Backyard pond in progress
by
Joe L
+26
Here is a little project I've been working on. I have a small pond off our patio but after the above ground pool was removed I didn't want just a patch of grass... the dirt from the dig went into a raised garden that was where our pool deck lived. We still have some platings, patio blocks and water features to finish and I need to make another homemade filter system that will empty into the large vase that spills into the pond. The pond id 32 inches deep at it's deepest and on the right is a 12 inch deep shelf for water plants that don't need to be submersed.
underconstruction
just needs finishing touches
29 answers
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Joe L, are you planning to add any fish? You will enjoy your pond and spend a lot of time enhancing it. What caused you to make the pond 32" at the deepest end, do you have something in mind for that depth?
Sherrie S
on May 21, 2012
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Coi : >)
Rebecca D
on May 21, 2012
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good idea!
Vicki
on May 21, 2012
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Sherrie, our other pond is about 25 inches (it's a hugh plastic tube that held beer at a big arena that i found in a dumpster) anyway 2 winters ago it completely froze over and my 5- 12 inch Koi fish didn't make it. I wanted to make sure there was enough space and depth so that wouldn't happen again, I will add 12 for a dollar goldfish until I am sure the system is fully functional and the filter system has enough time to create the right balance of microrobes and bacterias. I will add Lilly pads and some water grasses and then add a few 6 inch Koi until I am happy that everything is working and running smoothly. The total cost to do this without the man hours is about $250...not including all the rocks I had already on hand. (tip: find a rocky creek and borrow a few rocks at a time) the river rocks can be had in bags for around $5.00 a bag.
Joe L
on May 21, 2012
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Sounds like this one should winter well. Do you have a heater for this? Nice size and shape!
Becky H
on May 21, 2012
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I will be adding a bubbler and a heater... so the dog won't walk on it.
Joe L
on May 22, 2012
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I'm looking forward the the completed pics...you have a great project going there.
KMS Woodworks
on May 22, 2012
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Joe L, since you are in a cold area the depth is very important. I looked at a heater for one of my fish (pleco) that requires 50 degrees water temp. He almost died one year so I purchased a solar blanket which really helped and when temperatures went below 30 the blanket kept the water over 50 degrees. All I need for my KOI and goldfish is to keep water from freezing. That doesn't happen here often.
Sherrie S
on May 22, 2012
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Hope you share when finished!
Bernice H
on May 22, 2012
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be prepared to have snakes if you put fish in it
Sharon D
on May 23, 2012
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Sharon D, I have had my pond and fish for about eight years. There are plenty snakes around my 2 acre yard but none bother the pond.
Sherrie S
on May 23, 2012
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I have just the area to do this too. During the rainy months I wouldn't even have to fill it. Very cool.
Jan M
on May 23, 2012
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imhave never seen a snake... Hold on, I think we had one last year in our small pond. I guess I have to get a mongoose... I have had 2 ponds and most of my fish have made it through the winters. I lost a few because I let it completely freeze over. I tried bring them in the basement one winter... That was way too much work. I have had 12 for a buck goldfish that have lived for 5 or more years and get to be pretty big.
Joe L
on May 24, 2012
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Joe L, I am very interested in the heater you will install. I'm waiting for a bid even though I like my solar blanket because it saved the Plecos. I just want something easier than putting on and taking off the big solar blanket.
Sherrie S
on May 24, 2012
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Joe L. let me know when you find that mongoose. We can order together and hopefully get a discount. 8-)
Becky H
on May 25, 2012
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If anyone is interested I will post a parts list and photos for the homemade filter... With the pump 79.00 and all the other pieces around $150.00 total.
Joe L
on May 26, 2012
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I would be interested in seeing that, especially how you made your own filter. How many gallons is your pond?
Becky H
on May 27, 2012
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I'd be interested in that filter process as well...I'm dismanteling a large water feature that I made several years ago and the "critters" tore up for me...so now I'm going to build just a small pond...not even as big as yours but I really need to find a way to filter it it cause I sure don't want to have to go through another rebuild...
Sharron W
on May 27, 2012
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Joel re: snakes. I recently saw baby racoons in my yard & read that they kill & eat snakes including poisonous snakes. Maybe that is why I don't have snake problems at my pond. I, too, am very interested in your homemade filter and the # of gallons in the pond. I have plenty water movement and filters but it is still quite a bit of work keeping the filters clean.
Sherrie S
on May 27, 2012
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all of the dirt removed from the pond hole was moved to a raised garden. I tried to reuse as much of the old pool decking as possible for the frame and corner posts. I have a pile of decking that I will try to turn into flower boxes for my front wall (see photo of front of house).
Joe L
on May 28, 2012
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We turned the pool deck posts into the frame for our first garden in many years. The frame is from the decking of the former pool deck.
Joe L
on May 28, 2012
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Well I have to say, I bought 12 for a dollar goldfish and some Small Koi, my pond froze solid over the winter and so did the fish, cause you could see them in the ice, but I actually saw one of them thaw out the last bit and start swimming around come spring...I had them for four years and they got substantially large...(about 1-1/2 times the size of my hand) and THEN the raccoons found them...and in one summer ate them all...when I do this time, I'm going to make a hogwire or chicken wire Top...the water lillies will come up and cover it and the fish will live happily...although if there is actually a heater large enough to keep it from freezing, that would be awesome...so please post that as well!
Sharron W
on May 29, 2012
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Sharon, your heater only needs to keep an area warm enough to create an opening in the ice for air to get to the water for oxygenation. It need not be so big and efficient as to keep the entire pond warm. If your pond freezes all the way through, then you need to deepen the pond to winter fish.
Becky H
on May 29, 2012
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Becky H, you are 100 % correct.
Sherrie S
on May 29, 2012
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Im seriously not sure I want fish this time....we didn't have raccoons until we had a pond with fish....
Sharron W
on May 30, 2012
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Since it is so deep raccoons can not reach them... my fear is snakes and big birds. I also added a large drainage pipe so they can hid in it. after a few weeks of Greenish water it cleared up overnight. I can now see to the bottom.
Joe L
on Jun 21, 2012
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Joe L, to keep snakes out of my pond I used bird netting around the top edge of the pond, winding it around the rocks. You really can't notice it but it works.
Sherrie S
on Jun 21, 2012
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OMG! If I do a new pond...even if it's only 3 ft in Dia...I have to worry a snake will get in it????? Now THAT is a thought that hadn't crossed my mind...DOGS, GRANDBABIES....Yeah I thought of those....But NOT snakes... @Sherrie the Birdnetting covers the top? I had mothballs around the old one...and it did not stop the snakes from tunneling under it....But I still never thought they would get in it! Oh No I can't be having snakes...
Sharron W
on Jun 22, 2012
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Sharron W. No it does not cover the top of the pond. On the top ledge of rock I wind it around the sides and under the rocks and it works. Since I did that I have not seen a snake in the pond in over 7 years.
Sherrie S
on Jun 22, 2012
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