Pond won't retain water, seems to be getting deeper over time.

[miogpsrocks]

Hello.

I have connected a pipe to redirect all the rainwater from my roof and using it to fill up my pond. So every time it rains, I am guessing thousands of gallons of water go rushing into the hole to fill it up however the water keep leaking out so its empty in a matter of hours.

It has been filled up several times but it won't keep. Also, it looks like the hole is getting deeper and deeper as time goes on but it might just be my imagination. Some of my friends joke that if the hole gets much deeper it may end up eating my house. lol.

How many times do you have to fill up the pond before it starts holding water?

 

[Mmathis]

Have you checked for a leak?

Do you notice that the liner is lifting?

 

[GBBUDD]

Hello.

I have connected a pipe to redirect all the rainwater from my roof and using it to fill up my pond. So every time it rains, I am guessing thousands of gallons of water go rushing into the hole to fill it up however the water keep leaking out so its empty in a matter of hours.

It has been filled up several times but it won't keep. Also, it looks like the hole is getting deeper and deeper as time goes on but it might just be my imagination. Some of my friends joke that if the hole gets much deeper it may end up eating my house. lol.

How many times do you have to fill up the pond before it starts holding water?

S

Happy to say you don't just dig a hole anywhere and expect it to hold water. if it was that easy the deserts of the world would be wiped out.

It's all in the type of soil you have and if your asking this question i'd suggest you hire a pro.

 

[miogpsrocks]

Have you checked for a leak?

Do you notice that the liner is lifting?

No liner, I decided to try the natural approach to mimic what nature does. I have seen farmers doing this kind of thing but I think its more to have a water reserve than a koi pond.

 

[dinm]

Of course it doesn't retain water, it needs to be a specific kind of soil to hold water properly if you have no liner. And yes, the hole can keep getting deeper, cause the water can erode it, so you are probably not imagining.

 

[Lisak1]

Farmers who do it know their soil type. This is more retention pond - a place for water to go when it rains and it dries up when it doesn’t.

Also - I doubt you get thousands of gallons off your roof unless you have a massive roof or massive rainfall.

 

[WaterGardener]

Ponds without liners are made by packing a thick layer of a particular type of clay all around the area that needs to hold water. That clay prevents water from draining out through the soil. It's not simply digging a hole and filling it with water. It's more complicated and a lot more work than that.

 

[j.w]

No liner, I decided to try the natural approach to mimic what nature does. I have seen farmers doing this kind of thing but I think its more to have a water reserve than a koi pond.

Looks like you have your work cut out for ya if you want a pond w/water in it!
Some here have used that excess rainwater from roofs to fill the pond and keep their ponds topped off. Free water!
Start digging...................we will watch

 

[Mmathis]

No liner, I decided to try the natural approach to mimic what nature does. I have seen farmers doing this kind of thing but I think its more to have a water reserve than a koi pond.

Oh, guess I missed that part of the message. No liner….and pond won’t hold water….

@miogpsrocks I think you’re pulling our legs, right? I went back and read your other 2 posts…..and I get the feeling that, this isn’t a serious question.

 

[miogpsrocks]

Farmers who do it know their soil type. This is more retention pond - a place for water to go when it rains and it dries up when it doesn’t.

Also - I doubt you get thousands of gallons off your roof unless you have a massive roof or massive rainfall.

I have no idea as to the exact number of gallons coming off my roof. I don't really have anyway to measure it. I know it accumulates into like a 3" or 4" PVC pipe which has a decent flow when its raining hard.

 

[miogpsrocks]

Can you explain what you mean? I think I asked a question about how deep to prevent predators from eating your fish and about filtration methods based on information I found on youtube.

Unless the youtuber doing ponds are pulling my leg, then I am not pulling your leg. I may be able to even link you the video if you want.

My old house was on a lake that was man made. To my knowledge the original developer just dug a large hole and use the dirt for foundation for the community. Then between ground water and rain water, it eventually turn into a lake without a liner. Where I live now, the ground is filled with coral rock. There is a salt water cannel behind my house which eventually leads to the ocean. I think my current house use to be under the ocean in the middle of a reef thousands of years ago which explain why there are so many coral rocks(coral skeletons). So I am assuming at one point in the past, it could hold water.

Bottom line is you are saying that what I'm doing is not going to work and I will eventually need a liner? If so, I am also going to need something to prevent all the coral rock from puncturing any liner I put in. You dig anywhere in my backyard and all you hit is coral rock.

 

[miogpsrocks]

Looks like you have your work cut out for ya if you want a pond w/water in it!
Some here have used that excess rainwater from roofs to fill the pond and keep their ponds topped off. Free water!
Start digging...................we will watch View attachment 159644

It seems like the rain water is doing the digging for me. The hole seem to be getting deeper and wider even since I diverted the roof rain water into the hole. Maybe I should post some pictures on here.

 

[miogpsrocks]

Ponds without liners are made by packing a thick layer of a particular type of clay all around the area that needs to hold water. That clay prevents water from draining out through the soil. It's not simply digging a hole and filling it with water. It's more complicated and a lot more work than that.

Do these type of ponds packed with the thick layer of a particular clay tend to be very dirty/muddy looking? Are the liners a preferable method? I was a little nervous about the liner idea because I had so many jagged coral rock fragments naturally in my soil. Its not just in one particular spot but over my entire property. As far as you can dig, there is just coral on coral.

I wonder if it would be feasible to throw some cement over all the coral rocks to make it retain water. Is that also a viable option?

There is a business around my area who made a pond our of a coral quarry but I have no idea what he used to make it retain water but you can't see that deep in the pond.

 

[GBBUDD]

Can you explain what you mean? I think I asked a question about how deep to prevent predators from eating your fish and about filtration methods based on information I found on youtube.

Unless the youtuber doing ponds are pulling my leg, then I am not pulling your leg. I may be able to even link you the video if you want.

My old house was on a lake that was man made. To my knowledge the original developer just dug a large hole and use the dirt for foundation for the community. Then between ground water and rain water, it eventually turn into a lake without a liner. Where I live now, the ground is filled with coral rock. There is a salt water cannel behind my house which eventually leads to the ocean. I think my current house use to be under the ocean in the middle of a reef thousands of years ago which explain why there are so many coral rocks(coral skeletons). So I am assuming at one point in the past, it could hold water.

Bottom line is you are saying that what I'm doing is not going to work and I will eventually need a liner? If so, I am also going to need something to prevent all the coral rock from puncturing any liner I put in. You dig anywhere in my backyard and all you hit is coral rock.

Honestly that's not a game stopper you just have to build accordingly. Dig your excavation as deep as you want or to the coral then fill it in with 4" of sand would be my suggestion. 2 if your good and you can place it and keep the sand from being compromised. The sides you'll need to rely on imo two layers of 8 oz non woven needle punch geotextile if the coral is jagged. If it's somewha t smooth one layer should do but it Is insurance I would cheap out over this step.

 

[j.w]

It seems like the rain water is doing the digging for me. The hole seem to be getting deeper and wider even since I diverted the roof rain water into the hole. Maybe I should post some pictures on here.

Yes give us some photo's to look at, that would be great!