how do i go about installing a garden pond with stone surrounds and fountain?

Question

have a dugout hole approx 12-14 ft wide, looking to put large pond with stone walls and waterfeature in, how much hard work is it, has anyone done similar project?

Answer 1

A pond needs attention and I guess you can call it work. Does the hole hold water or is it sandy soil that drains quickly? If not you will have to buy a big liner – not cheap. Once made you will need a pump to circulate the water – probably at least a 1000-2000 gph pump. It will need to circulate 24/7 to avoid the mosquito and stagnant issues. If lined you will need to line the bottom and landscape it with rock – both in, out and on the edges to hold it down- you have to have something for the plants to grow in and the fish to hide in. Until it gets established you might have issues the first few years with green algae. The plants once established will use all the nutrients that the algae needs to live. Put fish in it and these should be self sufficient. We put feeder goldfish and bait shop minnows. We now have two dozen goldfish and about 5000 minows every year. How deep is it compared to your frost line in the winter? Our frost line is 20 inches so a pond around here has to be at least 24 inches deep for the fish to survive the winter. I keep a cow trough heater ($20 at TSC) in the pond all winter to keep a hole in the ice to help with this issue. Do you have a power source out to the pond? You will need it for the pond pump and heater. You will have to buy plants to put in the pond and if they are lilies they will need fertilized at least 2-3 times a year. Preditors like heron, raccoons, cats, other birds might be an issue so expect to deal with them. To me it is not work. It has been fun.

Answer 2

You're looking, solo, at about 20 hours of manual labor with a few mistakes; up to 35ish if you're clumsy.

Tip: make *absolutely sure* that everything is as level as possible before you put down the matt , otherwise you'll have one section of the pond empty and the other leaking every time it rains.

Leveling stuff out is not hard work, it's just annoying and frustrating, but if you don't level things out you *will* have issues much later in the project that are MUCH harder to fix.

Answer 3

HI, To do it right first time is very hard, Ive done ponds from 200 litres up to 40000 litres and I'm still learning ! It depends allot on whats going to be in it just plants, gold fish or fussy koi. you really need to do a lot of reading up first,
If you need good advice from people who have been into ponds for 15+ years try and find clear water koi direct,

Answer 4

Make sure the pond edge is level, line the hole with pond lining fleece and sand and use a butyl liner. Fill the hole and when it is full, allow it to settle for a few hours.

Answer 5

there's not enough room here to tell you everything you need to know and you need to get it right the first time otherwise you'll
really have a problem (been there/done that) go to a garden or pet shop and buy a book about ponds, it will tell you everything you need to know, and then some, and show you pictures and ideas of other ponds
Good Luck

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Dig a hollow and line it with pool liner,or no hollow and use a field instead,and old rectangle sink will do.Fill it with water,position the pump on the bottom on a brick,so as that the top of the pump stands out only above the water element.Then run the cable to an electric powered element and it truly is going to artwork.regulate the pump to wanted length fountain.Get a metallic grill,position extreme of water and canopy with peebles for extra captivating result,of water cascading onto moist peebles

Answer 8

You should get full instructions when you buy the pond kit, Good luck.

Answer 9

Lots of work.Somewhat less if you use an insert.Home depot or Lowes will have all you need.Oh the work doesn't end once its built.