Brooks

If you have the money and a large enough space to work in, brooks are a great way to enhance a backyard pond. They add a nice touch by providing more activity and a nice, natural sound. They also help oxygenate and purify the water.

Brooks: Getting Started

The first step in building a brook is to start with a waterfall. The waterfall should lead into a pond that will be built above ground enough to support water flow from it to smaller rock formations and an adjacent pond or ponds below it.

The brook itself will allow gravity and water flow to make it work. As water drains out of the highest pond, it will run over the smaller rock formations, not unlike mini-waterfalls, to a pond below. A pump will be needed to keep the water flow circulating back to the top where it originates from the waterfall.

Moving Right Along

The addition of the element of moving water to a pond serves several important benefits besides looking and sounding nice. The circulating, flowing action oxygenates the water, promoting fish and plant health. This flow also serves as a natural filter, purifying the water and making it clearer. Brooks with biological filters can also help keep things cleaner. Biological filters are better than mechanical ones because they help to maintain a balance of cleaning the water while still keeping essential organisms and material in tact that fish and plants may need to survive.