Self-sustaining ponds

[Huckleberry12]

Sounds like a plan, tbendl! I'm going to be moving up to a much bigger pond in the spring and am pretty excited about it.

 

[tbendl]

As are we. We love following along with expansion projects. Reminds us of our youth. Or in my case, this past summer... LOL
Post lots of pictures and keep us in the loop so we can live vicariously through you!
And good luck.

 

[Lisaebetten]

As are we. We love following along with expansion projects. Reminds us of our youth. Or in my case, this past summer... LOL
Post lots of pictures and keep us in the loop so we can live vicariously through you!
And good luck.

What? Are you expanding this spring!!!!

 

[addy1]

Our pond is essentially self-sustaining. We use only bog filtration, no skimmer, no mechanical filtration. Pump and waterfall. That's it. There's very little that we HAVE to do, just things that we LIKE to do. We keep our fish load low and feed our fish with a light hand - let them keep their own house clean!

I was going off his definition. Just a pump, no other filtration except a bog. LOL So yeah, almost carefree, if only I'd quit throwing giant planters full of kitty litter it'd be a lot easier.

Same here, I can totally ignore the pond and it does fine. Need this type of set up, my honey likes to go go go.

I do have a skimmer that runs just when the maple is dropping the spinners. Just a leaf basket type skimmer, no filter or pump in it. ow the pond would be overwhelmed with them.

 

[tbendl]

What? Are you expanding this spring!!!!

Noooooo, I did all of the digging last spring! Bite your tongue Lisa!! LOL
Although after this fall I might consider doing the same thing as Addy. That tree peed leaves in my pond for a month!

 

[Nepen]

I do have a skimmer that runs just when the maple is dropping the spinners. Just a leaf basket type skimmer, no filter or pump in it. ow the pond would be overwhelmed with them.

I'm interested to know how you set that up

 

[Jeff Kraemer]

Sounds like a good place to breed Mosquito's
...at least thats what it would be at my house lol

 

[Mike in Vermont]

I'm interested to know how you set that up

https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/pond-in-progress-started-4-21-10.4302/

 

[Nepen]

Thanks Mike. I remembered reading her pond build but didn't remember reading about how to set up a skimmer without the pump in it. May be I missed something.

 

[Mike in Vermont]

I'm sure she will be along to fill you in.

 

[addy1]

Thanks Mike. I remembered reading her pond build but didn't remember reading about how to set up a skimmer without the pump in it. May be I missed something.

Just saw this, I used a pool skimmer. Hayward wide weir skimmer, similar to this picture.

The plumbing goes out the bottom of the skimmer, 2 inch line that goes the length of the pond to the pump. We have it plumbed to go from the skimmer to a T one part of the T goes to the skimmer, one part goes to the pond. Each leg of the T has a ball valve on it to control the flow. I hardly ever turn down the draw from the pond. But the skimmer draw goes from full open to part to none depending on what is falling.

My honey built a wood frame to support the skimmer, out of treated 2x4's, I cut it into the side of the liner. The main thing you need to be sure of it that the skimmer is at the right water level before you cut the liner. It is not even noticeable. I did use the pl roofing goop to cover up the white of the skimmer, just smeared it on. Made the skimmer black instead of white. The leaf basket is nice and large. I used some spray paint on the lid to blend it in.

 

[callingcolleen1]

I want to add another upper level pond that is deeper and wider than the current top level pond. I will dig it down into the ground about three feet, and built it slightly higher than last box, so it should should be about 4 feet deep when I am done.
It will be the new top pond and it will flow onto the previous top pond, and then flow down into two more lower level ponds. That way when I move the big giant koi I will only have to move them once. The have not moved from top pond since they were very small, like 20 years ago...

I would like to see pictures of your natural pond Huckleberry. It sounds interesting.