First outdoor pond started...
- Thread starter Conner
- Start date
Without adequate mulm or muck in the bottom of the pond for the turtle to hibernate in, I would bring it indoors for the winter. There are a few people on AC that have several inches to a foot 
of "muck" in the bottoms of their ponds for frog and turtle hibernation spots. I myself could never have a pond with any acculation of debris on the bottom. I'm not saying my pond is spotless in the fall, there will always be some leaves blown in, but I try to remove as much as poss. They say there water parms. and fish are living, but that crap is just a ticking time bomb. I have frogs that hibernate in the root mass of plants and do just fine. No need to chance things if you can house the turtle indoors.
of "muck" in the bottoms of their ponds for frog and turtle hibernation spots. I myself could never have a pond with any acculation of debris on the bottom. I'm not saying my pond is spotless in the fall, there will always be some leaves blown in, but I try to remove as much as poss. They say there water parms. and fish are living, but that crap is just a ticking time bomb. I have frogs that hibernate in the root mass of plants and do just fine. No need to chance things if you can house the turtle indoors.
How many shelves are in the pond?
The ramp area is a good spot for planting, but you can use boulders on the shelves and create planting pockets filled with gravel so the plants will in a sense be in 2-6" of water as opposed to 12-16". I will look back in the posts to see if i can find where your shelves are. I would not go around the pond and start lowering the edge, that is where 90% of leaks occur in low edges. You can do several different tricks to make planting areas and not have to tweak the edge. Also think about not using as much flagstone around the edges. The price for flagstone is much more than plain boulders and gravel which will allow you to buy more of each and just build up and out of the pond edge with each. Think about stairs, the treads will be gravel and the riser out of boulders. On top of the treads, a layer of small boulder (4-8") will create another area to fill with gravel and plants. From there, one more row of boulders at the edge will hold back the gravel going up and out of the pond,as well as finishing the edge. This then allows for ground cover type plants to then creep over the liner and into the pond, or make an area for the turtle to easily get out to bask. I will try to put my idea on paper instead of rambling anymore.
The ramp area is a good spot for planting, but you can use boulders on the shelves and create planting pockets filled with gravel so the plants will in a sense be in 2-6" of water as opposed to 12-16". I will look back in the posts to see if i can find where your shelves are. I would not go around the pond and start lowering the edge, that is where 90% of leaks occur in low edges. You can do several different tricks to make planting areas and not have to tweak the edge. Also think about not using as much flagstone around the edges. The price for flagstone is much more than plain boulders and gravel which will allow you to buy more of each and just build up and out of the pond edge with each. Think about stairs, the treads will be gravel and the riser out of boulders. On top of the treads, a layer of small boulder (4-8") will create another area to fill with gravel and plants. From there, one more row of boulders at the edge will hold back the gravel going up and out of the pond,as well as finishing the edge. This then allows for ground cover type plants to then creep over the liner and into the pond, or make an area for the turtle to easily get out to bask. I will try to put my idea on paper instead of rambling anymore.
I understand what you're saying about creating the steps from boulders and gravel. The problem is, the sides of my pond (except the ramp area) are nearly vertical from the top all the way to the bottom. We're talking about 3.5 feet that I'd have to build up steps. To do that around the edges would take up a lot of space. I may just have to plant more terrestrial(?) plants around the edges and just use aquatic plants for the ramp area and the bog.
Muske;3508965; said:
Their are only 2 shelves in the pond. One is literally right at the water surface level, and the other is down about 2.5 feet, maybe 3 feet. I could build that one up with the boulders and gravel like you suggest, but I don't know if I could do it anywhere else. I'd prefer to keep as much open swimming space as possible, since I will have gars in the pond.
Muske;3508924; said:Without adequate mulm or muck in the bottom of the pond for the turtle to hibernate in, I would bring it indoors for the winter. There are a few people on AC that have several inches to a foot
I was considering adding about 6-8" of sand to the bottom for the turtle to hibernate in, but I might skip that. I haven't decided if I want to leave it basically barebottom, or add gravel/sand to the bottom.
that sucks raining while digging a pond. it makes it much harder. im planning on diggin my pond in the summer so the dirt is dry and there r no worms. (i have a phobia of worms)
The shelf at or near the surface is perfect for most to all marginals. Plant the crap out of that one and use the deep shelf for a few lillies, 2 feet is perfect for the lillies. That will leave plenty of open water for the gars.
As for substrate on the bottom, that is up to you. A little gravel would be nice to give you a little traction while doing maint, but if your planning on keeping the turtle in it year-round, sand might be your friend. With a deep sand bed, dead spots may occur. I'm sure the cats will stir it up some, or maybe some snails. A light colored gravel (pea or the stone in the bog now) will allow the fish to be seen better from above.
Speaking of bog, is it going to be filled w/gravel to the top?
As for substrate on the bottom, that is up to you. A little gravel would be nice to give you a little traction while doing maint, but if your planning on keeping the turtle in it year-round, sand might be your friend. With a deep sand bed, dead spots may occur. I'm sure the cats will stir it up some, or maybe some snails. A light colored gravel (pea or the stone in the bog now) will allow the fish to be seen better from above.
Speaking of bog, is it going to be filled w/gravel to the top?
