Rebuilding Pond

[Anubias]

Hey everyone, everything has finally come together and the old pond (4000 G +/-) has been taken down. The trashy black plastic liner has been removed and the old carpet underlayment is gone. The pond size has been enlarged to approx 18' x 20' and depth has been increased to 40". The plant shelves are now wider, a new rubber liner has been installed and the waterfall work has begun.

The boulders were acquired from an old rock quarry on our farm, some of them are quite large. The best part about the boulders - FREE.

The fish are currently be housed in a 12' doughnut pool. It's not perfect but it is working.

Picture 1 - New liner in pond.
Picture 2 - Same thing, different angle, notice temp pond in background
Picture 3 - Pile of boulders
Picture 4 - Temporary pond from Walmart.
Picture 5 - Waterfall area ready for boulders

I will post pictures as the work moves forward.

 

[Anubias]

Picture 1 - waterfall with boulders set in place. There is still much to be done but finally the work has begun.

Picture 2 - different angle

 

[Muske]

Very nice work thus far....

Those boulders are a huge score. I quick tip, wash them off now or once all are in place. Place your pump, or a sump pump in lowest point and pump all the dirty water out prior to final filling.
If you can, find someone in your area that has a water meter or keep tabs on the meter inside. That way if you need to add any chemicals (should keep the temp. pool as emergency QT down the road) or other water treatments you will have the exact gal. for dosing.

What kind of gph?

 

[Muske]

Did you trim the liner yet?

Does it continue up behind the boulders?

I ask because you may be getting some soil washing into the pond on heavy rains. Not a big deal, but could be if a lot of soil erodes into the pond over time. Are you going to gravel in the shelves and bottom?

You are an animal if you set those stones solo...

 

[Knowdafish]

That is going to look awesome!

 

[Anubias]

The liner has not been trimmed yet and it does extend up behind the boulders. I will probably run 2 pumps, one is 5000 GPH, the other is 3500 GPH. The boulders have been set with a backhoe and 2 big guys. I just directed traffic, my days of moving rock are long gone (ruptured disc in neck). As far as chemicals go, I have a whole house carbon block filter for my fishroom, I'll use that to fill the pond.

 

[Zfishies]

Am scared to do that with boulders cause i dont want my turtle and crocdile skink to climb out =[

 

[Muske]

Skimmers for both pumps?

Does the water filter soften the water at all?

 

[Anubias]

There will be a skimmer for the large pump, not sure about the smaller pump yet. Why do I need a water softener?

 

[Muske]

Just asking if the filter did soften the water at all. If it does, i wouldn't fill the pond with that water, only top off. Koi and goldfish, if that is what your planning to stock, will have better color and health in harder water.