Weigh in on my project please

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hcker2000

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 3, 2012
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usa
Ok so I'm planing on building a raised pond in my yard. I specifically came to this forum due to the high number of very large plywood tanks. They really are quite amazing.

So I want to make my raised pond similar to how plywood tanks are made. So thats where you come in. The area I have picked out for the pond is 6 foot x 6 foot and I would like the pond to be 3 foot deep.

So here are my plans so far and you all tell me what you think about them.

6'x6'x3' outside mesurments.
No top or BOTTOM
Corners will be 4"x4"s sunk a couple feet into the ground.
Walls will be constructed of 2"x4"s (one at top and bottom of pond running horizontal then vertical studs every 14 inches or so.) - I might need to use another 4x4 at the bottoms?
Walls will be either screwed or bolted to the 4x4 posts at the corners.
Inside of pond will be 7/16" OSB.
Outside will be finished with ceder siding or some other nice looking materials.
 
Sorry forgot to mention the bottom will be dirt almost up to the bottom of the walls and then filled with pee gravel to help keep moisture away from the OSB.
Interior of the pond I plan on using a regular pond liner.
 
Sinking posts directly into the ground, they'll wick up water and eventually rot out. Lots of decks are built this way, and they are eventually junk. It's a "bush league" method used by most crappy contractors to cut cost and time.

The correct way to do this is to dig a hole deeper than the frost line (consult your local build code). Fill it with concrete. Then you get a post bracket, and attach it to your footer that you just poured. Then the post screws ontop of that. This raises the post off the ground and keeps it from wicking up moisture and rotting. It also allows the post to be replaced if it ever does rot, and doesn't leave you with a post stuck in the ground with concrete poured around it.

Once you have your first two posts up, lag your band joists into it to tie them together. I like to do this fairly quickly once my posts are up to keep the posts from twisting.
Note: posts will want to twist as they dry out. A well secured band joist will help keep them from twisting.

Good luck with the build. Sounds like fun.
 
Thanks for the info. I do agree that that is probably the best way to handle it. The only problem which i forgot to mention in my first post (will add after making this) is that I can not pour any concrete as I live in a trailer park. I have gotten the go ahead from them to add the pond.

I'm wondering now if it might be better to lay a bed of gravel and then use 4x4's for the post (not sunk into the ground) and use 4x4s for the bottom edges of the pond. Then the whole "box" could just sit on the gravel. Not sure that would be any better at preventing moisture or not. I do know the deck we have is a floating deck which sits on concrete post blocks. Perhaps there would be a way to use those?
 
For the dimensions it would seem that a kiddie pool or some other premade pond/pool would be the way to go. It would be cost effective and you'll be able to move it with you. And these things are free standing and simple to setup... you could be breeding malaria by next weekend.
 
Why not just get a 6 or 8 foot diameter stock tank, set it on the ground, and build a nice looking wood surrounding or just backfill with dirt and plant stuff around it?

It'd be easier and about the same price. Those poly stock tanks are cheap. Plus, you'd be able to take the stock tank with you if you ever move.
 
I'm not apposed to the stock tank idea. Primary reason for it being raised 3 foot is for my kids safety and other kids safety. Are there any stock tanks that tall?
 
Most stock tanks are 2 feet tall. But you could always build up a dirt pad or put the tank up on cinder blocks if you want it taller. The stock tanks are built pretty tough. They're made to have big animals (horses, cows, sheep, etc...) drinking out of them and bumping into them. So they should be a good fit for an outdoor pond. Unless you are keeping a fish that needs a deeper tank, this would be a pretty good, cheap, and robust solution.
 
Yea it looks like I can snag a 6 foot x 2 foot one for $250 and it sure would save a bunch of time. In reality it would need to be raised about a foot and a half as its going to sit at the edge of my deck which is about 6 inches tall from the ground. That I'm sure I could handle easy enough. Any idea if two foot is deep enough to prevent freeze threw in central ohio during the winter?
 
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