Anyone have any advice on building a concrete yard pond?

Question

I want to build a concrete yard pond, kidney shaped, and have seen ponds done with no plastic liners. I have seen people use river rock and belgiun blocks then cemented them together, placing bottom stones first, cementing them in , then adding side stones, cementing etc... My question is has anyone done this and how deep does it need to be to prevent solid freezing in winter. I live in Pittsburgh, Pa. Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks!!

I have the supplies to build with river rock and concrete, can't afford to be buying liners and such, my kids suck up all the cash around here!

Answer 1

I cant give you advice about building the concrete pond but I have watched one being made
I can tell you that once the concrete is dry you will need to fill and empty the pond several times so as to get rid of the lime or whatever, it's poisonous to the fish

Answer 2

There are several considerations when planning a concrete pond.
Will you have fish?
If so, it takes quite awhile for the lime to leach out of the cured cement before you can add your fish. Lime will kill your fish.

Does the ground freeze in the winter?
If so, a concrete form would be more likely to crack and thus cause you to patch the following soring, as well as loosing any fish and plants you may have had.

Safety regarding children falling in?
Most area have bylaws regarding water features that may provide a drowning risk for children and you would want to check in to that.

Your plan to cement rocks is probably not a great one as water has nack of finding a crack.

So you would need to use forms to pour the concrete, and rebar ( need rebar to reinforce the sides ) and so on ... .... that adds up quickly and in the end it is never a sure thing that it will hold water.

Our first pond was concrete and the family had a blast building it but it cracked the first winter.
We have used an old water bed liners... very effective but shallow - great for a bog garden.
We have tried thick plastic - not good - it floats if water gets under it and ttears easily.
We've had preformed ponds and they are hard to dig a matching hole to fit them and really hard to make look natural.
Our best effort to date is the heavy pond liner and that is what I would save my money up for if I was you.
Get the kids to help contribute $$ to a special container with the promise of fish, plant and sailing boats. Use a graph and make it a family challenge / goal.
Have fun, ponds are great!

Answer 3

My neighbor has a very nice pond in Wisconsin. She made her's five feet deep. She keeps fish in it year 'round. She also has a water source at the bottom. She used a liner and covered it with rocks. She has never replaced the liner and the pond has been there for 7 years. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I first did a concrete one and it was too much work and expense. They sell the liners and even the pre-formed plastic ones now cheaply. I have since used plastic pre-formed for years and they last (I have two) You need at least 18 inches to keep from totally freezing, If you are going to have fish, you can put an inexpensive heating element in the freezing months.