Hi my name is Rich

[shad3rd]

Hi everyone. I just finished digging my first pond. (OK I hired a kid with strong arms and back to do the digging Now I have to hide the liner and connect the skimmer box. Truth be told, I am apprehensive. This is my first pond. I think I am doing everything right but apprehension is alway present. Any kind words would be appreciated. I have wanted a backyard pond all my life. I am only a few years from retirement and want to something to "tiinker" with. I look forward to being a part of this forums.

 

[SouthernCross]

Hey Shad3rd, and welcome to the forums. I am pretty new here myself, but I have learned a lot in the little bit of time that I have been here. As I have been told, read up on the forums , and if you have any questions, please ask. The fun thing about a pond is that you can make it how YOU want it, and spend as much or as little time on it. Have fun with your new pond, and do not forget to ask questions.

 

[Sunshine]

Pictures? And welcome to this great forum. I'm with you, a few years to retirement, so we have been doing a lot of work on my little Oasis. How big is your pond?

 

[shad3rd]

My pond is small. I don't have a large backyard nor a really large pocket book. I will try to upload pictures once i figure out how to do it My pond it 9 feet long and 4 1/2 feet wide. Tomorrow I put in the skimmer box. Wish me luck. The thought of making wholes in my liner is doing me in. I would love to spend more time working on hiding the liner etc... but it is almost 100 degrees here and working in the sun is most unforgiving.

 

[Sunshine]

Wish I had your weather. We are trying to dig out the backyard to make a patio, but it has been raining and chilly. Not our typical July. Try to upload some photos, we do love photos :razz:

 

[Mmathis]

Welcome!

 

[Fishylove]

WELCOME! WELCOME! :wave: Ask lots and Lots and LOTS of questions! And just take your time and think it out I'm sure it will be wonderful. My first pond was alot smaller than the one you are building, and I still enjoy it as much as I do the big one
Just remember, it's all about relaxing, enjoying your new hobby, and enjoying nature. It's not too hard to build the pond itself, but be sure to take lots of time to learn what it takes to build a healthy Eco system, and how they work together. Don't worry, you'll be hooked in no time

P.S. If you can find it ( I get mine at a roofing company) use rubber caulking on your liner to seal it. Works like a charm! It's basically liquid rubber in a tube, I used it instead of seaming tape to join two liners together. You can't Pull it apart!
GOOD LUCK!

 

[CometKeith]

Hi shad3rd. Well the truth be told almost everyone here messed up their first pond somehow so don't feel pressure of having to have it perfect the first time. I think I rebuilt mine 3 times in the first 2 years because of mistakes I made. You are off to a good start by finding this forum in the first place. There is a ton you can learn here. Try to find threads on ponds that are similar to yours. My pond is 9x9 and I don't use a skimmer. It gives me an excuse to tinker with the pond in the mornings with a net skimming off anything on the surface. Then I need to rest from the 5 minutes of hard work and drink my coffee by the pond and relax. It's a nice way to start the day!

 

[shad3rd]

Thank you for your kind words. I have had sleepless nights thinking about how to finish of the edges of the pond. I have a shelf 8 inches from the top of the water level and it is rocked in. I would like to continue with the same river rock to hide the liner but that is not etched in stone (no pun intended). Can someone offer a web site or two that offers suggestions about hiding the liner and finishing off the pond?

 

[sissy]

welcome and believe me get a pad to write all the idea's down that you learn on here .

 

[CometKeith]

Rich take a look at this thread. https://www.gardenpondforum.com/topic/10443-pond-edge/?hl=liner+edge#entry142426

There is good information on various threads here at gpf how to hide the edge of your liner with rock. Try going to the search box and typing in keywords to find them. I used " liner edge" in the search box to find this one. The information I have found at gpf in my opinion is much better than what you will find on the average website. Also if you see a thread that is a few years old feel free to type in your questions about the topic and people will respond.

 

[shad3rd]

All,

Well here is a picture of my pond. I hope I uploaded it correctly. It is not very big. I decided to rock in the 8 inch shelf. Most of the rocks are large. These is no small gravel in my pond. Under the falls, it is 18 inches and slopes down to 24 inches. I am using a skimmer. I was up at 5:45 in the morning trying to set the skimmer up before the 95 degree temps cooked me.

I will be using a very high volume pump to circulate the water. You can see that I have yet to hide all the liner. This was all done in about a day and a half.

This pond gets about 6+ hours a day of direct sun. I fully expect green water. Therefore, I am fully expecting to us an UV light. This should make a fine water garden. I just bought my first lily today (Home Depot special). I am sure you can get them on line. Hey it if does not grow, I am out $3.50 :cheerful:

I have buried some of my liner in a trench on the right side of the pond. I am off to get more rocks tomorrow after work.

Thank you all for your help.

Rich

 

[Fishylove]

Looks very nice rich Lookin' Good!

 

[CometKeith]

Rich, It looks very nice. It is recommended that a pond be 4-5 ft deep so the fish can overwinter in a pond. A pond with that depth will form a bubble of 38 degree water at the bottom that your fish can sit in all winter very comfortably. You won't need a heater, just an air pump and air stone to provide extra O2 and it will keep a hole in the ice. Also a deeper pond will protect your fish better from natural predators. Also make sure your sides are slightly raised so ground runoff water that may have chemicals such a fertilizer and weed killer does not run into your pond.

 

[shad3rd]

Well the pond is filled. I Looked at it and admired my work and then said "I Wish I Made It Bigger!!" Really, is this a Garden Pond disease. Everyone I have ever spoke to has said the same thing. Of course, that would never be me. Now look, I have caught it too.