Might be starting a pond... lot's of questions?

laurenrocksth

laurenrocksth

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Jun 24, 2008
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I finally got my mother interested in having a pond in out backyard :) I would be primarily responsible for setting it up and have a million questions:

1. The pond will be round and about 8 ft in diameter. What would be the appropriate depth?

2. We would stock it with fancy goldfish (cheaper than koi?), would they be able to spend the winter out there as long as the top didn't freeze completely?

3. What is the appropriate gph rating for a pump? Any suggestions on brands?

4. To actually build the pond, I just dig a hole, put in a liner, plant whatever plants I want and fill it with water right?

5. Do you cycle a pond like you'd cycle a tank?

6. In regards to plants, how do they get planted? Do you put them in pots under the water? I assume that they don't go through the liner into the ground, but I really have no idea.

7. For water circulation, do you guys think it's better to have a "waterfall on one side (looks better) or a fountain in the middle (maybe easier to set up?)

Sorry for all of the questions... I've never done anything like this and if I get the go-ahead, I want to do it right.
 
Also, does anyone know of good hardy pond plants that will survive the winter in my area?
 
1. At least 2 ft deep

2. Yeah, unless your pond is 500+ gallons ( koi need 500 gallons each) then I wouldn't get koi. Comets, commons, and shubs would do best. You might still have to overwinter them though- not sure how cold it gets where you live

4. It'd be easier to get a stock tank, and cheaper probably. I was also going to dig a hole and put in liner for mine, but someone suggested stock tanks instead. They're like above ground pools and come in different sizes.

6. You could have the plants planted in pots on the bottom of the pond. People do that with their goldfish tanks and it looks pretty cool. And then you could have floating plants like lillies on top.
 
My dad gave me some lillies - he sais they winter well for him he just cuts them back when it gets cold and I've had luck with water iris... they get pretty purple flowers. they've wintered fantastically! right now they're makind new plants like crazy, had to cut a few off... anyways we're in central PA so... hmmm... we have moderate weather? don't know bout yours...
 
I'm curious to see what the answers are on a few of these too, since I may be starting up a pond of my own... don't mean to hijack, but how deep does a pond have to be not to freeze solid in a PA winter?
 
I just did some research on liners, and I'm a bit confused about Sawyer's comment that a stock pond would be cheaper. I priced a 15x15 pondguard liner at $90. Stock tanks that I've seen have been at least several hundred dollars. Did I just find a good deal?

http://pondscapeonline.com/firestone_liner.htm
 
laurenrocksth said:
I just did some research on liners, and I'm a bit confused about Sawyer's comment that a stock pond would be cheaper. I priced a 15x15 pondguard liner at $90. Stock tanks that I've seen have been at least several hundred dollars. Did I just find a good deal?

http://pondscapeonline.com/firestone_liner.htm
Click to expand...


DO NOT GET A FIRESTONE LINER Your going to want a 45mm liner. They are more expensive but they last 20-30 years.

The stock tank that was suggested was to be used as a skippy filter. If you google skippy filter you will understand how they work.
 
laurenrocksth said:
I finally got my mother interested in having a pond in out backyard :) I would be primarily responsible for setting it up and have a million questions:

1. The pond will be round and about 8 ft in diameter. What would be the appropriate depth? 2-3ft

2. We would stock it with fancy goldfish (cheaper than koi?), would they be able to spend the winter out there as long as the top didn't freeze completely? Go for common or comet goldfish, they will be able to winter in the pond as long as it doesn't freeze solid like an ice cube.

3. What is the appropriate gph rating for a pump? Any suggestions on brands? I would look at a laguna 1200 gph pump

4. To actually build the pond, I just dig a hole, put in a liner, plant whatever plants I want and fill it with water right? Make sure you use an underliner. Its a piece of fabric that will repel roots and critters from digging through into your liner.

5. Do you cycle a pond like you'd cycle a tank? Yes

6. In regards to plants, how do they get planted? Do you put them in pots under the water? I assume that they don't go through the liner into the ground, but I really have no idea. Pots work fantastic. They sit right on the bottom of the pond.

7. For water circulation, do you guys think it's better to have a "waterfall on one side (looks better) or a fountain in the middle (maybe easier to set up?) Both. The waterfall would not move enough water but both would be great. You can run both off of one pump via T-Valves.

Sorry for all of the questions... I've never done anything like this and if I get the go-ahead, I want to do it right.
Click to expand...

There you go!
 
Laurenrocksth-
If you get a 15x15 piece of liner, your 8' pond can't be more than two feet deep before you run out of liner...

8' across the bottom+4' ( two on each side)= 12' and you need some overhang, too. If your pond is not round/squareish, you will need even more liner. And if you step the sides for planting shelves, you have to add a few more feet to cover those also.

I have an 8' round, 2' deep stock tank , which holds about 600-700 gallons, and I run a 2000gph pump and filter. The advantage of higher gph is that your water circulates more often, and may stay more clean and clear, just like when you run multiple or high gph filters in your aquarium... My pump came with a foam block shaped filter, to keep debris from getting into the pump and fouling it up. I have run just the filter block
with the pump in a smaller pond and it worked perfectly, but I had a very light fish load and lots of plants. I currently run a filter rated to match the pump, so my water is filtered almost three times an hour. I have only six fish and MANY plants, and the water is clear with no chemicals. I have been told that a pond, especially one with hundreds of gallons of water, is a bit different than an aquarium to care for, as the papameters don't swing near as wildly as they can in a 10 gal tank. I do take the water level down 6-8 inches occasionally and add in fresh (and Prime), but not religiously like I'd have to in an aquarium, and it needs topping off because of evaporation, especially in the summertime. In the winter the rain takes care of that for me.

Regarding fountain vs. waterfall...both look great. If you end up with a mysterious leak, 99 1/2% of the time it will be in the waterfall. Water can get anywhere, and it will sneak out even if you bulletproof your falls. If your fountain is already IN the pond, it can leak all it wants and no water escapes. BUT, waterfalls have a more 'natural' feel.....

One thing to be aware of...depending on where you live, there are ordinances and such regarding ponds. If they are below a certain depth, they may have to be fenced like a swimming pool...out here that's fully enclosed in a 6' fence. Someone else building a pond ran into CCR's in his development that could prevent him from putting in a pond...just depends on where you live...smack in the middle of 20 acres, you are good to go:)

Good luck with your project:) Hope my ramblings help a little.
Jen
 
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