Daily Log of Constructing a Tropical Fish Pond

Good progress!
 
Looks awesome to me! Just looking at this project, steel wool might be overkill. The wood looks great! Unless you were going for cabinet-grade stuff, I wouldn't worry about steel wool.
 
thanks for the complements guys!!! I am working on the 8 foot section right now! Hopefully by Wednesday night I will be done making the sides.

I still have to finish, stain and water treat the finishing top pieces. They are 8" wide. I think I am going to use all that I learned from wood working and apply it to those last 4 boards. Steel wool and all!
 
Ok just got done with the 8 foot section.....man I am beat. This pig had to be wrestled every which way to make everything line up. I was using both of my clamps, a hammer, and my weight to get these boards lined up. Well I am done after about 3hrs of abuse. I am really dreading putting together the last section.....I am going to do it tomorrow so I can be done with it. On a positive note I could use the 8 foot section as a battering ram, it easily tops 100 lbs....

I have to add one more cost to the project, one case of beer to bribe 3 of my stronger friends to come over for the pond flipping once all the pieces are together. Me and my destroyed back are going to sleep...more in a bit.
 
All sides are made. This weekend I am going to put the pond together and order the liner and pump. I am also going to sand and finish the top of the pond. Maybe water in the pond next weekend?!?!??!
 
waterfall woes

Based on the pictures of the sides of the pond, you guys have a pretty good idea on how it will look when constructed. I am now having issues with how to install a waterfall. I want the nice sound that a waterfall provides but I dont know how to make it. And I really don't care if I can't see much of the water fall...I was thinking about making a corner waterfall out of wood and then just surrounding it with some emergent plants to hide it. On the top boards I would just install a piece of wood, run piping thru the shelf and then the water would just go over the sides. Here is a quick drawing of it. What do you think??
 

Attachments

The big Wooden Shoebox

Well I put the thing together today. It looks alot bigger when it is pieced together. I have to go and get more supplies before I flip it over and put the liner in and fill it up. I still have to go and put 2 center braces that will connect the two 8 foot sections together for increased strength. I have 3 connections on each edge. Top and bottom have the 90 degree elbows and in the middle I have the 6 screw wedge. I think that should be enough but I might put one more wedge in the sides and maybe a little 4 screw connector on the bottom edges by the 90 degree elbow... I also cleared the woodchips away for the pond install.

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Looks nice! Are those metal clips/braces the only things holding the 4 sides together?
 
Looking good. Have you decided what to do about the underliner? We used newspaper and sand as an underlay for our fibreglass outdoor pond.
 
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