Emily's Pond Build Log

[rainbowcharmer]

Well the pond is full. It's somewhere between 1500 and 1650 gallons. According to the "time" test, it's 1500 gallons. But according to the water meter, it's 1642 gallons (multiplying each cubic foot by 7.47). So... which number to use?? 150 gallon difference I guess isn't the end of the world, but it's a pretty sizeable number. Any thoughts?

Pics yet to come. I have to finish my paper for this class first. Been putting it off all weekend because I wanted to get the pond as finished as possible before we leave for vacation. This is probably about all we'll get done prior to spring, other than plumbing and getting the filter running, which we are planning to do when we get back from vacation. All the plumbing pieces are bought, the plan is in place for what we are going to do with it, but we haven't gotten the exact measurements for where everything will go yet. Still debating the exact placement of the pump and the exact spot that I want the intake pipe to come into the filter.

 

[pbeemer]

Way to go!

compared to your measurements, you probably lost a little of the volume with the sand support layer for the liner.

for the volume, i would go with the water meter. i figure that the water meter, if it's running at flow rates within its normal range, would be good to ~1%, while the bucket timing method would not be as accurate; besides measurement errors, the bucket method assumes that the flow is absolutely steady (i.e., you and your neighbors are all drawing a constant flow rate, and the supply pressure isn't changing).

are the filter and all the plumbing lines full?

incidentally, the conversion factor i have is 7.48 gallons / cu.ft

 

[rainbowcharmer]

The filter and plumbing are not even in yet, so no. That will add another 100 gallons or so to the total volume since the filter is a 100 gallon stock tank. Well, it won't be an entier 100 gallons though since it's not going to filled to the top. So maybe 85 gallons additional?

Anyhow, the conversion I got from my mother, who is the supervisor for the water department in my hometown. I figured she'd know what she was doing. lol. Anyhow, either way it's within a few gallons.

 

[rainbowcharmer]

Updated Pictures!

So here is the pond progress today. Sand in, underlay in, liner in, and water in!

The roll of filter media from McMaster Carr:

Next to the 75 gal tank for size comparison:

The pond as of this morning:

About 1/3 of the sand in:

More sand in:

All 630 pounds of sand in:

First half of the underlay in (15' x 25'):

Another view of the underlay:

Both pieces of underlay in:

Underlay:

Another view: (ok I won't post all the pics I took of the underlay in the pond. There's like 15 of them)

Making some of the plumbing for the filter:

More filter work:

The closet flange on the filter:

Liner in!:

Liner:

First 5 gallons in:

Filling the pond:

Filling:

About 3/4 full:

In the pond, straightening some of the liner: (thank goodness for wet suits. It's COLD out!)

More straightening:

I was in there for probably 40 min. Took a while to warm back up!

Nearly there - still have to finish filling over the plant shelf and get partly over the first rock shelf:

I haven't got any "full" pics since it was dark by the time it actually finished filling, but will get those eventually.

Filter will be going in next week, and then that will probably be it until spring.

 

[WeedCali]

Oh i love how its coming along!

 

[FallenAngel]

It's gonna look GREAT!

 

[rainbowcharmer]

Thanks guys. I think so too. I'm not real patient when it comes to projects. I want them done NOW! But we're getting there with this one.

 

[pbeemer]

again, FABULOUS ! ! ! and TY for all the pictures

just to keep from being bored during the winter, you might consider putting out any plants that come in a bulb / dormant form just so they can settle in

you might also be able to get the filter media a little ways along with the ammonia method, although the little bugs will be feeling awful slow as the temp goes down

 

[rainbowcharmer]

Thanks. I still have no idea what plants we want in there. The only ones I'm sure about are the lilies, but I don't think those are OK to plant in the winter... could be wrong though? I'm open to suggestions on what plants would be good to start now.

 

[frigginchi]

The sooner you plant the faster your pond will cycle. I would try planting the hardier reeds, maybe some irises.