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Gravel Versus No-gravel Pond Bottoms

By Mike Garcia

When I attended Pondapalooza in Portland, Ore., some years back, it was a pond and water garden builder’s heaven. We got to network with leading manufacturers as well as other pond and water garden builder’s from across the nation.

The highlight of the event for me was to witness Greg Wittstock, founder of Aquascape Inc., and Chic Kelty, then-owner of Savio Engineering Inc., engage in a formal debate about whether or not to put gravel on the bottom of a pond or water garden. Kelty's argument was that gravel on the bottom of a pond or water garden leads to a stagnation zone.

Kelty said organic matter sinks and gets trapped in the stagnation zone. Reduced water circulation in the stagnation zone leads to dissolved oxygen deficiencies and organic matter purification. The end result, Kelty said, is the release of poison gases and disease organisms, leading to poor fish health.

Wittstock said his company's thousands of pond and water garden jobs included gravel on the bottoms without issues. Bacteria eat the sludge and other debris, Wittstock said, so the gravel does not cause a problem.

This subject has been the focus of many conversations in the pond world, especially between traditional water gardeners and koi kichi. Some people attribute the topic of gravel versus no gravel pond bottoms to being a divisive factor between the two worlds.

A couple of years ago, Eric Triplet, an eco-system specialist, and Kent Wallace, a koi pond filtration specialist, came together at Pondapalooza 2007 to help the trades bury the hatchet. Triplet and Wallace joined forces and led the team pond build at the Savannah, Ga., Marriott Hotel.

Burying the hatchet was a symbolic gesture to bring the water garden and koi worlds closer for the betterment of the trade. Some gravel was used for this trade event hybrid koi pond.

What do you think about using gravel on the bottom of a koi pond or water garden?

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Gravel Versus No-gravel Pond Bottoms

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This topic is as "HOT" as Abortion, Capital Punishment or Religion. In fact it could be treated as Religion. Seriously! Most all of the views, points of interest and Gospel are as opposite as Fire & Ice. At some point people need to agree to disagree. I believe each style of pond construction has a place in the industry and it is very dependent on the goals and expectations of the pond owner. Many times a hybrid of the two construction styles, a dedicated Koi pond & eco-system pond, are the best solution for the end user. I take a firm stand on educating the consumer on the different styles of pond construction and then help them make a choice that best fits their goals, expectations and budget. I see most professionals preach a "GOSPEL" of one side of the fence or the other, Gravel or No Gravel. No swaying, my way or the highway, some times in your face Gospel. It seems the end user picks one Gospel over the other (dependent on the preacher) and will often choose to march that gospel. Some of the HEAT on this topic may very well come from the style at which the gospel is preached. Preaching an 8' x 11' x 18" deep pond as a "Koi Pond" is just as wrong as preaching a pond built with gravel is guaranteed cess pool. Bottom line is properly designed and maintained each of these styles of pond construction can deliver fantastic results. I have seen well designed koi ponds fail miserably with poor care and maintenance just as I have seen eco-system ponds fail miserably with the same poor care and maintenance! I love ponds period! All styles, shapes and sizes. The only gospel I preach is Ponds Rule! Everyone should have a pond. What style of construction is very subjective to a each pond owner's desires! It is up to the professional to help determine what is best for the consumer. Much too often business politics push professionals to do what is best for themselves and not the consumer. Information, Education & Inspiration. Eric Triplett The Pond Digger Eric Triplett, Redlands, CA Posted: 9/14/2009 10:48:15 AM Your right this has been a long on going issue,the statment by Keity sums it up in a nut shell: "Kelty said organic matter sinks and gets trapped in the stagnation zone. Reduced water circulation in the stagnation zone leads to dissolved oxygen deficiencies and organic matter purification. The end result, Kelty said, is the release of poison gases and disease organisms, leading to poor fish health." I have seen many of these type watergardens that have health problems, due to poor water quality. The system design is not intended for large Koi, but more for smaller Goldfish and other species of fish. As a pond that contains Koi only and no rocks or gravel, or any plants. Riverine creatures like Koi naturally exist in large bodies of fresh, moving water. Generally speaking these bodies of water are relatively free of any of the aquatic plants found in a typical water garden because deep, moving water and plants don't peacefully coexist. These same waterways are also generally devoid of rocks, being lined instead with alluvial soils and clay. That is the environment they were designed by nature to thrive in. A Koi Pond must properly be defined as a pond constructed specifically for Koi. All design elements in a Koi Pond are for the Koi and about the Koi. The needs of the Koi define the pond in every way. Watergarden's are for what they are called...60-80% plants and smaller goldfish. In a Dedicate Koi Pond™ we don't add bacteria of any kind or any other products for breaking down sludge or by-product in the bottom of pond. Invision a toilet bowl and how when you flush it swirls around and sends it down the hole at bottom(Bottom drain in pond). By leaving crud in system it breaks down and then breaks water quality down as well. Thus creating a excellent bacteria culture bed for growing any and all forms of unhealthful bugs. Adding week in-month out bottles of sludge breakers is nothing more then a waste of money and a band-aid......take care of the water and the water will take of the Koi. Mark Lawson, Lakeside, CA Posted: 9/9/2009 9:15:37 AM