves for beauty, creating comfort and peace of mind of the owners of the site.
This is a sign of well-being, allows you to stand out among others. Not everyone has a pond with live fish in their summer cottage. The advantage of this solution also lies in the fact that the quality of the water is under control, toxic chemicals and industrial effluents will not get into it. A fish pond in the country house is a source of healthy and natural food for the family.
For the objectivity of the description, it is worth mentioning that raising fish in your own body of water requires some effort. The owner will need knowledge of fish farming, attentiveness, endurance and love of nature.
The main laws of the construction of a reservoir
How to make a lake at the cottage for fish yourself? You should start by studying the basic rules regarding this structure:
- Ponds of a small area require more attention, because they do not form a natural biocenosis. They resemble a large puddle. Many people cannot afford a huge pond. In addition, not at each site under it can be allocated a suitable site. The golden mean between these options is in the range from 25 to 50 m 2 .
- Choosing a place for the future reservoir is worth it carefully. A prerequisite is the presence of shaded and illuminated areas of the water surface. The pond located in the lowland will be flooded by rain and meltwater.
- At the bottom of the pond create a special relief, combining plots with a different layer of water. They are positioned in steps, separated by ledges.
- Soil is selected based on the type of fish. Carps require hard rocks (pebbles, coarse sand, crushed granite).
- Small fish with a length of not more than 15 cm need 50 l of water. The volume of the pond and the number of individuals are calculated based on this norm.
- An important addition that a pond needs: do-it-yourself fish farming in the country is not possible without installing a filter pump. With it, water is cleaned of secretions and its flowering is prevented.
- If the fish will be in the pond year-round, then it needs a wintering well. It can be organized using a large tank, which is buried in the center.
Fish species
Fish is chosen based on the goals that the owner faces. And also from the existing pond and other conditions. Widespread ornamental fish: gold and koi. Cultivation of fish in the country of such species is carried out in small ponds. They stick to the surface and take food from their hands.
For economic purposes, bred carp, crucian carp and line, which live in depth. The list of species used for keeping in ponds is significant: silver carp, grass carp, perch, carp, trout, etc.
Concrete pond
The shape of the pond with a concrete base can be arbitrary. The most optimal rounded options, for example, oval or pear-shaped. The bottom of the future reservoir is poured with concrete mortar on a prepared pillow. Strength and durability of the construction will add reinforcement with wire. A mesh with a mesh side of 15 cm is laid from it. Before concreting, a reinforced concrete pipe is installed, which will serve as a wintering ground for fish. Its lower end is buried below the level of winter water in the ground.
DIY Concrete Pond
Live fish in the country needs a cozy house. Stages of manufacturing a pond with a concrete base:
- Soil is selected according to the compiled sketch. Terraces and indentations are made. The surface is cleaned of protruding roots and litter. Preparing places for aquatic vegetation. A grid of reinforcing bars is laid over the entire surface. Between them they are fastened with knitting wire. The metal skeleton will be in the thickness of concrete.
- Cement M400, coarse sand and crushed stone are mixed in a ratio of 1: 2: 3. The resulting mixture is poured into the bottom and carefully tamped to prevent the appearance of voids. They expect it to set and install wall formwork. The lateral surfaces of the pond should not be sheer, and their thickness is less than 12 cm.
- If possible, make waterproofing. On a layer of concrete, which began to set, put a couple of layers of roofing material and fill it with a solution. In hot weather, the surface is protected from premature drying by raw material, sawdust or hay.
- The pond for fish in the country is almost ready. A hose is brought to it, hiding it among the stones to give naturalness. Fill with clean water.
- A pipe is mounted in one of the banks, which will serve as protection against overflow. Over it, excess water will be removed from the reservoir.
Pond without lining
If on the site groundwater is located close to the surface and soil, then you can make a pond without concreting. Create a ditch, the walls of which are covered with a layer of clay or plastic film. Such a solution is simply being erected, but requires regular monitoring and supporting measures. A trench dug in sandy soil must be covered with a layer of clay with a thickness of at least 10 cm. Turf or straw is placed on top.
Ravine pond
How to make a pond with fish in the country without big investments? Do it yourself from a small natural gully. To do this, it is adjusted and improved. Act approximately according to this scheme:
- Natural recess increase in size.
- Create a dam from the earth. To do this, the soil is poured in thin layers (up to 20 cm) and compacted. Moisturizing from a watering can improves the quality of work. The height of the septum is created 50 cm above the estimated water level.
- Organize a groove through which flood waters can pass without damaging the dam. The bypass channel is located around the earthen partition.
- Concrete gutters are sometimes placed in the ditches through which water enters and exits. The bottom and inclined parts of the pond are optionally reinforced with metal mesh, stones, turf, etc. The dam is made wide and covered with a layer of sand.
- The filled pond is kept empty for 1-2 months. During this time, mud sediment is formed in it, and the plants take root. After this period, the pond is emptied and clean water is poured. Only now can fish be allowed into the pond.
To equip your own pond in a summer cottage is not an easy task. The information provided will help to better orient the owners in this matter and avoid many mistakes. Proper organization of feeding and keeping fish is the key to success.