The pond dig has begun!

[CountryEscape]

Well, crap! Since I had to add height all the way around the far side (from the deck) of the pond, I ended up adding a second layer of stones to the inside of the bog wall, making it higher, and then after got the outside edge of it done and pulling the carpet, underlayment and liner over, I'm afraid the liner may be BARELY enough! I'm going to fill just the bog tomorrow night, see how it pulls the liner and then decide if I'll need to take out that extra height. It's not like the liner could have been pulled from the far side, as there is maybe 6-8" of extra over that edge. I'll figure out something if it's too short, but right now it's only on top of the top stone on the outside about 3", and I really wanted it to hang over at least 6-8"! Pics not downloaded or resized yet ... shower first. LOL

 

[CountryEscape]

OK, thought you might get a kick out of these pics! As you will see in a couple of them, .... "where's the liner???" Well, I had been rolling it back to put the outside wall up, and taking pics, and all of a sudden I noticed it was laying on the pond water, which is not near fully filled! And then I noticed that some water had gotten on top of it, and it was quite a challenge to let minimal water behind the liner. Darn it!!! Not much got behind it, and I'm sure it's fine, but it could have been disastrous if it had slipped under and the water gone behind it to the bottom! Wow, that would have been a total mess. Thank goodness I noticed it before it got that far.
Got the outside landscape stone wall almost completed this evening. After I was past the bog, I realized I could have used 3 stones, rather than 2 and heaping up the dirt! But, I was too anxious to complete it, rather than do it right, so it is what it is. I plan to add dirt on the outside, so those stones will not be 5" off the ground level when it's completed. I have plenty of dirt to slope the ground away.
Now for another challenge! When I ended up adding height to the outside wall near the bog, I realized the bog inside wall needed to be higher, so that it was just 2-3" below the top level of the water. Well, by doing that, and the added height of the outside wall, I realize that the liner is just barely going to go over the top edge of the outside wall! That's not a good thing ... but I'm going to fill the bog, see where the liner ends up, and then decide on a plan of attack, if necessary.

 

[j.w]

Ewwww, I guess you would have had a really big problem w/ that disappearing liner if you hadn't have noticed in time. It looks real nice and hope you have enough liner like you wanted. I like the way the bog looks too

 

[addy1]

Looking beautiful! you have done great

With the way you are building it 2-3 inches should be good.

I needed to have extra everywhere due to our slope. Once the pond and stream were filled and running it was a check to see where I did not get it level hunt! Or an edge too low, found a few lol.

Water behind the liner would have been ok, it would have just soaked into the ground. You just would not want a ton of it to get there.

 

[CountryEscape]

I'm already making changes, but seems that is the way it goes with building a pond. LOL The outside wall of the bog now has 3 landscape stones and the dirt under them is removed. Have to shimmy them around since my liner barely went to the top edge. Turns out it was almost 18" deep, so added some dirt back into the bottom, moved the outside stones in about 6" (no need for a ledge to put stones to cover liner, the plants should do that, I figure) and now I'm good to go, liner lays over the top stone another 8". Whew!
And, then I realized I needed to add height at the bottom of the waterfall, as that was lower than the pond water level will be, so folded the liner and underlayment back, layed 3 layers of landscape stones (even though they will be underneath, at least they are easy to lay, same height as the other part, and solid) then filled the dirt back up to them on the waterfall side.
Primed the well (someone FINALLY told me how to do it! Geesh) that I ran dry week ago Sunday, and ran it for about 2 hours tonight. Also washed the pea gravel for the bog .... well SOME of the pea gravel, as I underestimated the amount. Will get more soon.
All in all, another productive evening, but this coming inside at 9 or 9:30 is getting old. Trying to get it done and up and running before my daughter gets home from UT next weekend, and that's just not going to happen, especially since I'm heading out to visit with her and then driving back with her (she's returning my horse trailer, bringing her 2 horses to ride while back in IL for a month) since it's a long drive to make on her own. Will be lots of mother-daughter time, and I take all of that I can get these days!
BTW, this pond is definitely a labor of love. I would NEVER have done this if it hadn't been for the sheer pleasure of all the hard work and knowing the enjoyment I will get from it when it's completed.

 

[addy1]

Glad you were able to adjust for the short liner syndrome, I have had to do that in a few places, add some dirt, etc. It works.

No kidding country, I look at my build and just think did I really do that? Not sure I would again, took six months between last summer and this summer.

But it is a labor of love and so enjoyable when it is finally done. Well it is never done, always tweaking something. And is sure does keep you in shape.

I have no clue how to prime a well, but I am sure hubby does. Ours appears to be a healthy one, with the dry summer last summer, if I was going to run it dry sure would have.

 

[CountryEscape]

Addy, since I have 3 wells on my property, all 3 of them are what are called "shallow wells" (3' wide, not narrow and deep), I was told that the water table is so high, that they never run dry. Of course, I was able to run the barn well dry, but it was ok, horses are on pasture so they have the pond to drink from.
Yes, it sure has kept me in shape! I want to try to take a pic of myself IN the pond tonight, as I continue again to fill it. LOL Set camera up with timer, get into the water ... only problem will be if I slip trying to hurry for the timer, THAT would not be good.
Since filter is not running yet, just fountain to keep some action in the water, there is algae on the liner surface, but I guess that is good. One person told me to let the green come, it means it is healthier.
Going to get a weir from KoiGuy, but will not be able to put it on until earliest next weekend. Filter is ready to go otherwise. Just will be that much longer before fish can come. What about plants? Can I go ahead and get some plants and put them in the bog, or should the filter be running for a while first? I'm going to take a pic of the floating plant in my farm pond, and see if anyone knows what it is, and if it would be safe to put in my koi pond. I would definitely rinse it off and keep it in a bucket for a while, as I know I have leeches in the pond, and sure don't want any of them moving into my koi pond. Although I suspect the koi would eat them! LOL

 

[addy1]

You can go ahead and put in plants, get them growing. They may not do the very best without fish poop fertilizer.
I had plants in the bog long before I had fish.

 

[CountryEscape]

OK have bought my first plants. Pretty elephant ear type plant, not hardy, will have to bring in house when gets cold; water hyacinths (they were 3 for $10, but I picked 3 that were triplets!); irises and grasses, and is the other one a parrots feather? I looked at so many, tried to pick ones that were winter hardy (I know the hyacinths aren't, but for the price, may just buy each year) and bloom or are unique.
And, does anyone know what type of little buddy I have there? This is the frog that came a few nights ago, and seems to follow me. I'm sure there are problem 10 of them, but everytime I looked, he was close to me, and I could not see him where he had been previously! Huge toad is hanging around the outside as well. Good, she can eat the bugs!
LOL, yes, I have ordered a waterfall weir from KoiGuy, and it's on the way, but I could not wait any longer! And, as you can see, my water turned green today, but I'm not concerned. It was actually already clearing up some when I came inside. I just used some 4x4'x under the liner (covered with the underlayment, of course), and made a small "well" for the water to make sure it flowed into the pond, put the Skippy on an angle, and voila! I even put the lid back on, since it's bowing somewhat on the front, the water continued to come out freely. So, NOW I can say my 2 weeks has started for getting starter fish, since the fountain has been going for a week, and now the filter is up and running, even though it's not very pretty. I'm thrilled!
As you can see, the bog is lower on the right side of the picture, but I never said I was perfect. LOL I'll figure out a way to maybe let it return the water to the pond only on that side, and cover the other edges. As you all say, this is a work in progress ..... forever!

 

[sissy]

I'm thinking you may need a bigger filter than that until your bog is running right .I had a tote like that and still do on 1 waterfall and put in a plantainer waterfall filter on the other side of the pond .I put a tote inside a tote as I had 1 like that the whole side split out on me .It was a heavy duty rubbermade one

 

[j.w]

Nice looking plants and cute froggy. Can't tell by that picture if that is Parrots feather or Anacharis. Need a closeup photo. If it's Anacharis it needs to be submerged in the water and allowed to grow upwards in a pot or just do what it wants thrown in the water. If it's Parrots feather it can be placed pretty much anywhere either free floating or in a pot but mine seems to like it best floating by my waterfall just tucked in between the rocks

 

[CountryEscape]

Yep, Sissy, I wondered if this would be large enough. It did say it would hold 300#, though, so I figure the water won't weight that much. I forget how many gallons it holds. I can easily go bigger in time. Hopefully this one will be good enough for the beginning. If not, I'll improvise and figure out something more. The bog will be up and running by tomorrow. I didn't want to chance running out of water, and had to water all my landscaping tonight, so quit, but will definitely have it full, only 4" more and I'm good to go!

 

[CountryEscape]

JW, well you got my wondering, so I went out and got the tag. It says, "Myriophyllum - brasitiensis". Then on the back it says, "Red Stemmed Parrots Feather". It says like you said, that it should be up to 24" under the water, but the landscape place had it in pots on their ledge. I put it in the bog for now, but what is there is likely temporary, just a place to set it in water. I'll have to get the other tags, but I know two of them are irises, one red, and one "surprise" as it's mixed colors. And I think one is a grass. I also got a cattail mini plant. It's funny, cause I HATE cattails in my farm pond, as they have taken over the outer edge, but if this one tries to do that, I'll just shut it down. LOL

 

[sissy]

well your getting there thats all that counts and there are always things your going to change anyway

 

[CountryEscape]

JW, here's a picture of the parrots feather closer up. Is this "red stemmed" a common variety?
Yes, Sissy, I'm not concerned about if the filter will be big enough. I sure won't be putting any fish in until things are correct and working properly. I have not purchased a UV light yet, but looks like I may need to do that. Everything in time. And, although I'm super anxious to buy a few koi, I won't do that to the fish and introduce them to water that is not suitable for them, so I will be patient until the time is right.