Outdoor Wood Pond Questions.. Please Help Noooooooob!

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CoolioSchmoolio

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 6, 2010
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California
In a couple of days I plan on building an outdoor wooden pond that is above ground and below ground. I plan on using 4'x8' Landscape timbers from Home Depot, same idea as this video i found on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9B-beS3cRY&feature=related
Does the structure of this look like it's safe? My design is going to be exactly like this one but with a different shape that looks kinda like nevada (I'll try to get a picture of the hole I dug out so far). My dimensions are gonna be pretty much 8' long (except the left side goes diagonally inward at the top, if that makes sense) by 5.5' wide by 2' below ground and 1' above ground. I'm thinking of adding angle iron supports in the ground for some extra support like this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNL72qFc_ew
I'm very inexperienced when it comes to knowing about wood and about what's safe or not so any opinions would be appreciated a bunch.
Thanks mfk!
 
Either of those types of setups should work fine. Just be sure if you use the metal brackets that you don't end up with any sharp metal points that could poke through the liner and cause a leak.
 
Cool thanks for the quick response and advice.. I'm definitely going to add some styrofoam to the brackets. There's no reason that the dirt underneath the pond would shift and cause the liner to tear right? Maybe I'm just worrying too much lol I just want to make sure I'm aware of all the possible problems with this setup specifically. Thanks again I appreciate it.
 
For digging only a foot deep, the soil shouldn't shift much, if any.

I would still use underlayment or more foam in the base and interior walls of the timbers.
 
Muske;4682668; said:
For digging only a foot deep, the soil shouldn't shift much, if any.

I would still use underlayment or more foam in the base and interior walls of the timbers.
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Cool thanks I will do that forsure. Although I do plan on digging 2 feet deep and only go 1 foot above ground. Does this still seem like it should be safe? Should I go 2 feet above ground and only 1 foot in ground instead? Thanks.
 
koienterprise;4684524; said:
Going 2 ft above ground does make a very nice sitting edge ;)
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Thanks for the response +rep.
Maybe I'll go 2ft above and 2ft below?? :nilly:
Only problem is that my parents are convinced that if it's too high above ground it'll look like a jacuzzi. O well.. they also said that they trusted me with it so I can really do it however I want. Although will going 2 feet below ground be chill (safety wise)? In that one youtube video they guy says to go at least 2 feet underground, but I figured mfkers would have a lot more knowledge than that guy. If anyone knows it would be greatly appreciated.. I'm going to hit up the depot for the timbers if you guys give me the OK.
 
The deeper you dig the pond underground, the more stable the water temps are going to be. The dirt will help to insulate the pond from sudden temperature changes, as long as its not sitting in full sunlight all day long.

The only depth you need to worry about "safety wise" would be the frost line for your area. This would be the depth underground that your area can expect to freeze in winter. This will be the same frost line that determines how deep your houses water and sewer lines are placed.

In California, probably 2 feet deep would be more than enough (do you ever actually get a hard freeze there?). Height above ground will just be for 2 things: adding water volume via depth of the pond, and being able to use the edge to sit on.
 
Conner;4686065; said:
The deeper you dig the pond underground, the more stable the water temps are going to be. The dirt will help to insulate the pond from sudden temperature changes, as long as its not sitting in full sunlight all day long.

The only depth you need to worry about "safety wise" would be the frost line for your area. This would be the depth underground that your area can expect to freeze in winter. This will be the same frost line that determines how deep your houses water and sewer lines are placed.

In California, probably 2 feet deep would be more than enough (do you ever actually get a hard freeze there?). Height above ground will just be for 2 things: adding water volume via depth of the pond, and being able to use the edge to sit on.
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Wow thanks I would've never thought of that.. We just recently moved to this news house in October so I'm really unsure if it gets frozen back there, I doubt it though. Would you be able to see the frost at the top of the grass/dirt? And to avoid the frost line you have to dig deeper? I also live in Torrance (socal) bout 5 minutes from the beach just to let you know what weather I'm dealing with.
 
Being in SoCal, you probably won't have to worry about frost lines or freezing.

What kind of fish are you planning on keeping? If its koi, then you can build the pond like you've stated, build/buy a filter, and be done with it.

If you plan on keeping tropicals, then you will probably need a heater in winter, and may need to fashion some kind of lid for the pond to help keep heat in.
 
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