undrtkr_00 Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 So, after putting together 2 reef tanks, I decided I don't have enough water in my life!! I'm installing a pond in my front yard. I'll be using a flexible rubber liner, and will have a waterfall and stream (about 15-20' long). Total volume will be several hundred gallons, and I'm planning to have mostly plants with just a few fish. Anyone here have experience keeping ponds and want to pass on some wisdom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finch6013 Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 that sounds really cool! cant wait to see a build thread:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfisher Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 I have a contractor buddy who has done a ton of them for customers and has them himself. I am sure he would answer any questions you may have. Pm me if you want his number and I will give him the heads up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Ask. I can advise. Old house we did a 7,000 gal. This house we did a waterfall, no visible surface water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racefan Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Ask. I can advise. Old house we did a 7' date='000 gal. This house we did a waterfall, no visible surface water.[/quote'] I'd love to see pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonH Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 I really want to do a Koi pond - so would love to see your progress and learning on this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted October 9, 2009 Author Share Posted October 9, 2009 Only thing to take pics of at this point is a bare spot in the lawn where I have taken the sod off. I hoped to be further along at this point in time, but got a major kink in my neck that is keeping me from doing anything physical. Hopefully I'll feel better this weekend and get most of the digging done. Once things progress a little further, I'll be happy to post some pics. Did any of you with ponds find a really helpful forum like this one? I've searched around and found a few, but not too many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted December 28, 2009 Author Share Posted December 28, 2009 Well, it has taken a while, but I finally have enough progress to make posting some pics worthwhile... I'll give you some progress shots... First, a shot of the front of our cool old house... Then some early progress... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted December 28, 2009 Author Share Posted December 28, 2009 Partway into my digging, we decided to take out the lawn on that part of the yard... Those sod lifters make really quick work of your lawn. I was really surprised at how easy and fast it went. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted December 28, 2009 Author Share Posted December 28, 2009 More progress... You can see the shelf along the outer edge of the pond. It is about 12-14" from the surface, and will be where I place a number of pond plants. The deepest part is about 3'. It will be about 1,000 gallons total, and deep enough for a few koi if I decide to go that route. At this point, I am only planning to have a few small goldfish and lots of plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Heres the pond I built for my parents. Its as maintenance free as it gets...feed the fish, and ad top off water. Thats it! For filitration, I used a blue 50g barrel filled with filter material. Water is pumped to the bottom of the barrel, fills the barrel, goes through the filter material, then overflows to the top of the water fall. The filter setup uses biological filtation to break down waist. Its been running with out ANY maintenace for over 5 years. It also helps to have lots of shade over the pond to cut down on algae growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted December 28, 2009 Author Share Posted December 28, 2009 Looks nice. What's the total volume there? Looking forward to the time when the plants are all grown in and the pond liner, etc aren't too visible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilmca Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Looking good, lots of progress since we last walked by your house earlier in December. Look forward to seeing more progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 I never really figured it out, I always assumed roughly 350-400 gallons. I made it REALLY deep to help give the fish a chance against racoons and cats. The last pond I made for them was too shallow and we lost a lot of fish to animals. No fish lost in this pond yet... The koi were added at just a couple inches long. Now they're 14" to 16" long, and VERY fat! Looks nice. What's the total volume there? Looking forward to the time when the plants are all grown in and the pond liner, etc aren't too visible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted December 28, 2009 Author Share Posted December 28, 2009 Looking good' date=' lots of progress since we last walked by your house earlier in December. Look forward to seeing more progress.[/quote'] Ask and you shall receive. Here are the most recent photos... Gettin' muddy! A few of the stream: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonBoy Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 looks nice! wish i had the space to do that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Very nice! I would love to add a pond to my backyard but since I rent and am hoping to have my oun house by the end of 2010 I would be wasting my time. You said ya have the water flowing up through the barrel, what is keeping the media in the barrel as the water overflows out of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted April 20, 2010 Author Share Posted April 20, 2010 OK, finally time for some more update shots here. Still have some landscaping to do, and the pond plants should grow out a bunch, but it's getting closer. The bog garden: My sarassa goldfish: Some details: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 WOW!!! That looks really nice! Great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitterbait Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I highly recommend posting a no trespassing sign. it will provide a little liability protection should someone accidentally drown in that thing (since it is in the front yard) you will also want to protect your fish from the birds. i have a few recommendations and the pond shop next to my fish shop will also have some good advice. looks really nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 The grass you put in it can be very hard to get back out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted April 21, 2010 Author Share Posted April 21, 2010 Which do you mean, Blaine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I think the grass/sedge in the pond is in a pot, which will make it easy to remove in the late fall. Brian- it looks good. I like the landscaping around the pond. Last time I saw it there was only landscape fabric around it. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted April 22, 2010 Author Share Posted April 22, 2010 Correct, all the pond plants are in pots and should not be too invasive. I ordered way too much bark dust! DOH! Stupid math error. Fortunately, my parents need some, so they're going to take the excess off my hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 that is a lot of bark! Is it worse than your bite? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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