You need to make the pond deep enough, so it doesnt freeze solid. You'll need to dig at least a foot to 2ft deeper than the frost line. Unless you plan on bringing the fish inside for the winter. The filter can be piped up next to the pond. In the winter you should remove it and bring it inside. You wont be feeding the fish and wont need filteration. I used to do a big water change just before the pond would start to freeze. In spring another water change. I would then put the filter back after the risk of freezing was over.
Digging a Pond
- Thread starter Fishstronomy
- Start date
You need to make the pond deep enough, so it doesnt freeze solid. You'll need to dig at least a foot to 2ft deeper than the frost line. Unless you plan on bringing the fish inside for the winter. The filter can be piped up next to the pond. In the winter you should remove it and bring it inside. You wont be feeding the fish and wont need filteration. I used to do a big water change just before the pond would start to freeze. In spring another water change. I would then put the filter back after the risk of freezing was over.
You may get away with running a pump or a heater in the pond to keep the water from freezing down to the bottom.
Thanks for all the information guys. I'll probably be planning the pond for the majority of winter, then when spring hits I'll start digging. Wish me luck 
Could I run airline tubing dug in to the dirt for a few meters? I want to have it connected to a air pump in my home, so I could have a bubble disk to aerate the water. However, my main concern is that if the air in the tube will not be as powerful, because the air has to travel a farther distance. I'm planning to not do koi anymore, but instead have a few feeder goldfish. Would it work if I just used a sponge filter?
Distance doesn't matter, the only thing that matters is how much water is above the end of your air line. How deep you can put your aeration disk depends on your specific air pump.
Sent from my SGS4 Active
Sent from my SGS4 Active
There are a lot of different types of filters. If you are using a canister filter that will be installed in the garage, you will have to calculate the resistance of the water flow for the distance. Every 10 feet of hose is equal to 1 foot of head pressure. The further away the filter means you will need a stronger pump. On the average, it is recommended that you have at least one time turn over of the water volume of the pond per hour. It really depends on what's living in the pond, how much you are feed, sun light, and many other factors. The other types of filter are the biological waterfall boxes. Those are installed as part of the waterfall and needs to be planned into the whole design. The 45 mil EPDM rubber liner is made by Firestone. They are available online. It is the same material as the inner tube of car tires. Do not use vinyl or pvc liners. It won't last or handle the abrasion of rock unless you are super care and have no sun on the liner. Good Luck.
I definatly agree with the 45 mil liner. I have had better expriences with skimmer filters. Aquascape has nice systems and you can run allthe pipes under ground.
