Fishy Fishy Stuff

Question
QUESTION: Right now, we have a tiny 120 gallon pond. Next year, we are uprgrading it to about 1000 gallons. I have 2 giant questions.
1. If i build it in May, how much of a chance is there that frogs will lay eggs in the pond. I will try to build it in March, but it will probably not be possible. I really want tadpoles and we are even making a shallow pool connected to the pond for them. Right now we have a green frog of unknown gender overwintering with us. So, the big question is- Will they lay eggs if the pond is finished at the end of May?
2. Also, we are reviewing the different types of filters to put in. We are thinking about a 70 gallon skippy filter, but aren't sure. Do they work? Have you had experience with them?
Thank You

ANSWER: Congrats on your new pond!  I really need mine renovated.  My big pond went in May 2007, and I had American toads spawn in the pond within a month.  Certain frogs will spawn throughout summer like green frogs and bullfrogs.  Others, like tree frogs and wood frogs, mostly lay eggs in the very early spring.  If your green frog can find a friend, he/she can certainly have eggs the same year you put in the pond in May.  Green frogs instinctively know to lay their eggs in fishless ponds.  I have a bunch of tub ponds that they use while they mostly ignore my big pond.  You can buy tadpoles anytime during the summer but they're usually bullfrog tadpoles.

I've never built my own filter or a Skippy filter but many people have and say they work great.  I disagree with his information on the site about not cleaning the filter though.  There are tons of filters you can buy but, if you have the do-it-yourself gene, you can build one yourself.  You mostly need a big rubbermaid tub, tubing, sealant, etc.

Good luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well, we were going to make our pond on our small garden, so it would fully cover it. (we have a garden in the middle of the yard). So, um, i went out and mearured it(the garden). It turned out to be 15x11x3. So um htats about 3000 gallons right??? Is that good thats its gonna be bigger or is it bad? I know that biiger is usually better but... And about how many gallon is it?

Answer
If the pond were a perfect box of 15' x 11' x 3' deep, it would be 3,712 gallons.  Since I assume you might have varying depths, sloped sides, etc., then the pond would end up being about 3000 gallons if mostly 3 feet deep and perhaps 2000 gallons or less if you have shallow areas.

For every one person who says they wish their pond were smaller, 10,000 say they wish it were bigger!  But, as far as the frogs go, they want smaller ponds and shallow ponds.  I suggest making a smaller pond for them.  Can they use your current 120 gallon pond?  They will also use the new big pond if there are shallow areas with lots of marginal plants.  You can build those into your new pond.  If it's all 3 feet deep, amphibians won't use it. The positive side though is that you probably will have few problems with predators getting the fish in deeper water.