DIY pond

[PhishPhreek]

is this too small ? does it have everything I need ?

pond kit

[Tiapan]

Re: DIY pond

it sounds like it has everything you need, but my questions is whether or not that liner is hard or soft, i hear good and bad about both, if its hard then thats a great size pond, if its softh then its much smaller. so thats something to consider. but doesnt Seem like a bad deal.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: DIY pond

I think it's just the plain soft liner for that price...... makes for a shallow pond.

[guppymax]

Re: DIY pond

I don't think it includes the hole.

max

[rrocket2002]

Re: DIY pond

I don't think it includes the hole.

max

8O

Max, I must be tired.  It took me about 30 seconds to realize that was a joke.  LOL

I'm like "Hole"?  What Hole?  

Raul

[eklikewhoa]

Re: DIY pond

[wvgdiscus]

Re: DIY pond

Good one Max.   You will need a U.V. for the algea. Unless you like green water.

[Spot86t]

Re: DIY pond

10 x 13 is really not a very large liner.  If you have fish (as opposed to just a water garden) you'll need it at least 24-30 inches deep unless you want to have to relocate them indoors for the winter or run heaters in it.  Shallow ponds also make great 'pickin ponds' for herons - which are plentiful here in the houston area.  Not to mention racoons, possums and even your own furry felines may make a dinner of your pond inhabitants if they can't dive to a deep bottom to hide.  

With a 10x13 liner, and a 24' deep pond, that means that final size would be 10' minus 4' (2' for each side's wall) minus another 1' (which allows for a 6" overlap you'll likely use over the pond's edge). and 13' minus 4' minus 1' for a total of a 5' x 8' surface area.  That's one foot wider than a standard sheet of plywood.

Other than that it sounds like a good kit.  I would look to use a larger liner, or to get additional liner to seam onto the one it comes with.  Most pond kits have 20mil liners - not very thick.   Thicker are more expensive, especially a nice 45 mil epdm rubber liner.

[Tiapan]

Re: DIY pond

yeah i have heard some plants will grow through a thin liner, that ever happened to anyone here? im thinkin of gettin a preformed hard 125 pond (i know its small but i live in apartment now) to put on my patio. anyone use one of those here either.?

[loopy119]

Re: DIY pond

We had one of those above-ground swimming pools and at one point we had some kind of grass (forgot what it was called) growing through the liner in a few places. Those liners are pretty thick too! Maybe if it was a darker liner it wouldn't have happened, but that would have made for a pretty drab looking pool! LOL!

Rebekah

[eklikewhoa]

Re: DIY pond

Those preformed ponds will work fine....I had a kiddie pool which was made of liner that I even lined underneath it and plants would work their way through.

[Tiapan]

Re: DIY pond

you can just never beat that tropical sun. i mean plants grow through cement and ashpalt why not plastic.

[blacksmith37]

Re: DIY pond

Bigger is always better. My finished size is 5X9X3deep; I think my liner is 15 X 20.
No problems after 8yr. My leak problems have been in my 40' "creek".
Re; Max's comment, If you have a shovel ,you don't need to buy a hole.
My materials list included cinder blocks (to steepen the sides) , 3/4" foam sheathing and carpet (to protect the liner from the cinder block and the flagstone al around the top).

[ImaGuyGeek]

Re: DIY pond

Hello,

I'm "imagirlgeek's husband and have an aquascape business building ponds, water gardens and custom fountains. I used this same kit for one of my ponds at my home. It has a 35 mil. liner and is more than adequate for a 2 ft deep 5x10 Koi pond. I can give you the name and number of an experienced and reasonably priced crew (my crew) for digging the pond if you want someone to do this for you. The key is to place the pond in a place where it is not in direct sunlight for more than 6 hours a day. Koi will eat the algae and the filter needs to be cleaned about every 6 weeks.

I just finished a 3900 gal pond using a 45 mil rubber liner. As long as the liner is not exposed to direct sunlight all day, the liner should hold for at least 10 years.

What you need to do is place the pond in a partially shaded area or put shade trees with no root system like palms or banana trees around it for shade. The right liner and a sand base will keep roots from penetrating the liner. On the inside of the pond, you should use gravel. I use pea gravel. The gravel protects the liner from the sun, collects good bacteria and the algae grows on it for easy feeding for your koi.

For the winter, you should build a cave in the bottom of the pond for the fish to hide in and don't feed them (drawing them out) during the couple of cold months we have in Houston.

Also add a few plants to the pond. Plant them in small plastic containers. This will help with the water quality.

Sand is $7 per bag and pea gravel is $7 per bag at Alamo Stone. Just wash the gravel before adding to the pond. They also have great prices on different stone for your decorative features.

Hope this helps,
ImaGuyGeek

[justdoit]

Re: DIY pond

sure you didn't put that pond at the wrong address.   don't see it anywhere in my yard  LOL    definitely will go BIG on a pond one day.   thanks for the tips.   Virginia