Need tips/input on starting a pond

[Drizzt]

I have a 20' x 20' pond liner that has been sitting in my shop for the past 2 years. I started digging a hole for the pond after I first got it but then gave up and filled it back in. Now that I have been fixing up the backyard more, I decided to resurrect the project. I still don't know if I want to do an above ground, in ground, or a combination of both. If I do an above ground, I was thinking of using landscaping timbers since they are fairly cheap. Does anybody have any suggestions or pros and cons of above ground vs. in ground ponds? I live in Central California so the temp is in the 100's in the summer and can drop as low as 30 degrees in the winter on occasion. If you guys need any pics of my backyard for placement, I'll be happy to upload them. Thanks.

 

[kenjivaj]

For that size pond liner you are going to do a lot of digging. Just do a above the ground pond. You should be fine. I live in Central Cal. and have above the ground pond. Its less work and you easier to take down when you don't want it. Your liner can do a 12 x 12. The pond should be around 2 - 2 1/2 feet tall. My is 2 feet deep only. You don't want it too tall because you will not be able to see the fishes. My above the ground pond is a 8' x 12'. I stack 2x4 up to do mine. My pond still need more work on it. just never decided how i was going to finish it and I got lazy.

 

[Drizzt]

For that size pond liner you are going to do a lot of digging. Just do a above the ground pond. You should be fine. I live in Central Cal. and have above the ground pond. Its less work and you easier to take down when you don't want it. Your liner can do a 12 x 12. The pond should be around 2 - 2 1/2 feet tall. My is 2 feet deep only. You don't want it too tall because you will not be able to see the fishes. My above the ground pond is a 8' x 12'. I stack 2x4 up to do mine. My pond still need more work on it. just never decided how i was going to finish it and I got lazy.

Thanks. I think I will do an above ground. I don't feel like doing all that digging again. What do you have stocked in your pond? Any problems during winter? I know that a few days out of the year it approaches freezing temps at night, but I figure with that much water it shouldn't be a problem. Do you have anymore pics of your pond? It looks awesome.

 

[kenjivaj]

I keep 4 koi with 9 koi fry from this year. One of my koi got sick and completely loss all of it red color. It turn white. If you are thinking about getting koi fish. Go and buy the big nice colorful koi fish. Don't buy small ones. They with change in colors more. And don't get too much. The feed for them is alot. You must buy top koi fish food to get it color. I raise fancy guppies during the summer to kept the mosquito out. The little fry in the pond tank is fancy guppy frys (100+ frys). The bucket have my older guppy fry. I also have a daphnias tank to eat the algaes out of my pond. The 2 pictues on the bottom are my daphnias (water flea). My pump got slower and slower causing my pond to turn green for 2 months. Pump is broken. I have to use a spare internal pump for it. It's starting too clear up again. At least i can see my fishes still

 

[Drizzt]

Nice looking Koi. It's getting me excited about starting my pond. Thanks for posting more pics.

 

[kuait]

I keep 4 koi with 9 koi fry from this year. One of my koi got sick and completely loss all of it red color. It turn white. If you are thinking about getting koi fish. Go and buy the big nice colorful koi fish. Don't buy small ones. They with change in colors more. And don't get too much. The feed for them is alot. You must buy top koi fish food to get it color. I raise fancy guppies during the summer to kept the mosquito out. The little fry in the pond tank is fancy guppy frys (100+ frys). The bucket have my older guppy fry. I also have a daphnias tank to eat the algaes out of my pond. The 2 pictues on the bottom are my daphnias (water flea). My pump got slower and slower causing my pond to turn green for 2 months. Pump is broken. I have to use a spare internal pump for it. It's starting too clear up again. At least i can see my fishes still

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Just quick question.
How did u make the water temperature in pond stable, what kind of heater u r using?

 

[kenjivaj]

Well my pond is not a big pond. (1300gal). I use water current to make my pond temperture stable in the summer. And during the winter I don"t use a heater. I move my fancy guppies inside the house. Koi fish can take the cold weather. I have a sun screen net to protect the sun and frost. I live in central cal. and it gets cold with frost only. No snow. In the winter I don't use waterfalls or let the water current run fast. Moving water cools down the pond. Which will make the pond colder in the winter. It like pouring hot water from cup to cup. It will cool down.

 

[kuait]

Well my pond is not a big pond. (1300gal). I use water current to make my pond temperture stable in the summer. And during the winter I don"t use a heater. I move my fancy guppies inside the house. Koi fish can take the cold weather. I have a sun screen net to protect the sun and frost. I live in central cal. and it gets cold with frost only. No snow. In the winter I don't use waterfalls or let the water current run fast. Moving water cools down the pond. Which will make the pond colder in the winter. It like pouring hot water from cup to cup. It will cool down.

Thx for the Info, I have small solitary pool in our farm for three Giant Snakehead it's not like fancy one but its ok, it about 3,733 gallons, and heater system most be there in winter, I do not have issue in summer time so I thought u have idea how to make heater system not costly in this pond
Thx again for the help

 

[kuait]

Well my pond is not a big pond. (1300gal). I use water current to make my pond temperture stable in the summer. And during the winter I don"t use a heater. I move my fancy guppies inside the house. Koi fish can take the cold weather. I have a sun screen net to protect the sun and frost. I live in central cal. and it gets cold with frost only. No snow. In the winter I don't use waterfalls or let the water current run fast. Moving water cools down the pond. Which will make the pond colder in the winter. It like pouring hot water from cup to cup. It will cool down.

Thx for the Info, I have small solitary pool in our farm for three Giant Snakehead it's not like fancy one but its ok, it about 3,733 gallons, and heater system most be there in winter, I do not have issue in summer time so I thought u have idea how to make heater system not costly in this pond
Thx again for the help

 

[kenjivaj]

Thx for the Info, I have small solitary pool in our farm for three Giant Snakehead it's not like fancy one but its ok, it about 3,733 gallons, and heater system most be there in winter, I do not have issue in summer time so I thought u have idea how to make heater system not costly in this pond
Thx again for the help

I thought that snakehead can take on anything. Even the cold weather except snow because they will freeze. Did you ever lose a snakehead without the heater. You don't have a small solitary pool. It pretty big pond at 3,733 gal.. Does it snow there? If it doesn't than I think you don't need a heater because your pond pool is too big for it to freeze. Is it a above the ground pond? I think snakeheads can out live my koi fish in any water or weather condition.