Gonna Build a Little Pond

[Amarok]

Well, I gave vegetable gardening a try last year. I know a lot of people enjoy it for a lot of reasons but for me it came down to "why am I spending an hour a day weeding so I can end up with $30 worth of onions, most of which will end up on the compost heap?"

I'm thinking I'll keep part of the garden for playing around with whatever grabs my fancy(doing some sunflowers and ? this year), but I'm going to use part of the space for a wee pond. I'm very early in my education, but the plan right now is to start with a 10'x12' or so liner and design a shape for it. I don't want it to be an eyesore, but the primary purpose is to serve the local critters, with my crow buddies on top of the list. Last year I just put out a couple of containers and they loved it, and I loved having them around.

Any other people with DIY ponds, or who want them? Feel free to jump in. Consider it a general pond thread as opposed to my build journal.

The frozen ground is still covered with snow, so this is a long way from leaving the planning stage, but I'm hoping this will be a great little project and a source of pleasure until freeze-up.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Do you even have mosquitos up there in God's Country?
If so, you have to guard against becoming a "skeeter breeder."
A 10 x 12 pond should really develop in a real little ecosystem.
Over the years, I've had an assortment of critters in my pool: squirrels, rabbits, armadillos, turtles, frogs, snakes, salamanders....

Cool project, dude!

Pond Mosquito Control - 7 Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Pond [Upd. 2021]

Here you'll learn everything there is to know about pond treatment for mosquito control. Get rid of harmful mosquito larvae for good!

backyardclub.org

 

[DopeDaniel]

My dad had a waterfall installed on the hill in our back yard as mom was getting less able to go on vacations and such. The "pond" was actually just a bed of rock covering the burried reservoir. This helped with mosquitos, there were still little pools, short falls, shallows for critters to drink from, however my father took a more "get off my waterfall" approach.

It was pretty straight forward in the construction, pumps were always an issue.

 

[Amarok]

Do you even have mosquitos up there in God's Country?

Bigger and meaner than your average red-tailed hawk.

A 10 x 12 pond should really develop in a real little ecosystem.
Over the years, I've had an assortment of critters in my pool: squirrels, rabbits, armadillos, turtles, frogs, snakes, salamanders....

As I understand it you want a 1 foot 'edge' around the top, so for a rough idea, using a rectangular pond shape with a 10x12 liner you could make a 6'x8'x1ft deep shape, or a 4'x6'x2' shape. I plan to be more irregular in the shape design, but that's the idea. It''ll probably come down to the best deal I find on liners and the cost per square foot comes down pretty quickly as size increases. Can always make a smaller pond with a bigger liner but no way to stretch a too-small one.

Going to bring rocks and driftwood from the river for decoration. Still learning and thinking about pumps/filters/fountains/insect control. May not bother with an underlay or a clay layer, though i'll keep en eye out for clay. Being as it will be in a space used as a garden, the worst of the rocks and roots are all gone and the digging will be easy. Planning to use the soil that's removed to form a retaining berm so that will reduce the amount of earth I'll need to move with a goon spoon.

Probably just make a bird wading pool though the idea of trying to go deeper and adding some koi is a dream.

 

[Jewels]

The size of the pond is directly inproprotional to the peace it brings.
Meaning, the same amount of pleasure can be obtained, regardless of the pond's size.

pumps were always an issue.

,, and besides the cost of the container, need be the only expense.

Don't buy a canister "pond filter"
High price low value.
Ten dollar pump in a $400 pail.

"
However, other types of pond fish also enjoy eating a mosquito or two. Examples include rosy reds, guppies, minnows, and more.
Source: Pond Mosquito Control - 7 Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Pond [Upd. 2021]. "

ANY fish is a skeeter eater.

Consider a wedge shape hole in the ground. Extend the riparian zone. Provided it is shaded, a couple feet of water will stay cool enough for fish.

Really happy for you Amarok, I find peace in those waters.

 

[Ramjet159]

I have a pond . Just a small pre made concrete pond . Pretty simple but I love it . The goldfish take care of any Mozzie larvae .
If I had my way I’d convert our swimming pool now the kids are gone to a saltwater pond and throw a few Barramundi in . Not even joking .
Yep once again the wife ( bless her ) frowned upon me . Probably a good thing .
I’d end up an eccentric neighbour with all those funky things happening over the fence .

 

[Amarok]

The size of the pond is directly inproprotional to the peace it brings.

As much as I'd love it if my entire property was water(I'll live on a raft ), any size will be wonderful. I had a baby crow splashing and playing in a 4"x8" food container last year, and an 18"x24" meat bin became a well used pond.

Really happy for you Amarok, I find peace in those waters.

Thanks, Brother, me too.
I'm already spending more time in the yard. I'm chomping at the bit for spring now, and looking forward to many joyful hours with the water and the life that collects there.

 

[Amarok]

Yep once again the wife ( bless her ) frowned upon me . Probably a good thing .
I’d end up an eccentric neighbour with all those funky things happening over the fence .

Unfortunately for my neighbors, I don't have an external brain reigning me in like you do. Who knows what stupidity I'll get up to?

 

[Ramjet159]

Unfortunately for my neighbors, I don't have an external brain reigning me in like you do. Who knows what stupidity I'll get up to?

It’s why if we ever meet , it’s on neutral land . The damage may be irreparable ?

 

[Amarok]

It’s why if we ever meet , it’s on neutral land . The damage may be irreparable ?

The ol' wolf may be slowing down and the shark may have a few less teeth, but I imagine we could still cause some carnage.

 

[Ramjet159]

The ol' wolf may be slowing down and the shark may have a few less teeth, but I imagine we could still cause some carnage.

Absolutely mate . The mind is still conjuring entertainment ???

 

[Willie]

"why am I spending an hour a day weeding so I can end up with $30 worth of onions, most of which will end up on the compost heap?"

Black plastic for the win.....phuck weeding!

Pond eh?....Say hi to Jeremiah! (Jerimiah was a bullfrog) ?

 

[Rasterman]

Well, I gave vegetable gardening a try last year. I know a lot of people enjoy it for a lot of reasons but for me it came down to "why am I spending an hour a day weeding so I can end up with $30 worth of onions, most of which will end up on the compost heap?"

I'm thinking I'll keep part of the garden for playing around with whatever grabs my fancy(doing some sunflowers and ? this year), but I'm going to use part of the space for a wee pond. I'm very early in my education, but the plan right now is to start with a 10'x12' or so liner and design a shape for it. I don't want it to be an eyesore, but the primary purpose is to serve the local critters, with my crow buddies on top of the list. Last year I just put out a couple of containers and they loved it, and I loved having them around.

Any other people with DIY ponds, or who want them? Feel free to jump in. Consider it a general pond thread as opposed to my build journal.

The frozen ground is still covered with snow, so this is a long way from leaving the planning stage, but I'm hoping this will be a great little project and a source of pleasure until freeze-up.

A pond is a great way to increase your bird population and add new species like flycatchers, etc. I made a pond from an old 70s satellite antenna and it added much to my birdwatching experience. I even had a blue heron stop by both ways for two years in a row, to eat all the goldfish in it.

 

[Amarok]

Jerimiah was a bullfrog

He was a good friend of mine.


Haven't seen him so much since I quit drinking.

 

[Willie]

He wasa little difficult to understand at times too, I never understood a word he said.........

 

[Amarok]

Picked up the liner today. It's 13ft x 20ft, so I have a lot of options. Realized I have a brand new submersible 300gph pump for a project that didn't happen a while back, so that's handy.

 

[Psychobilly]

Filtration and aeration is important, and as for making sure Mosquitos don't take over, there's multiple species of fish you could add in to keep it free With your climate, I'd recommend something like a Pike, or a Burbot, and maybe some ..... Do you guys have Sunfish up there? (Bluegill, Redear, and the like) ?

If not some regular Goldfish / Other Carp would do it too. Are you going to add in any plants ? I've seen people do these basically with a pool or even one of those heavy duty Rubber bin things depending on size, but man, having some fish in it, would be sweet. And as long as you have space which, 20 by 13 feet should be good, you can actually have an eco system going with the Pike, or a Burbot, and then Carp, or some other type of bait fish to eat insect larvae and other things you may not want, and, of course, feed the Pike or Burbot which would fit you nicely I think.

How deep is that by the way ? I mean you don't have to have it super deep or anything, but with an attached heater you could easily leave this out running in Winter too.

Lots of Baitfish means you wouldn't need to feed the predator fish as that'll work itself out. And animals that want to come by are also able to drink water. And the odd Bird might get nailed but that's nature.

 

[Amarok]

Pike, or a Burbot, and maybe some ..... Do you guys have Sunfish up there? (Bluegill, Redear, and the like) ?

Can't keep live game fish, so no pike or burb. There are no sunfish up here either. Probably just toss in some feeder goldfish.

13x20 is the liner size, not the pond size. See post above for explanation of utilization re: various depths.

The design/shape/depth will be an evolving thing as I put shovel to earth. The plan will change 4 or 5 thousand times during construction.

 

[Psychobilly]

Can't keep live game fish, so no pike or burb. There are no sunfish up here either. Probably just toss in some feeder goldfish.

13x20 is the liner size, not the pond size. See post above for explanation of utilization re: various depths.

The design/shape/depth will be an evolving thing as I put shovel to earth. The plan will change 4 or 5 thousand times during construction.

OK that makes a bit more sense.... I didn't read much of the thread, I was overly excited about an outdoor pond LOL. Goldfish it is! Though it seems strange about the game fish part; Here you can't have them if they were caught, but you can buy them from a pond stocking facility as long as you aren't putting them in the rivers and so on. you can even order Sturgeon here for a pond but that's.....Actually is that an option for you ? A Sturgeon would be sweet!

So from the sounds of it you'll dig out a base ? You going to use some lumber to frame it ? There are quite a few different ways to do a pond and literally you'll only be limited by time and imagination. If I had time and space I'd have a pretty large one dug out already for the Catfish I'd stock in it LOL.

By the way there's a guy on YouTube that may be able to offer you some tips; The King of DIY; He builds ponds a LOT to house his "Monster Fish" collection, and I've watched a few of his.

 

[Amarok]

Between the end of fishing for a while and the temps slightly warming up, I'm getting to spend some time in the (snow-covered) yard. I was on the deck and noticed a crow across the street so I went and grabbed some food. Tossed some in the driveway and some on the snow in the yard and within 5 minutes one was feeding within 10 feet of me. I missed these guys.

Can't tell if it is one of last year's or another one that heard I was cool from "my" crows, but they don't approach a stranger that easily so I am remembered. It would be great if they nest in the same place.

Still too cold to put out water for them, but that will happen soon. They'll have to make due with a container until the pond is ready.