Do you find any wild animals (raccoons) eat the fish? Also any opinions on floating plants (water hyacinth, water lettuce, frogbit) instead of Taro? I built a pond and put in a soft PVC liner instead of one of those preformed ones. I had it out for a summer expecting frogs but they didn't show. Mosquitos did tho.
See my reply upthread regarding raccoons and herons. We have tried all kinds of water plants, including fishweed, water hyacinth, water lillies and tiny little floating green plants that I have scooped from the nearby river and marsh. None of them survive, likely because it’s such a shady spot on the north side of the house and there’s very little direct sunlight, except in the morning. the only thing that does consistently well is the taro plant. It actually tries to self propagate but we don’t have enough space for another water pot.
Regarding mosquitoes: this is not standing water, because of the pump which goes year-round. I also believe the fish will eat most bugs and any larvae that start to form. they seem to be constantly hungry. Except in the fall and winter.
I'm not the person you're replying to, but I have a pond too.
Mosquito dunks are one way to deal with mosquito larvae without resorting to a conventional pesticide. Another is to have some kind of fish. Mosquito fish are probably best. I think koi/goldfish tend to eat them too.
Taro needs to be moved indoors for the winter if you're in a cold climate. Water hyacinth and water lettuce also don't survive winter. I don't think frogbit does, but regardless apparently it's considered invasive where I am (Oregon) so the pond/garden supply places don't sell it anymore.
Azolla (aka fairy moss or mosquito fern) can survive the winter. It turns red when it freezes, but it starts multiplying again when it warms up.
Cattail and hardy water lily can regrow from the roots. Same with water clover.
Duckweed is similar to azolla, but does not survive in winter. If you buy water plants, you may end up with duckweed that went along for the ride.
We had a lotus, it came back after one winter, but didn't survive the next. (Our last spring was very wet and cold, and lotus apparently like hot weather and sun.)
Incidentally, if anyone reading this is in the general vicinity of the Willamette valley, I highly recommend visiting Hughes Water Gardens in Wilsonville if you get the chance. It's a plant nursery, but they sell mostly aquatic plants, and also pond supplies and koi.
> Also any opinions on floating plants (water hyacinth, water lettuce, frogbit) instead of Taro
Different category. Taro is a marginal, it adds \vspace. Can be substituted by Iris or Pontederia.
Avoid water hyacinth and water lettuce in small ponds. They will conquer all the surface and became a nuissance. They also will block you from watching the fishes.
> Mosquitoes
The worse ones dislike moving waters, this problem can be alleviated if you use a pump to move the water at a regular interval. Take in mind that water lilies dislike also moving water so you need to choose
https://youtu.be/8ExfrhjpMp4