Best Pond Netting | Safety Cover Net To Protect Your Fish

Buyer’s Guide - Best Pond Netting

If you are continually dealing with leaves, twigs and limbs, animals, predators, bugs, and other problems in your pond, quality pond netting is the best decision you can make. You’ll be able to keep your pond clean year-round and keep predators away from your precious fish.

Good pond netting is going to add to your aquascape, not take away from it. Some netting is designed to be invisible, so you aren’t taking away from your landscape.

Installing netting that is both animal-proof and heavy-duty enough to keep leaves and debris out of the water is essential for every pond keeper. Before you spend any money, though, we have put together a buyer’s guide that will help ensure you are getting precisely what you need.

Why Do You Need Pond Netting?

1. Debris and leaves

If your pond is located near trees, bushes, shrubs, or other foliage, you’re always going to have problems with leaves and twigs finding their way into your water. Dead leaves decay and this type of debris can create issues, such as algae growth and clogged filtration systems.

Not only does the debris make your pond look dirty all of the time, but it can lead to toxic sludge building up inside of your ecosystem. This sludge is harmful to both fish and humans and, when left unchecked, can create serious health issues.

The fallen leaves will get sucked into your drainage and filtration systems, which causes pumps to overheat and fail to operate. The longer you proceed without a functional pump, the higher your chances of doing a full pond flush are.

High-quality netting will help keep leaves and twigs on top of the water so you can easily remove them before they become a problem. With your net drawn over the surface of your pond, the leaves and twigs collect on the net instead of inside the water.

You can easily remove the built-up debris without having to get wet. Without a net, you would be required to use a long tool to remove the debris or find yourself wading through the water in larger ponds. Nets help you avoid these situations.



2. Animals and predators

It doesn’t matter where in the world your pond is located -- if you keep fish inside of it, you are going to have problems with predators looking for an easy meal. Two of the most prominent suspects are herons and raccoons.

Herons are fantastic birds to observe, but they can completely decimate your pond’s ecosystem if they are left unchecked. They are well-known for eating fish directly out of your pond and will bring friends if you keep a healthy stock of fish for them to feed on.

Raccoons are another common issue pond keepers don’t realize they’re going to be forced to deal with. Raccoons become active at night and will eat fish that they can find in the shallow end of your pond. It’s difficult to stop them because they are smart when they see a free meal.

Snapping turtles, depending on your area, can be a significant problem, as well. They are known to eat anything that gets in front of them and is known to attack people trying to remove them. It’s recommended that you trap a snapping turtle if you have one in your pond.

A good netting system can help keep all of these predators out of your pond. Even if herons can get their beaks through your net, they will still be unable to get fish through the holes. This means your fish are safe even in the worst conditions.

What Type Of Pond Netting Is Right For You?

1. Size of the mesh

The diamond-shaped mesh weave on most pond netting will range in size between ⅜” and 1.5”.

The size you choose depends mostly on your goals. If you are trying to keep predators away, you will want a smaller mesh size. A smaller 1” mesh will also help keep leaves out but still provide holes large enough to let food pass through.

If you are worried about smaller debris and dirt getting through the mesh, you will want to use an even smaller size. ⅜” mesh is great for keeping smaller debris out of the water but can make it challenging to feed your fish.

Finer mesh also blocks the view that you have of your pond. If you regularly enjoy watching your fish interact with their environment, a fine mesh can make it challenging to do. Finer mesh also limits the amount of airflow and sunlight your pond receives, which can create filtration problems.

The choice ultimately comes down to finding a balance that works right for you based on what you are dealing with (as far as debris sizes and predators) and what you want to achieve.



2. Durability and stability

Whenever you are dealing with leaves instead of predators, you are going to want to purchase a heavy-duty netting. As leaves and debris begin to collect, it will weigh quite a bit. That weight can collapse your netting if it isn’t heavy-duty.

Light-duty netting may be invisible and make it easy to see into your pond, but it could tear or develop holes when the debris begins to collect. Heavy-duty netting does cost more, but if you are continually working with the netting or deal with sharp hazards, it’s a requirement.

What Material Makes The Best Pond Netting?

1. Nylon / polyethylene pond netting

Nylon and polyethylene plastic netting is a type of supported net that uses stakes in the ground to keep it elevated off the pond. The mesh is known for its durability and the punishment it can withstand. However, cold weather can present some problems.

This type of netting is more resistant to rotting than other types and is one of the types that is known to be “invisible,” so you can see through it. Nylon plastic is resistant to ultraviolet light, so you do not have to worry about it getting damaged by the sun.



2. floating pond netting

Floating netting is another type of netting that is resistant to ultraviolet light. Floating nets are typically manufactured using a combination of both polyethylene and nylon with knots holding the mesh together.

Being a floating net, these are the simplest to install. You can throw them over your pond and secure the edges using rocks or stakes. If you are trying to keep the appearance of your pond minimal, floating netting is one of the best options you have.

The design of the floating netting makes them nearly completely invisible. They are also waterproof and safe for both fish and plants.



3. polypropylene pond netting

Polypropylene pond netting, or shade netting, is the least common type used. As the name implies, it is primarily used to create shade over your pond. This means it uses a finer mesh and does not allow any debris, food, or sunlight to pass through.

This type of netting is waterproof and does allow for ventilation while protecting your fish and plants from excessive sunlight. It is a heavy-duty netting that keeps most debris out. If you live in a hot climate, this may be the best type of netting you can purchase, especially during the warmer summer months.

How To Install Your Pond Net

1. the basic stretch

If you’re looking for the fastest and easiest, you can stretch the netting over your pond and secure it into place with rocks or stakes.

Depending on the net you purchase, the manufacturer may include stakes that you can use to install the netting. These stakes are typically weather-resistant and designed to last.

The goal of stretching your net is to make sure the net is secured correctly and not allowed to droop down into the water. The weight of leaves and debris can cause the net to sag down into the water and stretch to the point that it is beyond repair.



2. dome and tents

The second type of installation is creating a dome or tent over your pond. This will require you to install it the same way you do when you are stretching the tent, but you will also need to place large poles inside of the pond to keep the net from touching the water.

This type of installation keeps your net from being invisible but also makes cleaning the debris out of the net easier to do. As debris collects, it will roll to the edges of the net. Then, you can remove the debris without worrying about the net being harmed.

Pond Netting Frequently Asked Questions

When you’re trying to find pond netting, there are a handful of questions that you could find yourself asking. Each of these frequently asked questions is listed below.

How Big Of A Pond Net Do I Actually Need?

The best way to determine how much netting you are going to need is by taking the length and width of your pond and allow for 3 to 4 feet of extra netting on each dimension. This helps ensure you have enough excess left to cover the edges of the pond.

If you end up purchasing a net that isn’t quite the right size, remember that you can purchase more than one and combine the two to make a larger net.

Something to think about is that predators could attempt to destroy your new net. Bad weather and large amounts of debris could also weaken it. This means you will want to keep spare net around to make repairs if needed.

How Do I Keep Leaves Out Of My Koi Pond Netting?

The easiest way to remove leaves from your koi pond net is by using a pole in the middle of the pond that keeps the netting elevated. This will force the leaves to move to the edge of the net so you can easily remove them.

Otherwise, you can use a pond skimmer on a pole to reach the area where the leaves are collecting. This will let you get to areas that are harder to reach.

How Do I Fix Damaged Pond Netting?

If you have rips and tears in your net, you’re going to want to replace them sooner than later. A small tear can quickly become a large tear that is unable to be repaired.

Repairing the net is easy to do, too. You can cut a section of leftover netting and begin attaching it where your existing net meets and knots. This will keep the tear from getting any larger and may take a good bit of time but is worth the effort.

Where Can I Purchase Pond Netting?

You can purchase quality pond netting at most outdoor aquascape and big-box department stores. However, if you want to save money, we highly recommend purchasing through Amazon.

With Amazon, you can read through reviews from other customers and get a better idea of what you’re getting before you spend your hard-earned money on it.

How Do I Keep Animals Out Of My Pond?

If you are dealing with animals and predators getting into your pond and eating your fish, you are going to need a heavy-duty pond net. Then you are going to need to secure it around the edges of your pond.

You want to ensure that the net is not touching the water. It needs to be elevated (with poles or a frame) and secured incredibly well. Installing motion sensor lights will also help keep predators, such as raccoons, from wanting to bother your pond during the night.