Installing a pond?

Question

Just need your opinion for people who has a pond which they have installed. I am going to be putting a pond in my backyard but I'm not sure of what I should buy. Should I buy a liner or a pre-formed pond? Please tell me what you would prefer and why. Need to get pro's and con's and I'm just confused. Thanks for your input!

Answer 1

Things I wish I'd known better BEFORE I built my 800-gallon pond/waterfall:
1. Liner or preformed? A liner gives you more freedom regarding size and shape; however, liners are more easily punctured. I buried a stock tank for my pond; it can't be punctured!
2. Your pond should be in part sun/part shade.
3. Your pond must have an ecosystem. Don't panic, it's easy. Fish, plants, filtering, aeration, bacteria. All of these prevent algae growth.
4. Bacteria?? Yes. "Beneficial bacteria" that establishes itself in your pond and helps keep it balanced. I use "Microbe-Lift".
5. Water plants? Both the kind that stay submerged and the kind that float on the water. I use water lilies and water hyacinth. They compete with algae. Algae loses.
6. Aeration? Use a waterfall or a sprayer/bubbler. This keeps oxygen in your pond.
7. Fish? They eat algae.
8. Filtration? I use the filter that came with my waterfall pump, PLUS a biofilter. I use a foam "rainbow block" in the biofilter (it's buried in my waterfall) for further filtration.
9. Landscape around your pond! Use rocks, grasses, anything graceful and flowing. My landscape area is much much bigger than my pond, with paths, birdfeeders, and soon-to-be-added stone benches.
10. Bigger vs. smaller ponds? Bigger ponds are actually easier to care for!
11. Location, location? NOT in a soggy area. NOT in an area where you get rainwater runoff. NOT completely under a tree. Put it in a place where you can see it easily.
12. Find a reputable pond store (stores like Lowe's and Home Depot have pond supplies, but they are not always good quality). Ask the store owner questions.
13. Look, look, look for images on the internet to get ideas. I looked for 6 months before I started my pond. Search for "backyard pond". Save photos that you like.
14. Enjoy your pond!

Answer 2

The pro's for having a liner is that you have more freedom to create your own pond and how it is shaped and the depth of it. The con's are basically that it takes some work, especially if you are digging it by hand. With an pre-formed pond, the work is easier but you are limited to the design and depth by what is given to you. Some pre-forms don't provide enough room if you are going to have fish and plants and decorative freatures like rocks.
My opinion is to put a pond in with a liner. I have build a few and it gives you more freedom to create. I make sure I have the pond deep enough. If you are going to have a water lily, some like to be put in 2 feet of water. If you are going to have fish and want to over winter them in the water, they should have at least 2 1/2 feet of water (though I bring mine in during the winter in a tank I have inside). I also like to have some shallow areas in my pond. Birds can bathe and drink the water and they are a nice attraction to the pond.
Depending on the size of the pond, you want to make sure you have a big enough pump and filter system. To small of either, and your pond will look bad. One pond I put in did not have a filter system in it and I had a lot of alge and the pond was just a mess. I put in a filter the next year and it was a whole lot better!

Putting in a 'liner' pond may cost a little more and be a little more work, but think it is worth it. This way you are not like everyone else that has there little 'insert' pond.

Answer 3

I've got both. I love the liner one because I was able to make it the size I wanted, with the preformed, you're limited. I live in a colder climate, so in the winter, I have to drain the preformed, not so with the liner one. Using preformed, you can either have it dug out to ground level or you can do above ground, however, you'll want to at least dig out enough to where the shelf of the pond sits on the ground for added support and then support the remaining pond with lumber, rocks, concrete blocks, etc. Alot of people assume that they can make oddly shaped, interesting ponds using the liner. It's not a wise decision. In the odd shapes, let's say ameba shaped, the water in the protrudences don't get the circulation it needs. In buying a liner, make sure you use EPDM in at least a 45 mil or use Butyl, although Butyl is more expensive. You must use an underlayment as well. Some say sand, newspaper, and such...experience has taught me that neither of those work, save your time, money, and heartache and just buy the underlayment. You can search for pond liner calculations and, after you've figured out what shape and the depth you'll want, plug those numbers into the liner size calculator and it will tell you what size to get. It's much better to get larger than you expect, if not, you may have to seam together 2 liners...experience, it doesn't work, you WILL end up with leaks and you'll spend too much time patching it over and over, not to mention having to keep adding water to your pond, so, go bigger than you're anticipating. Another thought, most people want a pond but don't want to spend too much and end up building something smaller, only to decide to go bigger the following year or 2...experience! So, build larger than you think you want, besides, a finished pond will look smaller than it does when you've marked it out prior to digging. Make sure you've got a good pump and filter for the gallons of water your pond will hold. Make sure you've got aeration as well, waterfall or fountain works well. Don't overcrowd the pond with fish either. Have fun with the project and enjoy your new pond!

Answer 4

first thing you need to decide is how big you are wanting the pond. if you only want the smaller type that a preform will give you then that is what you will want. But myself with 2 waterponds of which i have had for some 16 yrs, I preferred to design my own shape and do all that is involved with it. the preformed are not able to be added onto as the make it yourself are.with the diy you are able to do so much more and add on what you want now or later. hope I helped with our question have fun and enjoy.

Answer 5

Might look into Koi pond, there are books, may be some for non-Koi ponds too. You need to check into insurance and local building codes. Some are onerous and expensive so knowing up front helps as you can avoid many problems by adjusting the depth.

Answer 6

Wow! that may not a pond yet a small lake you're desiring there. inspite of that, value's incurred might evaluate the removal of earth (soil) which might want some lorries comprehensive, the intensity you are going to have the pond as then you certainly'll would desire to calculate the quantity of lining necessary - which does no longer come low-value for one you would be able to desire to final (procuring low-value lining is fake financial gadget) as you will could redo the lot in some years with the stretching, uv rays that dry them out and plant life that that's recommended to apply in there. then you would desire to contemplate no be counted in the adventure that your going to apply filters, waterfalls and/or fountain that are extra expenses. the main extreme element to the pond is ensuring your measurements are remarkable - as all above helpful aspects remember upon the dimensions of hollow to be dug.

Answer 7

If you buy preformed, you are stuck with that shape and size. Going with a liner will give you more "design" options.