10'x10'x3'

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BIGgourami

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jan 31, 2007
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Chicago, IL
me and my folks were thinking of upgrading the pond this summer.. right now it's a 180 or so gallon preformed pond.. we're thinking of digging a 10'x10'x by about 3 feet average depth...

A) what kind of filtration would that need?
B) if it wanted to keep turtles in it?
C) didn't want it to freeze over in winter
D) keep the water clear (not clean... clear)
E) predator proofing
F) general hints and tips for a newb pond builder
 
A) what kind of filtration would that need?

*Depends on the bio-load.

Do you want in-pond or remote filtering?

B) if it wanted to keep turtles in it?

*Triple it...:D

*A W/D with a good pre-filter.

C) didn't want it to freeze over in winter

*Insulate the pond and heat the water (install the filter remotely in a heated room (BB dies below 60*F)).

*Find out how deep the frost line is for your area and go at least 18" below that.

D) keep the water clear (not clean... clear)

*W/D as a pre-filter then a pool cartridge filter to polish the water.


E) predator proofing

*Put a greenhouse over it http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93358

Cage it with http://www.afence.com/store/product.php?productid=25655&cat=440&page=1
use http://www.afence.com/store/product.php?productid=25625&cat=439&page=1
for the top.

*You said "predator proof"... it ain't pretty but it works.

F) general hints and tips for a newb pond builder

*Rent a backhoe! (half a day and it's fun)
*Use EPDM liner (45 or 60)
*Don't try to run pipe thru the liner.
*Use a 4" sand bed under the underlayment (no warranty if you don't use it)
*Don't go cheap on the liner or pump.
*Realize that this is using a 1hp pump motor (not a pool pump) and how much this is going to cost running 24/7/365.
*Feed your labor and supply plenty of water (beer after the work is done or I can just about guarantee a leaky & lumpy pond :irked:).
*Rent a backhoe. (ya, I know I said it twice :D).
*Get a digital camera and document it (video it too, you may win $10k!),
*Don't show this to the 'folks' till the hole is dug ;).

That's a start. Good luck and keep us posted,

Dr Joe

.
 
let me see if i can TRY and process this

Dr Joe;1909608; said:
*Depends on the bio-load. Do you want in-pond or remote filtering?
bioload would be like 2-3 koi and a few goldies (6-7), would prefer in pond cause it's going in basically the middle of the garden so i'd like it as seemless as possible will openly accept reccomendations for both;)

B) if it wanted to keep turtles in it?
*Triple it...:D
*A W/D with a good pre-filter.
really? triple? just for like 1-2 RES? ok nevermind that then...

C) didn't want it to freeze over in winter
*Insulate the pond and heat the water (install the filter remotely in a heated room (BB dies below 60*F)).
*Find out how deep the frost line is for your area and go at least 18" below that.
what sort of insulation? like roll out fiberglass housing insulation? or like a sand bed? our pond got about 8'' of ice last winter.. is that the frost line? people generally say 3' depth is golden in our area...

D) keep the water clear (not clean... clear)
*W/D as a pre-filter then a pool cartridge filter to polish the water.
DIY? any reccomendations for a prefab? how much $?

E) predator proofing
*Put a greenhouse over it http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93358
Cage it with http://www.afence.com/store/product.php?productid=25655&cat=440&page=1
use http://www.afence.com/store/product.php?productid=25625&cat=439&page=1
for the top.
haven't looked over yet but will do. think all i need to worry about is raccons and the very occasional heron/egret


*Rent a backhoe! (half a day and it's fun) believe me i want to but i dont think one can get through the fence to the garden :(
*Use EPDM liner (45 or 60) what widths do they come in? could i use one sheet? how would i join them if i needed to?
*Don't try to run pipe thru the liner. ??? i wasn't going to???:confused:
*Use a 4" sand bed under the underlayment (no warranty if you don't use it) all around? ok
*Don't go cheap on the liner or pump.
*Realize that this is using a 1hp pump motor (not a pool pump) and how much this is going to cost running 24/7/365. you lost me :D
*Feed your labor and supply plenty of water (beer after the work is done or I can just about guarantee a leaky & lumpy pond :irked:). WILL DO!;)
*Rent a backhoe. (ya, I know I said it twice :D). :thumbsup:
*Get a digital camera and document it (video it too, you may win $10k!), can do, who's going to give me $10K though? lol
*Don't show this to the 'folks' till the hole is dug ;). they said as long as i build it anything goes so let's hold them to it
Click to expand...
 
It would probally be easier if you just came to my house. You can see everything from the skimmer/falls placement to planting shelves and gravel/boulder uses to hide all traces of liner.
 
I'm just building my 10"x8'x3' turtle pond and am going to try filtering it mostly using a bog filter.
If I end up needing more filteration I'll prbabily add an additional external filter or increase the size of the bog.
 
A*One of these on one end http://www.pondliner.com/PM2000.htm & http://www.pondliner.com/PM2002.htm on the other end.

B* :(

C*Styrofoam insulation 2" or foam.

Sand is so you don't puncture the liner if you have to walk on it or lay heavy object on it (rocks or cement blocks).
Three foot is possibly the bare minimum for water lines (moving water).
Call your local agricultural extension office they should know the frost line for your specific area.

D*This style http://www.swimmingpoolsetc.com/filterstarplus.htm#679 there are cheaper ones on the market.

E* 3ft fence angles outward. Electrified 3 wire fence http://www.flemingoutdoors.com/electric-fence-kit-for-pets--75.html & a couple of crisscrossing pieces of monofiliment line over the top to keep big birds out (along with some places for the fish to hide at the bottom).

* Rent a large tiller at least to soften up the soil for digging if there aren't a lot of big rocks.

*Try to locate a supplier as close to you as possible to keep freight low http://www.pondarama.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?store_code=POWGS&screen=PROD&product_code=LIN2020

* To put sand around the walls of the liner you have to add sand as your filling the pond so the water holds the liner up, difficult at best.

* 1hp pump running @ 8 amps = 1760 watts = $126.72 per month @ $0.10 per kwH

$10k from Funniest videos :ROFL:

Dr Joe

.
 
Dale D;1918464; said:
I'm just building my 10"x8'x3' turtle pond and am going to try filtering it mostly using a bog filter.
If I end up needing more filteration I'll prbabily add an additional external filter or increase the size of the bog.
Click to expand...

This is a good way to filter for turtles, if it's big enough and well planted with cattails, iris' and rain lilies etc.

How much warm weather do you have to populate a bog every year?

Dr Joe

.
 
I'm attempting to build a 10' x 10' x 3' pond right now. I started digging the hole, but it is slow going at this point. I'm not sure if I need to go down that deep. It gets pretty cold here during the winter, but it very rarely gets down to freezing. If I finish any time soon, I'll let you know how things are working out. I actually have a thread in this forum if you want to check it out. There are just a few pics of the start of the hole.
 
bump...

ty all for the info so far
 
invest in a pressurized bead filter. you wont regret it. our water stays crystal clear all year round even though its stocked with some big messy koi
 
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