Now many of you probably weren't around a few years ago when I had what ended up being a 9000 gallon pond (19'Lx9'Wx7'D). I started out smaller and as I had liner issues (stupid gophers), steadily built it bigger and bigger.
Unfortunately I eventually ran into financial issues and had to let the house and the pond go. (bastards that bought it filled it in with dirt, I dug that by Hand you jerks! It was concrete when I left it! You could have easily used it! Sigh...)
Anyways enough of the back story. I rent a house from my parents now (they call it my mom's retirement fund since she doesn't work anymore) and it has a nice cordoned off area of the yard to the right side of a backyard pool. There was a small tree in the center of it which I removed a month ago due to frost getting the better of it. I was looking at the metal framed intex/heritage pools as a base for the pond. The advantages of this are 1. removable 2. already setup including skimmer basket/plumbing 3. large enough for most pond fish and 4. above ground so no run off to leach whatever's in the soil into my pond. Due to the odd shape of the area I think a 12' round would be ideal; as much as I would love a 15' x 4' I don't think it will fit all too well in the area I have.
I still have the pump and much of the filter material from the original pond. Unfortunately due to mr gopher digging holes where he doesn't belong I don't have the original epdm liner but I will want something to protect the pool liner. I was thinking that since the pool liner would essentially be the water proofing layer and the metal frame and ground cover protect it on the bottom and sides respectively I would just need a protective inner layer. Something to keep the fish/decor from poking holes. To me such a protective layer wouldn't need to be 400$ like the required epdm liner would cost. Perhaps just a second pool liner might do it. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Heritage-20-Gauge-Vinyl-Replacement-Pool-Liner-for-12-Round-Pools/14003632
Or I've used construction grade tarps in the past (ones without the mildew resistance) They aren't always 100% waterproof but I never use them for that. The pool liner is the water proofing, the tarp would be the puncture resistant layer.
As with all my builds this will be a diy/on the cheap setup. The primary goal is to give my Plecos a much bigger home (they're too big for the 125 they're in currently) but also koi and any other monsters that tickle my fancy. In the past my pond in the summer would house pacu, gourami, koi, oscars, and various others. In the winter, I'd bring the tropicals inside to be housed in 3 100+ gallon tanks. This time I have a semi-detached dude room. I was thinking a little inflatable pool with a secondary puncture layer could house the tropicals in the winter. I still have a 125 and a 100g just in case but really as a 2-3month a year thing and at 24$ a pop if it breaks, I'm not all that concerned about the inflatable thing.
Now for the pool itself.
The intex is cheaper (obviously) but heritage has a feature on its 12' and 15' rounds that is getting my attention, especially since an above ground limits viewing.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Heritage-Round-12-x-36-Metal-Walled-Swimming-Pool/3163944
Of course the run here is that the 15' is only 3$ more than the 12' while offering ~1400 more gallons and 60+ sqft of swim room. But again I don't think a 15' will fit. I'll have to measure to be sure. But the port hole is really getting my attention. I'm just not so sure it's worth the price difference. An intex 12' x 2.5' is 150$ for the set. Which far better fits my on the cheap budget. But dang a viewing window, even small sounds nice.
I'll keep this updated As I get pieces in. I need to do some work on the ground, remove a stump, get the filter setup and check it for leaks, issues after sitting for a while. I expect to be fully operational by june. So We'll see how it goes. This is really just a teaser at this point.
Unfortunately I eventually ran into financial issues and had to let the house and the pond go. (bastards that bought it filled it in with dirt, I dug that by Hand you jerks! It was concrete when I left it! You could have easily used it! Sigh...)
Anyways enough of the back story. I rent a house from my parents now (they call it my mom's retirement fund since she doesn't work anymore) and it has a nice cordoned off area of the yard to the right side of a backyard pool. There was a small tree in the center of it which I removed a month ago due to frost getting the better of it. I was looking at the metal framed intex/heritage pools as a base for the pond. The advantages of this are 1. removable 2. already setup including skimmer basket/plumbing 3. large enough for most pond fish and 4. above ground so no run off to leach whatever's in the soil into my pond. Due to the odd shape of the area I think a 12' round would be ideal; as much as I would love a 15' x 4' I don't think it will fit all too well in the area I have.
I still have the pump and much of the filter material from the original pond. Unfortunately due to mr gopher digging holes where he doesn't belong I don't have the original epdm liner but I will want something to protect the pool liner. I was thinking that since the pool liner would essentially be the water proofing layer and the metal frame and ground cover protect it on the bottom and sides respectively I would just need a protective inner layer. Something to keep the fish/decor from poking holes. To me such a protective layer wouldn't need to be 400$ like the required epdm liner would cost. Perhaps just a second pool liner might do it. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Heritage-20-Gauge-Vinyl-Replacement-Pool-Liner-for-12-Round-Pools/14003632
Or I've used construction grade tarps in the past (ones without the mildew resistance) They aren't always 100% waterproof but I never use them for that. The pool liner is the water proofing, the tarp would be the puncture resistant layer.
As with all my builds this will be a diy/on the cheap setup. The primary goal is to give my Plecos a much bigger home (they're too big for the 125 they're in currently) but also koi and any other monsters that tickle my fancy. In the past my pond in the summer would house pacu, gourami, koi, oscars, and various others. In the winter, I'd bring the tropicals inside to be housed in 3 100+ gallon tanks. This time I have a semi-detached dude room. I was thinking a little inflatable pool with a secondary puncture layer could house the tropicals in the winter. I still have a 125 and a 100g just in case but really as a 2-3month a year thing and at 24$ a pop if it breaks, I'm not all that concerned about the inflatable thing.
Now for the pool itself.
The intex is cheaper (obviously) but heritage has a feature on its 12' and 15' rounds that is getting my attention, especially since an above ground limits viewing.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Heritage-Round-12-x-36-Metal-Walled-Swimming-Pool/3163944
Of course the run here is that the 15' is only 3$ more than the 12' while offering ~1400 more gallons and 60+ sqft of swim room. But again I don't think a 15' will fit. I'll have to measure to be sure. But the port hole is really getting my attention. I'm just not so sure it's worth the price difference. An intex 12' x 2.5' is 150$ for the set. Which far better fits my on the cheap budget. But dang a viewing window, even small sounds nice.
I'll keep this updated As I get pieces in. I need to do some work on the ground, remove a stump, get the filter setup and check it for leaks, issues after sitting for a while. I expect to be fully operational by june. So We'll see how it goes. This is really just a teaser at this point.
