New Koi Pond Build apox 8'x12'

[j.w]

Hello everyone I know it's been a while since I last posted about my koi pond. Things were going good for me in 2020 I was able to get paid well until the last few months when my pay decreased. I stopped working on my pond for almost 1 year thinking it was a dead project. But thankfully I got my finances figured out and I started back up again at the end of 2021. I just cemented my project by purchasing a huge pond kit and now my already ambitious project with the split waterfall now has a bog and a stream coming into my pond. I have always wanted a bridge of some sort not sure what yet but boy will it be cool when finished. I think it will still take me a while to get finished I have lots of digging to do in my pond still and I am trying to figure out how my stream will enter my pond. I have a few neat rocks I found in the woods that I decided to make some stairs going into the pond, not that I needed any but I couldn't resist. My dad and I were out getting rocks and one of the large flat stair stones I thought I could maneuver closer to my truck but I couldn't get leverage on it as there was a rock just in front of the bottom. As I was trying to roll it forward it started to tip to one side and rolled back on my toe, I almost fell backward but thankfully there was a rock behind me that I just sat down on. I hollered to my dad the rock is on my toe the rock is on my toe and he was just thinking it was a joke or something but then he ran over and moved the rock forward off my toe and said that's why you wait for me with the big rocks. My toe did not suffer much just was sore for a while and maybe a scrape on my foot. Until next time Enjoy!

Good to see ya back and glad your foot just got owied and nothing worse!

 

[TheFishGuy]

Great rocks you have for the pond!

 

[Mmathis]

Welcome back!

 

[Landman]

Quick update I finally started working on my pump station and I laid my bog plumbing. Lots of plumbing left to do yet but it's happening.

 

[addy1]

Nice work!

 

[TheFishGuy]

Awesome start!

 

[Landman]

Latest update super slow progress in my book and a major setback. I finally have my bog liner in, I got some more cool rocks and I've started my stream from the bog to the pond I needed to know where the stream would come into my pond so I can finish digging that side out. I have lots of plumbing left to do and everything is like a puzzle overlapping something else that needs to be completed before I can do anything else. But I am pushing forward despite my dad thinking I've bit off more than I can chew. One bite at a time I suppose. Now that I'm already invested and well into my project I figured out how much 3/4 round gravel I need. 20 tons is my total yes you heard that right 20 tons my pond suction grid is 6" deep of gravel just by itself 6 tons. I called around within 50 miles or so and nobody around here has round gravel anymore only fractured rock. The closest is 4 hours and insane shipping charge of $1200 on top of gravel and gas which I hope will come down soon. Home depo sells 50LB bags that would be expensive normally but still cheaper than the shipped 20 tons but id have to travel 50 miles and make several trips in my truck. I thought if I could find a dry riverbed and sift out the gravel myself but that sounds ridiculous. My dad said there has to be an alternative if any of you have a thought that would be appreciated. I'll keep you updated

 

[GBBUDD]

Where are you . theres river rock just about everywhere in the usa but florida

 

[Landman]

Where are you . theres river rock just about everywhere in the usa but florida

I live in Arizona and I know where to get river rock but not 20 tons of 1/4 in round gravel.

 

[GBBUDD]

i just filled a 18 x9 x4 and only used 15 ton how big a bog are you making. well theres one problem no where in a pond would you use 1/4" - 3/8" yes 3/4" yes but not 1/4

 

[Landman]

The bo

i just filled a 18 x9 x4 and only used 15 ton how big a bog are you making

the bog is 7x7 12” deep so 6 ton of gravel and then the rest of my pond and waterways.

 

[GBBUDD]

in the pond i would not recommend the small stuff while it is friendlier on the bare feet it's a nightmare with koi as they will pick it up and it will all end up in the bottom. 3/4 or 1 to 2" is a fish friendly and even then 3/4 is aggravating with a pond vac

 

[Jhn]

Second what @GBBUDD suggested not going below 3/4” in the pond, 1/4” gravel is really small, I wouldn’t even go that small in my bog to be honest, would stay with a mixture of 3/8” -3/4” in the bog and then scatter 3/4” and above in the pond.

Keeping in mind the koi will move 3/4” gravel around too, at least mine do. On the plus side in one of my mid levels they created a planting bed about 3”:deep of gravel that I just tried planting eel grass in this spring.

 

[Landman]

in the pond i would not recommend the small stuff while it is friendlier on the bare feet it's a nightmare with koi as they will pick it up and it will all end up in the bottom. 3/4 or 1 to 2" is a fish friendly and even then 3/4 is aggravating with a pond vac

Sorry I just noticed meant 3/4 not 1/4.

 

[Landman]

Latest and exiting update I finally have the pond liner in and my suction grid is installed now I will add my 6" of gravel and start rocking out the edges. Because the soil I have is so rocky I got some thin flexible sheets of insulation and did lots of prep work before installing the liner. Installing the flange and cutting out my plumbing into the bottom of the pond was the most nerve wracking thing I've done yet. The only thing I am worried about is the size of my pond. It could have been a little bit bigger. I will be doing some work around the edges and hope to add plants behind the edge stones in some places also might dig a low shelf to give me more water area. Currently it's about 11 X 8 x 3 ft 7in deep but that will drop once I put rocks around the edges.