My goldfish pond

[herzausstahl]

Moving it closer to the house will allow you to enjoy the noise from the waterfall (not sure how urban/suburban your neighborhood is) and more importantly from your patio. I guessed the windows in that pic were a place in the house that you would sit frequently for at least part of the day in winter, which is why I had the idea of wrapping it around the the garage like this:



That way it wouldn't take up too much of the yard, you can still run power through the garage or even get someone to run a dedicated outlet from one in the garage to the outside wall, or even do it yourself if you have time. I like the idea of this corner because then you can add it without taking up too much of the yard since you spread it around the corner (unfortunatley this design could lead to a lot of wasted excess liner due to the design, but it would be unique and cool looking), the waterfall could go on the corner of the garage, if your worried about water movement due to the design, just use 2 pumps, one for your filter (in one corner) and one for the waterfall (in the other corner). You can find 2 1500 gallon pumps for a total of 130 watts (65 ea, here is the one that runs my filter, the amazon site if you want to buy it and the other site for the specs on it, http://www.amazon.com/Max-Flo-5000-...?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1309219673&sr=1-58, http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Outdoor/Ponds/MaxFlo-5000-Waterfall-Pump. I have a 1 1/2 corrugated tubing connected to it and it overwintered in the pond, so I will let you know how it survived the winter later this year when I set up my filter again). But back to my original point, this location is great because it won't take up too much yard space, as it doesn't have to be super wide but would give you a lot of volume based on the design because it would be so long. Also you would be able to enjoy it year round whether it is from the breakfast area or the patio, and you can still power it all from your garage. You could run this one until it cycles and move your fish to it when the time is best that way since you would still have the other pond for them to live in, and that will also give you time to decide if you want to keep both ponds or cut it back to just one. Just some more thoughts, but obviously it is your yard so do what you want that will make you happy, especially since you are the one who has to do all the work and not me.

 

[CometKeith]

The picture was great. Thanks again for your ideas. Actually I love playing with the pond so the digging for me would be no big deal. It would just be a matter of convincing my wife that I haven't lost my mind and it would be a rational thing to do. I am going to measure out what you suggested and see how it feels.

 

[herzausstahl]

You could have the width be 6'-8' and the edge on the lawn side be only 10' from the garage and not take up too much space. I would just leave a couple of feet next to the garage wall open. Just remember to leave yourself a walkway between the garage and the house windows at least wide enough to comfortably get any equipment back there (lawnmower, wheelbarrow, etc). I say have fun with it and keep in mind with the design that you will have to use 1 piece of liner, could get a little expensive, but could also let you get creative at the same time. You could even run your waterfall line and spit it to a bunch of different ones to create a lot of mini falls along the back of the pond along the garage wall. If you decide on that, just remember to use ball valves so you can control the flow to each. As for your wife, she did tell you to build another one, right? lol Just grab her a glass of wine, take her in the back yard and pitch your idea and tell her the reasons you like it there and see if she has any reasons why she wouldn't like it and then fix those with your design, or ask her where she would like a pond to be.

 

[CometKeith]

Thanks again all great ideas. We have been married nineteen years... I'll try to pick the right day once I settle on the pond idea, but I am not really optimistic for anything that would be too big of a change. This may have to be a multi-year plan. Do something every year until it eventually gets to where I want ie. add a stream then the end of the stream slowly gets bigger and becomes another pond etc. Last year I expanded it when she went on a trip. That worked out really well because she never mentioned anything. If it just keeps growing slowly it might be hard for her to pinpoint the precise time to get mad at me for spending so much time on it!

 

[herzausstahl]

Thanks again all great ideas. We have been married nineteen years... I'll try to pick the right day once I settle on the pond idea, but I am not really optimistic for anything that would be too big of a change. This may have to be a multi-year plan. Do something every year until it eventually gets to where I want ie. add a stream then the end of the stream slowly gets bigger and becomes another pond etc. Last year I expanded it when she went on a trip. That worked out really well because she never mentioned anything. If it just keeps growing slowly it might be hard for her to pinpoint the precise time to get mad at me for spending so much time on it!

lol I have been married 8 years and my wife declared herself a "yard widow" after last summer and already harasses me about time in the yard this year. I have been pushing for a second pond for myself this spring, one designed more for wildlife, or a "froggy pond" as my 3 year old calls it. got her out in the yard once to talk about it, but usually my interest outweighs hers and after awhile she gets frustrated and says, why even ask her since I will just do what I want in the end anyway. so i understand completely. if anything show her the ideas and mention it replacing your existing pond and see if that sells her on the idea, or like you said, just wait till she gets more used to the current pond and then see if she's open for more. good luck!

 

[CometKeith]

Visited a friends pond today. He wants to give away some of his goldfish. I have my eye on a couple of his medium size comets.

 

[CountryEscape]

Your friend has some really nice fish! I could easily pick out some out of there too ... if I needed any more fish. LOL

 

[j.w]

Yessirree some nice looking fish there!

 

[CometKeith]

I picked three up from him today. There were two smaller ones and one larger one. Some of his comets have a lot of red in their fins and tails. I didn't catch any of those. The three I got we caught really fast and I didn't want to press my luck. They are all really red and have long tails. I'll try to post pictures of them soon. They are all descendants of his largest goldfish buda who is about 9 years old and has a crooked tale. He still has some really nice ones he wants to give away. Country if you wanted any more or anyone else does he will be happy to accommodate you. Just send me a message and I'll make the connection. This is a picture of the pond they are coming from. It's in Chicago and he says all his fish are in good health.

 

[CountryEscape]

What a pretty setting for the pond! Nope, I don't need anymore. I'll be more than overpopulated once my goldies spawn, but I'm hoping most of the eggs and fry become food for the other fish. I'll be selling fish by next year, I'm sure! Thanks for the offer, though. I appreciate it!

 

[CometKeith]

Country, yes you are smart. I think I have been bitten by the bug again......want to get more fish......got the fish now need a bigger pond........want to get more fish again and on and on and on.....

 

[addy1]

lol you two,ce you could build another pond! and cometkeith we are looking forward to your new pond bigger pond build

 

[CountryEscape]

Well, I think being a newbie last year, building a 4,000 gal pond for first ever, and then adding to it and building a stream and 2,700 gal pond this year ... that ought to be quite enough for me, thank you very much But, Keith, you have time to expand yet. Yep, you keep getting more fish, then the "bigger pond" comes into play.

 

[CometKeith]

Yes, I think my wife is finally on board. She even showed me an article about a couple who have a large pond in their backyard in Claredon Hills today from the Chicago Tribune magazine.The design I am thinking about would be like a figure eight with a connection between the new one and old one about 3 or 4 feet long so it will be easy to connect the liner. I am thinking maybe I should build a bog too?... but in the sections between the two pond where they don't connect I would definitely at least include some rocks and berms for plantings so I would have a place to put some of the clay that I dig up. Here are a few pictures with the new fish in it.

 

[j.w]

Pretty fish, I like the red/white ones and the Shubbies the best and I have a few also. I need to get more Shubbies!