Noob waterfall with pond.

[combatwombat]

schedule 80 is the gray its stronger but makes little sense to just jump to it every pool in america is schedule 40

I think he’s talking about electrical conduit.

 

[GBBUDD]

i do jump to schedule 80 3" ball valves myself they are night and day better cheap 3 '' 40 balls can be a nightmare to turn

 

[GBBUDD]

I think he’s talking about electrical conduit.

that makes even less sense

 

[combatwombat]

that makes even less sense

They make really long sweeps for electrical conduit. Seen a lot of koi pond builds use it instead of flex pvc.

 

[Gazza]

Hi, so I am just about ready to start digging. With regards to the build the only thing I am still unsure about is whether to site the submerged pump in a deeper trough, or just leave the bottom level and in both cases raise the pump slightly from the bottom?

Any help again would be much appreciated.

 

[GBBUDD]

Are you adding stone in the pond or a bald liner? for cleaning it's always easier to have a depression for debris to settle in

 

[Gazza]

To be honest I hadn't really thought about that. I was going to do a shallow beach area for wild life access, is there any benefits to having stone in the pond? I am also doing 1 foot shelves for plants and plan to have a few small fish.

 

[GBBUDD]

That's the million dollar debate. Dedicated koi keepers would say absolutely not.
Bog folks would say absolutely with a few hold outs.
No rock is easy to clean and more apt to suck in dirt with a drain .
Rock in the pond hands down gives more surface area for biological.and looks way better " guess what side I'm on " it does hold debris more inbetween the rocks but that too can be a bio benefit as well as a hiderance.

 

[combatwombat]

If you’re not doing a skimmer or intake bay, then I would dig a depression where you want the pump to sit that’s 3x the diameter of the pump, and then set the pump on a cinder block or similar in the depression.

But I would not have a pond without some sort of skimmer/intake bay.

 

[GBBUDD]

I have an extensive pond build in the links below . It maybe worth your time and give you some other ideas to think about before you start digging and causing possibly more work for your self. @addy1 And @pocono also have a little section on peastone bog building

 

[Gazza]

Well guys thanks to you my idea has finally got off paper and in to the Garden this weekend. I appreciate that it is quite modest compared to some on here (it's all my wife would allow me in our small garden), but I will hope fully maximize the end product.

So another question (still loads more I'm sure)! The first 10 inches was top soil,and came out a dream. Now I have hit the chalk and the pick axe has come out. All my reading suggests that plant shelves should be 1 foot, I am only 10 inches down. Should I bust a gut making the first level 13/14 inches down (taking in to consideration underlay and liner) or will this level suffice and I concentrate getting through another 16 inches of chalk for the deep section?

 

[SarahT]

Well guys thanks to you my idea has finally got off paper and in to the Garden this weekend. I appreciate that it is quite modest compared to some on here (it's all my wife would allow me in our small garden), but I will hope fully maximize the end product.

So another question (still loads more I'm sure)! The first 10 inches was top soil,and came out a dream. Now I have hit the chalk and the pick axe has come out. All my reading suggests that plant shelves should be 1 foot, I am only 10 inches down. Should I bust a gut making the first level 13/14 inches down (taking in to consideration underlay and liner) or will this level suffice and I concentrate getting through another 16 inches of chalk for the deep section?
View attachment 152320

Excellent start to the pond. I'm the lazy GPF member (and also have small ponds). I'd leave the pond shelves at 10" and manage what pots and plants you put in that will be happy with it, or bust a gut on only section of one shelf. One of the smart GPF members (memory fails me who) gave a tip that having the shelf tilt a little towards the outer edge of the pond helps keeps pots in place. You could always add an inch or two by having the pond perimeter a little higher than the surrounding soil which will also prevent rainfall from adding soil/ mud to the pond.

 

[combatwombat]

Echoing @SarahT. 10" is fine. If you want deeper, it doesn't have to be the entire shelf. Can just be part of it. Berming up around the outside of the pond is a good way to kill two birds with one stone—get more depth and keep run off out of the pond. Do keep in mind that 10" probably isn't actually 10", though, unless you plan to always have the pond 100% full to the point that it's overflowing. Most ponds have fluctuating water level and will have some freeboard above normal water level. So be careful to account for that.

 

[poconojoe]

Your pump should be located at the opposite end of your pond (from the bog or waterfall), not directly under the waterfall.
This way you'll have a good flow and better overall filtration throughout the pond.

Also, the pump should not be laying directly on the bottom. It needs to be suspended or sitting on something to prevent it from sucking up any possible solid debris settled on the bottom.

 

[poconojoe]

Here's how I plumbed my bog:
Those 2" pvc pipes have slits cut in them 1/3 through them and spaced 1-1/2" apart.
I connected a black flex PVC to that which goes over the wall and covered with rocks.