building a pond- equipment

[micaaronfl76]

Hello All,

I am building a pond and i am looking to see what equipment i will need. Trying to do this at low cost. i am going to attempt to build the pond below so i am looking for equiment, the pond place around here said im like at 1,000-1,500 bucks.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_...AAAJ8/4IaDPDp4TNI/s640/IMG-20110510-00254.jpg

 

[micaaronfl76]

 

[sissy]

there should not be rocks in your pond make it harder to clean and you can do it for a lot less than that my total for my pond was 400 dollars and thats because I used retaining wall block and an inside wall of concrete block and I built my own filters and got my liner cheap it was less than 60 dollars for 15x20 and there are 2 planters I built on either side of my pond ,plus my cost for 3 cold hardy palms I bought at end of season

 

[micaaronfl76]

my wife kinda likes the rock look, can u use any stones in the water? i have a creek up the street which i can snag some stones for in the water as they wouldnt make great landscaping rocks. can u use any rocks in the water? also the pond store up the street said there really is no extra maintenance.

 

[micaaronfl76]

btw i see online that aquascape has a pond kit around 900 bucks can anyone recommend them?

 

[sissy]

If they say no extra maintenance then I would run the other way .I had rocks in my first pond what a nightmare will never do that again .Sludge and fish poo gets under rocks it is like a breeding ground for everything bad .I like the satisfaction I got from doing it myself and being able to show my success with it .My first pond I had a pressurized filter and the side split out on it 3 months after I bought and lucky I was home and caught it in time before all the water leaked out of the pond and the only excuse I got from the company was the extreme heat effected the tank .It was a tetra and I paid good money for it ,after that I built my own bio filter and then built a bigger pond and not 1 problem yet

 

[micaaronfl76]

then would u recommend just pebbles? home depot sells pond stones?

 

[sissy]

.No stones in the pond at all in the stream find in a waterfall fine in the pond no and you will see almost everyones ponds here have no stones .

 

[sissy]

This is my pond and water is clear and a pond with stones fish poo gets in between the stones and is no good for fish

 

[addy1]

You can have stones around the pond, at the edge, but it is best not to have them in the pond. All it does is collect dirt and yuck, after awhile you will not even be able to see the stones.

 

[j.w]

If you have rocks, pebbles etc. on your pond bottom how will you use a net to scoop out the mulm that gathers there or how will you stick a siphon hose in there either as you can't move the rocks out of the way. You can't get in between the rocks and pebbles and it would create a horrific mess w/ tiny particle's building up forever. You have them in there now so you can always wait and see for yourself but by then your water chemistry may be bad and your fish not feeling well

 

[micaaronfl76]

ok so no stones at all in the water just use the liner? i was told that stones help protect the liner from UV rays? Also someone told me that its good to build a cave for the fish in case any birds try to grab them. we have one or two herons around here.

Someone else suggested a PVC pipe instead of a cave for the fish to hide in but i think that would junk it up.

 

[j.w]

A nice carpet of algae will build up on your liner and anything you put in your pond will eventually all turn brown or green and you won't be able to distinguish a white 5 gallon bucket from a high class expensive bright pink condo cave or whatever apart from each other. Your pond water should be nice and clear but everything else will be covered. The algae on the sides and bottom and on everything is a good thing and fish will nibble on it. The string algae that sometimes grows is not really bad either but some don't like the looks of it so they try and get rid of it. Fish prolly like either kind and don't care what the colors of stuff are but they do like to have a harmonious balance w/ the chemistry of the water

 

[sissy]

If you have herons a cave or pipe is a safe hide out and you pond should have steep sides and a net over the top to protect fish I have 2 2 foot deep shelves in my pond with rock cave .So far I have no predators around here .but I also have a top to a kitty litter box in my pond makes a great hideout also

 

[j.w]

Well never thought of that idea sissy.............cat box cover w/ the hole for the door so fish can go in and out in high class style. Hey you could always put the whole thing in there w/ the kitty litter (clay type) to keep the water clear if one had just the goldies cuz the koi would haul it all out and throw it at each other just for fun :lol: Prolly better to not do that tho cuz gunk would build up in there and try cleaning it out..............oh la la