pond design question?

Question

I am thinking of adding a pond to my yard. I like the shape of this one http://www.maccourt.com/lowes/ponds/lp7918.html because where I would put it has something of a Y shape. I want to keep some goldfish in it, but I don't think 100 gallons is very big for fish and plants. I though about using just a flexible liner, but I worry about it getting a hole and the fish having no water.

Is it possible to use the premade one at the bottom and just sinking it about twice as deep, then using a liner inside so that if it does tear, the premade pond would still hold the fish and some water? Has anyone ever tried this? Or am I just worrying too much? I'd like something about 200-300 gallons total for the pond, plus a little waterfall at one end. Any suggestions on filters, UV, pumps as far as brands to buy or stay away from?

Answer 1

Last year I built an 800-gallon pond with a waterfall. Here is what I discovered before/during/after this project:

1. Preformed versus liner: Liner, unless thick and expensive, punctures easily. Preformed does not give you much flexibility as to size and depth, but it does not puncture.
2. I buried a sheep stock tank. Tough, impenetrable, permanent. They only come in one size (circular) but they last forever.
3. Fish need at least 18" deep water.

You will need to create a small ecosystem within your pond. It's easy!
1. Fish. Fish eat algae and put CO2 into the water.
2. Plants. Plants shade fish and put oxygen into the water.
3. Aerator. Waterfall, sprayer, bubbler. Puts oxygen into the water, circulates water to combat algae.
4. Bacteria. Available in liquid, powder, or ball form. Balances and clears the water. Combats algae.
5. Sun/shade. Equal amounts of each. Plants love sun. Algae hates shade. Fish need shade.

Choosing a pump:
1. A waterfall pump is different than a sprayer/bubbler pump. There are many different websites to tell you how to select a waterfall pump. Your best option is to go to a pond store, tell them the size of your pond (feet across, feet deep, gallons held) and the size of the waterfall you want (how high, how wide). Let them help you.
2. A sprayer/bubbler/fountain pump: A good guideline is that you want to circulate the amount of water in your pond per hour (i.e., 100 gallon pond = 100 gph pump). A pump with an adjustable flow rate is best.
3. Consider a biofilter. Your pump will have a prefilter (a foam covering) but a biofilter is basically a big box with a filtering medium (I use foam blocks) inside it. My biofilter is buried right at my waterfall.
4. I have had no experience with UV lights.

Building a waterfall!
1. Be patient. I spent 6 months researching before I dug my pond. Read what others have done and what mistakes they have made. Save photos. Go to a landscaping-materials place and select your flat waterfall stones, plus small boulders for your waterfall mound and around your pond.
2. Be patient! Water does NOT flow the way you want it to. You will have to make many MANY adjustments.
3. Be patient!! Even after your waterfall is built, water will STILL not flow like you want it. What to do? Waterfall foam. It fills in cracks so your water goes where you want it!
4. Be patient!!! A month after I built my waterfall, it a section of the liner blew over the waterfall; the water flowed into the waterfall mound and the whole thing collapsed INTO the pond. I had to start over.
5. You will be using a pond liner for your waterfall. The thicker, the better. I am still slowly trimming excess liner; it is better to leave excess liner than to trim too much.

Landscaping around your pond/waterfall is fun! I use boulders, ornamental grasses, and iris to make the pond look as though nature put it there.

Wow! There is a lot more I could share with you, but I don't want to overwhelm you. Owning a pond is sometimes a lot of work, but it's fun!

Answer 2

I think it would work. But I also think you are worrying a bit too much -- if you spring a leak, you've still got the ground there, so the water will go down little by little -- it won't drain like a bathtub. As long as you check the pond every day (and you will, to clean it and appreciate it), you should be able to notice if there's some hole in it. Then you can put the fish in buckets if necessary while you fix the hole.

I just saw an article in Better Homes and Gardens about a water pond that had a waterfall feature. They fed the hose right through the liner, and just made sure the two liners overlapped -- there was no sealing or fancy caulking to make sure it didn't leak. So I think the liners are better than you are thinking.

If you go with a pre-made one, though, I don't see any reason why you should go for a liner on top of that. A pre-made one shouldn't leak at all.

I'm just an armchair expert, here -- I want a water feature and have been doing some research on it here and there.

Answer 3

The poly ponds are very safe and durable. You should not have any issues with it leaking. 100 Gallons is more than plenty enough. My pond and waterfall is a measily 8 gallons!! Your pond supply store should be able to recommend the correct size pump based on the size pond you eventually decide on. I would highly recommend a filter of some sort as well. Because you will not have fresh water going into the pond on a regular basis, algae will become an issue. With occasional treatments and the filter, you should be able to keep it under control. Be very wary of predator birds. Get all of the rocks, plants, and other hiding spot things into your pond before you put the fish in. The pond you chose in the link is a nice one and has a deep section in the middle, this will give the fish a place to go when the critters and birds come for free lunch. I also recommend Koi fish. Thye look like Goldfish but are much more hardy. I've lost too many regular goldfish because they were weak.

Answer 4

Smart girl, the liner installed the way you said is perfect! buy a pump that stays under water and pushes water out (sump pump) rather than one designed for a pond. They are built tougher and are cheaper.