Question on Above Ground Ponds..

[shells-n-scales]

So I've seen everyone's "timberponds", especially the current one from MFK memeber NOLAGT.

I have a few simple questions, that I cannot figue out.

First.... how do you go about keeping it from overflowing? (what do you recommend, or do, to keep it from overflowing?)

How long are the screws your using to hold down the lumber to each other?

What is the recommended EPDM for these kinda of ponds or is there a certain brand you all recommend? (they will be housing mainly, mosquito fish, guppies, platies, and mollies, with juvenile or small species of aquatic turtles.

Photos and any advice would be great... I have a few odd ball areas I can fit this kinds of ponds in, and i think they would look great, and ad more available space for more animals.

Thanks

 

[shells-n-scales]

Bump bump?

 

[shells-n-scales]

dang no one huh?

 

[JAFRIAS]

the pond wont over flow you fill it just like a tank any water you see flowing is pond water being recirculated /you could install a stand pipe that would to allow water to exit instead of over flowing

 

[mrunlucky07]

Overflow, rain or for filtration? Rain should not be a big deal unless you are building one with a huge surface area or have enormous rains. It can simply overflow or you can notch a timber for it to drain. If you mean for filtration like a skimmer you can actually buy a pond skimmer/drain, or a simple way is a 2" shower drain on the bottom or side for about $5.


Most people use spikes/rebar rather than screws. The timbers are 3.5" thick so a screw would need to be at least 5" long. HD and lowes are way overpriced on their spikes. I started with 20d 5" nails from lowes and they were a very weak connection. I found 7" 60d nails at a local hardware store and they worked great.

45mil and 60 mil are the standard epdm thicknesses. Either is fine if you frame in the timbers and use uunderlayment. EPDM is only a few bucks more when you shop around and well worth the extra money over pvc.

Keep in mind a timber pond is a shallow pond, I would not recommend going any deeper than 24" max. Once you go deeper than about 2' or longer than 8' the chance of bowing is pretty good.

I have some pics of one I am finishing on the end of another thread.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135516&page=27