Building a 9'x25' pond

[Arkangel77]

I know this is an Old thread, I have a question for you.

I was wondering how the wood around your pond is holding up? Any concernes with it staying wet all the time? I know its treated but I am from the south and wet wood = ROT down here! I am planing to build my pund using timbers and connecting it to a deck as well. It will be different from your set up but still water and wood. So - what do you think? How is it holding up to far?

Thanks, Arkangel77

 

[mrunlucky07]

The wood seems to be holding up fine so far. The water does not really splash on it or come into direct contact anywhere. I am thinking it will last about as long as a normal deck close to the ground. On the smaller pond the timbers are directly laid on the ground so I am guessing it will have a 5-10 year lifespan.

As far as updates we had a cold winter but everything made it through no problem and no burst pipes or other settlement issues yet this year. I cracked the quartz sleeve when I went to put the UV back on about a month ago when it started greening up. I never added it and the water cleared on its own so hopefully it will stay that way. The fish are still surprisingly fat for not eating since November, I am going to let it warm up some more before I start feeding them.

The turtle pond is still off, probably clean it and bring them back out in a few weeks. It was nice to see the bullfrog hoppers has returned and is keeping watch over the pond again.

I have a few other projects going on and got addicted to reefs so not a lot planned for the pond this summer. I am going to rebuild the bar/shower filter into a much larger water feature though that will be just for show. I should have some time to start working on it when school lets out for the summer.

 

[thatupsguy]

very nice and informative.does the vb stand for virginia beach?if so me too

 

[mrunlucky07]

very nice and informative.does the vb stand for virginia beach?if so me too

Thanks, Yep, Va beach

I have not had a chance to do any work on the pond other than adding a new UV today. I had been going without once since last fall and the water was just not staying as clear as I wanted after it warmed up (about 2' clarity) so I ordered a new one. Right after I ordered it of course it cleared back up and could see right to the bottom again. Go figure. It came yesterday so I hooked it up anyway and am just going to use it as needed now. I also removed all the filter mats so there will be one less thing to clean.

I have not added any fish since last spring when I learned about quarantine the hard way. I will probably thin out some of the goldies this summer and stay with what I have. One of the original little bluegills has to be about 2lbs now. Its a fat food stealing grumpy beast.

New 120w UV

Some of the fishes

Security officer

I started out with a few local pond plants 2 years ago and they went crazy. I went to move some to the turtle pond and it is a solid mat of roots now.

I have 11 turtles that are back to "going native" now that they are outside again.

This little guy used to be the size of a quarter.

The latest addition born last fall.

The turtle pond was actually filled in with plants earlier this spring and they have eaten just about everything I tried to explain to them if they eat all the plants they will have no where to hide, but they are stubborn.

Enjoy!

 

[frasertheking]

wow stunning man i love it looks so neat
do you have any trouble with the turtles and the koi ?

 

[Yanbbrox]

Simply stunning A!!!

We are working on something similar to us next door. It's a two year project, so expect not much as an update, but when we start I'll post a new thread.

 

[mrunlucky07]

wow stunning man i love it looks so neat
do you have any trouble with the turtles and the koi ?

Thanks, I actually have them in two seperate ponds, the turtles would not be happy in the big pond without any hiding structure and would probably get sucked right down the drain. Eventually after some modifications I will move them to the larger pond when they get full grown in several more years.

Simply stunning A!!!

We are working on something similar to us next door. It's a two year project, so expect not much as an update, but when we start I'll post a new thread.

Thanks. I will look for the thread. I bet it will go quicker with your experience. Still fololowing your build, you are pulling all the stops and really going big league now


When I get a chance I want to post up some night pictures or video soon. I am really pleased with the new UV and thinking about getting some color changing underwater lights, or doing a diy with 3w leds and making some underwater led lighting.

 

[Muske]

LED's for sure...

There are many new underwater fixtures that are really sweet. I have replaced to of my low voltage spots on the outside of the pond and the look it awesome. I prefer the white color they give off, some don't. I am now thinking about switching my indoor tanks to LED's when it comes time for bulb replacement.

 

[Danzig86]

Gnarly Turtles man!!!!

 

[jerzyperson]

are you going to just stock this pond with koi? i think a native setup would be amazing. bass and sunfish, some bull heads or channel, at night when the lights are on they would glow almost. and how about a very large centerpeice in the big one? here in wyoming a flower shop has some roots balls that are about 4' tall and 3' wide and are amazing. you have unlimited things you could do with this, i would love to some some monsters go in there, koi is so original.