Pond Conversion to Pondless- What to do with muck

[WaterFallCity]

Hi all- we just purchased our first home and are thrilled…thrilled to be making some major renovations to keep our kids safe. We inherited an incredible 10 foot sloping water fall landing in a 5 x 3.5 x 4 koi pond. We found homes for all the fish that were left and will convert the pond to a pondless warerfall. Pump is there. Water fall is piped. Most of the hard work is done.

My two main curiosities:
Do I need to remove out all the old sediment before burying the pump intake? The pump is external to the pond, so the intake is a 3 inch pipe with wide, plastic filter fitting which was situated near the TOP of the pond - not the bottom. So it didn’t have any trouble with the 2-3 inches of sediment that has collected over the years. We already drained it. Do I need to muck out all the gravel and sediment/dirt before I extend the intake pipe and bury it?

Second, what’s the best way to determine how much water/reserve space I need to create in a cavity around the intake pipe? It’s a very strong pump (I can grab the specifics on it later today), so I assume it needs a lot of water easy.

Many many thanks for all your help or advice for a newbie like me.

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

I am a “visual” person. Can you please post some pics to help explain what you are talking about?

 

[j.w]

@WaterFallCity
I've never built a pondless waterfall, sorry

 

[GBBUDD]

iT IS ADVISABLE TO REMOVE THE SLUDGE YES AS IT IS NUTRIENTS FOR THE ALGAE TO GROW. and if you have a 3" line that's a good a mount of water . m While i understand the wantinng to remove and pooling for the kids to get in trouble with i would sugest you take a look at a video by brian hofstead from aquascapes. His water fall from his pond" irelevant" drops down into a catch basic where the water is adjustable and he can make it so there is 22 inches of water or a foot of water you can imagine the hours of fun for the kids playing in water thats like a giant clean puddle. you can find this in the video below at 3:minutes 10 seconds or there abouts. and again at 4 minutes This can be done by filling in the pond with aquablocks not exactly cheap, but then you install a bladder /rubber that will only allow what ever depth of water you want and is a heck of a lot more entertaining than a sand box

 

[Lisak1]

Ponds can be made kid safe - and likewise kids can be made pond safe. Like any other home hazard - streets, electricity, stairs, etc - kids need supervision and to be taught what they can and can’t do. Kids can and do drown in bathtubs, toilets and buckets, but no one would suggest eliminating any of those from a home with kids.

I know that’s not your question but for future readers - please don’t assume having a pond and kids don’t mix.

 

[GBBUDD]

iT IS ADVISABLE TO REMOVE THE SLUDGE YES AS IT IS NUTRIENTS FOR THE ALGAE TO GROW. and if you have a 3" line that's a good a mount of water . m While i understand the wantinng to remove and pooling for the kids to get in trouble with i would sugest you take a look at a video by brian hofstead from aquascapes. His water fall from his pond" irelevant" drops down into a catch basic where the water is adjustable and he can make it so there is. 2. inches of water or a foot of water you can imagine the hours of fun for the kids playing in water thats like a giant clean puddle. you can find this in the video below at 3:minutes 10 seconds or there abouts. and again at 4 minutes This can be done by filling in the pond with aquablocks not exactly cheap, but then you install a bladder /rubber that will only allow what ever depth of water you want and is a heck of a lot more entertaining than a sand box

That should have read as TWO inches of water.
And ignore the black box it still takes you to the video .

 

[WaterFallCity]

All - thanks so much for the feedback. Good to confirm need to dredge the basin before converting it.
GBBUDD - GREAT find on that adjustable play area/pond. I can't find a bladder/rubber "part" on aquascapes or anywhere but will keep looking. I was planning to take this everyday man's approach to the aquablocks but will need to see if the buckets can withstand the weight of gravel and top rocks. TBD.
TurtleMommy- the single photo I took is completely non-helpful. I'll get some more this week and share.
Lisak1 - fair points and no disagreement.

Thank you everyone.

 

[GBBUDD]

Basicly it's building a shallow pond on top of the aquablocks " a pond within a pond "and the water falls over the edge and simply falls into the cistern or pump vault. the adjustment for depth is one simple side of this little pond is adjustable so say you wanted a max of a foot deep figure how much gravel you want say 4 inches. so you make your little pond with 16 inch sides. now the kids are very young you only want a puddle so you drop one side so it is only 5 inches tall bury the rest of the liners edge and you have adjustable depths to your kiddie area

 

[GBBUDD]

All - thanks so much for the feedback. Good to confirm need to dredge the basin before converting it.
GBBUDD - GREAT find on that adjustable play area/pond. I can't find a bladder/rubber "part" on aquascapes or anywhere but will keep looking. I was planning to take this everyday man's approach to the aquablocks but will need to see if the buckets can withstand the weight of gravel and top rocks. TBD.
TurtleMommy- the single photo I took is completely non-helpful. I'll get some more this week and share.
Lisak1 - fair points and no disagreement.

Thank you everyone.

HERE is why kids and water must interact and not be feared but taught to respect . Go to the end at 15:20 minutes PRICELESS