Pond in the foothills

[MitchM]

Right. I don't think I would want the liner over the pond hole surface right now though because I don't want it to get too dried out. If it gets too dried out the existing clay would shrink and change the shape of the pond too much.
...I think. Maybe I think too much...
The sooner I get this done the better.

 

[j.w]

No clue on how it would effect your clay project.Get er done!

 

[Mmathis]

Check out this video @Mmathis posted the other day - if these two young fellas can do it, so can you! One handful at a time!

https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/a-“new”-way-to-build-a-pond.24189/[/QUOTE]

And only using woven mats to haul out the dirt

 

[addy1]

In Arizona it only took a few days of liner, plastic laying on the ground to wipe out the weeds. Darn hot sun, heat etc.....weeds gone. Didn't dry out the ground, actually made it damper.

 

[Tara]

When it's done it will be an interesting pond, you should hurry.

 

[Lisak1]

you should hurry.

haha! We all agree! HURRY UP @MitchM !

 

[Jack B. Nimble]

I've been thinking about my next pond and using bentonite as well. We have heavy clay to start here and the bentonite is $11 per 22 kg from Brock White dist. I recall mix was 1 pound per square foot. I wonder how these do with water loss as we have very high water costs for some reason.

 

[cas]

Good luck @MitchM !

 

[MitchM]

I've been thinking about my next pond and using bentonite as well. We have heavy clay to start here and the bentonite is $11 per 22 kg from Brock White dist. I recall mix was 1 pound per square foot. I wonder how these do with water loss as we have very high water costs for some reason.

There’s a bucket test you can do to determine how much bentonite you need for your soil type. I can find it and post it if you like.
That price from Brock White is pretty good.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Great idea, but won't the use of the liner dry out the bed underneath?

Actually no, it does the exact opposite.
Putting a moisture barrier on the ground holds the moisture in the ground that would normally be leaching (evaporating) into the air. This is why it is code in most places to put a moisture barrier under concrete slabs that are poured in indoor buildings (eg; basement floors, garage floors, etc...)

 

[Jack B. Nimble]

There’s a bucket test you can do to determine how much bentonite you need for your soil type. I can find it and post it if you like.
That price from Brock White is pretty good.

Yes I would be interested. I do recall the 1 pound per somewhere but it was being added to large dig out with fairly sandy soil type. My clay at about 2 feet down very fine and damp. Keeps the shape of shovel as you dig but difficult so I believe will hold water well.

 

[MitchM]

Actually no, it does the exact opposite.
Putting a moisture barrier on the ground holds the moisture in the ground that would normally be leaching (evaporating) into the air. This is why it is code in most places to put a moisture barrier under concrete slabs that are poured in indoor buildings (eg; basement floors, garage floors, etc...)

You're right. I should have thought that through more.
Thanks.

 

[MitchM]

Yes I would be interested. I do recall the 1 pound per somewhere but it was being added to large dig out with fairly sandy soil type. My clay at about 2 feet down very fine and damp. Keeps the shape of shovel as you dig but difficult so I believe will hold water well.

https://shop.naturalwaterscapes.com/sodium-bentonite-clay-for-ponds/
The bucket test method is about 2/3 of the way down the page.

 

[Troutredds]

Winter is coming @MitchM. Any pond progress?

 

[MitchM]

I have the bentonite.
With the smoke, rain and my work/schooling, it's not going to get done this year.
There are flurries in the forecast for next week so it's too late to try and construct/plant a new pond.

One observation is that even though I've brought the fish indoors into a large, (320g) fully planted aquarium and have an auto feeder supplying food, the goldfish are not as fat as when I first brought them inside and the minnows are not reproducing.
There really is no substitute for an outdoor pond and all the benefits it can provide - even when a pond like mine is covered with ice for 6 months.

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