Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Feeding Rings

Which is the best size PVC to use for feeding rings and what dimensions seem to work the best?

My first ring was a square, about 6'x6', made of 2" rigid PVC. The area is a little small IMO, but 2" does a pretty good job of containing feed.

Last year I used a round ring, about 12' in diameter, made from 1 1/4" black plastic water pipe. Construction was much easier (one fitting and 2 radiator clamps versus 8 glue joints). I like the area better (and if you want to make it smaller, that's an easy modification). The 1 1/4" lets a little more feed escape, but not, I think, an objectionable amount. But then I spread the feed out all around the ring to give the more numerous BG a chance in the presence of a small number of large CC and LMB.

Where is a feed ring more beneficial, in a large pond or small one? I did try this once but I did it more to keep other stuff like duck weed from mixing with the food than to keep the feed in one spot. I only had a 4 foot square PVC ring at the time but tried it anyway. If worked fine but in my small pond it seems that more fish get access to it if I let the feed move around at will. Eventually the fish clean up every last bit no matter where it floats to. When I start feeding the activity seems to turn the whole 1/2 acre pond on and fish feed everywhere. Maybe this is simply because my pond is small and irregular shaped and thus doesn't have a lot of area that's not closed to some habitat. If you look at the recent topic about temperature surveys I posted a contour map of my pond. You can see how it might lend itself to habitat everywhere. Every time I feed I just always make sure to throw the feed on the upwind end of the pond and it never reaches the far end before it's gone. The pond is oriented NW to SE so the wind is always going along the length one way or the other. Maybe that's why this works for me.

Does anyone use a feed ring with automatic feeders?
Our prevailing winds are predominate out of the S.E. and feeder placement is on SE and east banks, but plays havoc with a north wind.

As bz says, I like to watch the feeding frenzy as the wind drifts the floating fish food across the pond.

I'm beginning to suspect they may be more useful in a larger pond.

I feed AT my feed ring mostly just for consistency. Only on really windy days is it necessary to feed IN the feed ring.

I think feeder rings work really well for teaching new fish to eat because it keeps it in one area longer. All mine finally broke and I never bothered fixing them.