Finally starting my pond.....

[GBBUDD]

I find much smaller cantaloupe size rocks to put around the ledges. I am not sure how unnatural that will look though.

Round river rock I do not recommend for the edges. They make what we refer to as a string of pearls. No matter how hard you try it has that affect. But what you can do to help or prevent that look is to throw a couple jogs to the side of your pond . That's what separates a pond from an area that makes your eye wander off looking what's around the corner and stimulates the mind.

Your skimmers placement is close to where the water comes into the pond.
If the water comes into the pond but is directed toward the right that can create a whirlpool sorta speak and push the water around the pond toward the skimmer. But that little jog you have in your drawing will counteract that. For that reason I'd switch the skimmer to that point and have the water coming into the pond be forced or directed toward the left add a circulating jet along this wall pointing everything toward the skimmer

 

[GBBUDD]

What is 250lbs?

Epdm 25x35

 

[Dave78]

Oh, my liner is 15’x25’. The shipping weight is just shy of 100lbs.

 

[Dave78]

So the skimmer can stay where I have it if install a jet where you have it in the picture? I plan on getting at least 1 jet if not 2.

 

[Dave78]

This is my progress so far today. My son is helping me today some…lol The picture with the deepest hole is only 18” deep half way where I need to be …lol

 

[Pablo]

Gravel has two sides of that coin. One it provides more surface area for bacteria to grow on.
But on the other hand it can trap debris that would other wise be swept into a drain and to the filters SOONER.

Sorry I got a typo there 250 pounds

Darn typo, I was beginning to think my gym workouts were really doing something if my 25x35 was 700lbs, lol.

 

[Dave78]

So would I be ok if I left the skimmer where I had it, if I had a jet on the opposite side for water movement?

 

[GBBUDD]

I would play it this way if you want the skimmer on that end .
Move it just a little and have the waterfall directed at you in the sitting area. Where I believe I have the two return jets in red . This way your newly filtered water heads for one end of the pond where the jets and the draw of the pump then pulls the unfiltered water toward the other end and the rock from the falls that jogs into the pond works as directing flow and also on the back side close to the skimmer stops the flow and pulls it into the skimmer.
I caught flack from this design as everyone said put the skimmer across from the falls . But that is when your pulling in cleaned water to soon and you want the clean to push the dirty water to the other side of the pond. It worked great . Oh one other thing to consider is where is west as you don't want to fight the wind if you can help it. Work with mother nature.

 

[Dave78]

This is standing directly behind the waterfall box. It is facing straight west…. So the wind will be blowing toward the waterfall.

 

[GBBUDD]

yea so the house will block some of the wind at the skimmer is on the east side as i drew it so the wind will help push debris across the pond to the skimmer

 

[Dave78]

Ok, so you are saying put the skimmer where the red dot is? Then have a jet where the skimmer is now in this picture? Isn’t that skimmer awful close to where the waterfall flows into the pond? I’m only asking because most of the ponds I see in pictures usually have the skimmers opposite of the waterfall.

 

[SarahT]

My 2 cents - for free! - if you plan to put in a bog or even think you will, site it, dig it and line it now, if at all possible, even if you don't put in the plumbing and gravel yet, i.e. leave bare liner or some removeable rocks.

 

[Lisak1]

If your goal is an ecosystem pond, then gravel bottom is not only OK, it's preferred. A shallow layer - enough to cover the liner - won't cause any issues with debris, as it breaks down very quickly in an established pond.

If you build a pond with bottom drains - many people with big koi go that way - then gravel may be less than desirable.

 

[addy1]

I put my skimmer at the end of the pond where the predominant wind pushes everything.

Waterfalls at the other end of the pond.

 

[Dave78]

I’m definitely planning on and ecosystem pond. I will have water plants for sure. I asked this question earlier. What is the best type and size rock to put on the bottom? Also how thick should it be? I am also still torn as to where I should put my skimmer…I get what GBBUDD is saying, but it’s not always windy here and I can put a water jet anywhere in the pond. Also I am picking up a used Atlantic Gardens Waterscape Skimmer. I’m not 100% confident that the DIY skimmer will work out as I planned. I’m concerned about the liner fitting tightly against the skimmer face. I have attached pictures of the skimmer I’m looking at. I believe it’s the 3500 or 4500 model skimmer.