A Pond of Prevention...

[ddaquaria]

[supadave]

effing awesomd DD!

+1

[myjohnson]

Donald is not playing!

These pictures make me want to start diggin a hole.

[ddaquaria]

The next will be larger, and closer to 2000 gallons. I lost 1.5 feet around the edges when I added the cinder blocks, but I'm loving the sturdiness of the construction.

[ddaquaria]

I hate my soil. I decided that since I put so much work into the pond, I wanted to put the same in the waterfall. My dirt just does not clump well. I'm even thinking about modifying it a little to make it sturdier since I don't feel you can safely walk on it without the block moving from up under you. Walking on it has been my primary tester for all the structures. Besides the liner, I still need to widen the bogs so the liner has better overlap and at the same time keeping my spillway. The waterfall is getting a redo just for structural integrity.

[ddaquaria]

Finished the waterfall yesterday. Bought the liner and underlayment today. Outer-edge to outer-edge is about 12' long, 8' wide, and 4.5' deep. Hopefully by Labor Day, I can sit down once I have some some water flowing.

[supadave]

Looking good .... Donald !!! Where did you learn to do all of this ? From the looks of this and reading this thread...you've done this type of work before .

[Gene D]

More impressive with each update!

[fshfrk]

WOW! Looks great Donald!

[ddaquaria]

We are getting there. It's taken a lot of reading forums and googling to get this far - especially the waterfall. There is a lot of information about building a pond, but only a few places really tell you how to do it.

For example, it is "obvious"* that a waterfall is made up of steps but my questions became how do you create those steps (finally figured that out). Next, okay I created them, how do I keep the rain from destroying it - now rethink the steps. Then more how and whys down the road.

* I quoted obvious since it was not that dang obvious to me even after I read it about 10 times. I finally found a picture that represented what I had in the back of my mind that would work.

[76dragon]

Labor of love I say. Great work dude.

[ddaquaria]

Empty:



Full:



Thinking the water fall through as been the hardest. I need to build a barrier to help me contain the liner on one side of the fall. I would like to show as much of a separation as possible between the waterfall and the bog next to it. I was thinking Rocks - but this would look better with just one big "azz" rock. But big "azz" rocks cost more to have delivered. Then I was thinking wood buried into the ground... Any suggestions...

[ddaquaria]

Let's talk about the mistakes...

During the first dig, I wish I had known more about doing it with concrete blocks. It seems, when you do a lot of research on ponds, many people have some type of stabilizer that is not just from the dirt. People build concrete collars, concrete bases, concrete retaining walls, wood retaining walls, etc - but many times the longer lasting ponds seem to have some type of reinforcement beyond the water pushing against the walls (especially with ponds over 2.5 - 3 feet deep).

Another - measure twice - then wait a day or 2 and measure again and cut. I'm referring to my bogs. I cut one grate too small - at least it is only $30 versus the cost of a new liner (which I also had to buy due to being too small for the new build. But I did not realize that the air would escape from under the liner so neatly that the liner grabs the edges of the concrete. It looks great, but I did not take it into thought when working with the grate.

I'm very particular about straight lines, especially when the entire project is based on the walls and everything else being level. So instead of just digging a hole and setting the skimmer in the ground - because last time it started tilting since it was not compacted enough - I put a 18x18 concrete block at the bottom to keep it level, then backfilled with playsand (instead of my lovely dirt). So far it has worked out well, but I still need to connect the skimmer to make sure.

A mistake that really is not one - I love the look of the pond full of water, but of course being so excited - I have not attached the liner to the skimmer yet although I have filled up the pond. So now I either need to empty about 750 gallons of water (which is very clean/clear right now) or just jump in. Mostly likely I'll do a combination of the emptying about 100 gallons or so and go get wet. That is the point anyway. I wanted to be able to get in the water with the fish and take underwater photos. Of course now, I'm looking from removable pool steps so I don't bust my azz on the slippery liner.

Don't get your hopes up until it rains. Sounds funny but held true for me. I was so excited the first time, then it rained and the most major mistake appeared which forced me to start over. I still remember when my heart dropped. You could see the rocks getting lower and lower on the edged until the edges just gave-way.

[Mzungu]

I wanted to be able to get in the water with the fish and take underwater photos. Of course now, I'm looking from removable pool steps so I don't bust my azz on the slippery liner.

But underwater pics would be awesome, especially from you!

[76dragon]

Question. If you backfilled after you built your wall with concrete blocks. Wouldn't the pressure outward of the wAter be enough?? There shouldn't be any movement or shift of the liner , etc. I must be missing something


Also. Make sure you have a submersible uv sterilizer that cfan handle the volume or you can kiss that clear water. Goodby

tip. Slow flow through the uv sterilizer

looks greAt though