Conversion 30,000 gal Saltwater concrete-with-liner pool to garden pond

[jsam]

Made the plunge two days ago. Emptying out the pool. Everything I have read said salt pool needs emptying. Does all 30K gallons have to be emptied or just % for plants initially? This 275 gallon container is going to be my in pond sand filter with shelves on side and plant in center: placed high enough in pond to have bog on top. Will have 2 inch pipes configured in bottom inserted thru current ball joint drain that will also come out on other side for wash out. If anybody had any ideas would love to hear. This is food grade container and I am hoping metal will be ok in pond. I believe it is aluminum.

 

[brokensword]

Made the plunge two days ago. Emptying out the pool. Everything I have read said salt pool needs emptying. Does all 30K gallons have to be emptied or just % for plants initially? This 275 gallon container is going to be my in pond sand filter with shelves on side and plant in center: placed high enough in pond to have bog on top. Will have 2 inch pipes configured in bottom inserted thru current ball joint drain that will also come out on other side for wash out. If anybody had any ideas would love to hear. This is food grade container and I am hoping metal will be ok in pond. I believe it is aluminum.

get all the salt out completely as plants and salt don't mix. Any water left (with any amount of salt) stills contains it; it doesn't evaporate out. Plan on rinsing down the walls a couple of times and draining that out too.

I'd go for bog filtration.

Plan on a lot of plants to both shade and help with crushing algae growth (the free floating kind; the stuff that grows on all your underwater surfaces is beneficial.

Any filter in-pond is going to be a lot more effort to maintain.

 

[jsam]

Since this pool to pond conversion is temporary until the liner needs replaced and we use machinery to do it right; our Georgia “clay” makes it almost impossible to hand dig (husband refuses) a hole big enough for the 30k gallon pond. I am trying ideas that are temporary and do not cost a bundle. If the maintenance gets to be a headache, we can then reprioritize our improvement projects. We finally got a floor in one of our bathrooms.....those kinda of things are taking priority right now.

 

[brokensword]

Since this pool to pond conversion is temporary until the liner needs replaced and we use machinery to do it right; our Georgia “clay” makes it almost impossible to hand dig (husband refuses) a hole big enough for the 30k gallon pond. I am trying ideas that are temporary and do not cost a bundle. If the maintenance gets to be a headache, we can then reprioritize our improvement projects. We finally got a floor in one of our bathrooms.....those kinda of things are taking priority right now.

is he handy with wood? You could make a wood box and use that as a bog; only needs be 18" higher than your pond. Would be easy to take down.

 

[jsam]

We put the makeshift filter in the pool yesterday. We had removed all the salt water and filled the pool about 1/3 of the way then got 2 1/2 inches of rain. We then let the pond sit ideal for a week while we were on vacation. So I have the pump going to a 2 inch pvc pipe that has a 3/4 inch horizontal branch to provide a current, a 3/4 inch vertical branch for water fountain (sprayer) and then 2 inch pipe to the inside of the container where I have three - 18 x 2 inch pvc pipes that have slits sitting just off the bottom. The pipes inside the container are attached to a ball valve exit port so I can flush the system if I need to. All of them have ball valves so I can adjust flow. Waiting on my larger rocks for the bottom layer to set up filter since they were part of a larger delivery. When pond is full, water level will be over metal plate. I plan to hang pots on side and put plants on top of container to camouflage. I will shorten blue hose when we know for sure where electrical outlet/pump will be. Right now have an extension cord across sidewalk.

 

[jsam]

Ok got rocks a couple of days ago and filled the container. Have slow water fall that provides some additional oxygen however when pond is full not sure if I will still have it.
Do I need to introduce any beneficial bacteria or just just let time provide it or do nothing?

Let my 4 small feeder gold fish in the pond yesterday. Not sure I will ever see them again but I hope they like their new home

 

[j.w]

I would just leave it alone especially since you already added the fish. They will add bacteria along w/just leaving it alone to do it's natural thing. If the fish survive you will see them again when they get used to their new home. Especially if you give them a little food now and then. Not much food needed as fish can find lots of stuff on their own that fall in the pond, like bugs. algae, plants etc. I don't feed mine but maybe once a week if even that much and they have done fine for many years like this.

 

[Bluerooster]

I installed a swimmin' pond with bog filter. Bog is about 12-14" above full pool, and returned via waterfall. Keeping the sand filter, return jet, and skimmer. Plumbed the bog into all that. I keep the filter turned to "bypass" 99% of the time. with the return jet, and bog flowing full time. The jet is turned to create a vortex which draws debris down, and to the center. Makes cleanup easier. I turn the filter valve to "filter" when I vacuum the bottom once in a while. Then when done, a backwash, rinse, and back to "bypass'/"recirculate". Works well, water is clear, no plumbing inside the pond.

You could build up a bog along one side of the pool, install a liner, and plumb it into the existing pool plumbing. Put a waterfall return to the pool, add pea gravel, and plants. enjoy. Easy way out, will look good, and function nicely.

 

[jsam]

Great idea. Do you have to run your pump all the time for the bog?

 

[jsam]

Forgot to include. Do you have pictures?

 

[Mmathis]

OMG, I can’t even imagine emptying 30,000 gallons of water OUT of a pool/pond, then adding 10,000 gallons back! My pond was only 3,000 gallons…..and I thought that was a ton of water! Just curious, but how long did it take? Thank goodness for the rain, too!

 

[jsam]

We ran one hose full force 6 hours a day off and on over three weeks trying to spread the cost. We still got a call from the city asking if we had a water problem since we had more than tripled our water consumption. The rain probably gave us about 4000 gallons of water. Now since I do not have to worry about the skimmer, I do not mind letting the pond fluctuate with the rainfall. I have added plants along the side using the fasteners that were for the tarp. My water coming out of the filter is clear but the sides and bottom are still green. The three Koi I added last week are still alive so I plan to add a few more.

 

[Danielle]

OMG, I can’t even imagine emptying 30,000 gallons of water OUT of a pool/pond, then adding 10,000 gallons back! My pond was only 3,000 gallons…..and I thought that was a ton of water! Just curious, but how long did it take? Thank goodness for the rain, too!

While working as a lifeguard 20 something years ago, I accidentally drained an olympic sized swimming pool after forgetting to turn off the backwash. I can't remember how long it took to fill, but it was many days. I don't know how I didn't get fired!

 

[addy1]

opps

 

[jsam]

While attaching plants in baskets to side of the pond, I let two fall in. Immediately there was a burst of dirt into the water. Had to get into the pond to retrieve the baskets and plants but pushed the rocks and dirt down to 9 ft portion of the pond. Have been watching several Robins taking baths on the top of my filter. They also like the water for drinking. Next time I have to get into the water I will make a larger watering hole for the birds on top of the filter. Have spent way more time enjoying my pond than I did the pool....though the pool was fun also.