Building a pond, the basics

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Building a pond, the basics
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Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 7:58 am Post subject: Building a pond, the basics

As part of Project:Deck Herefordshire, it has been decreed that I remove our existing, flawed pond, and replace it. I have a minidigger on hire, so it won't be too much of an effort.

Is there more to it than digging a hole, lining it with sand, and putting in a pond liner? Keeping edges level, and trapping the excess liner under big stones?

Do I need underlay?

The filtration and pumping I'm fine with, but the construction is new to me.

Choice of liner? Any glaring rules?

Someone here will be an expert...

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 8:13 am Post subject:
Round here we dig a hole and wait for rain

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 8:23 am Post subject:
Absolutely essential you line the hole to make it water tight. Order 2 tonnes of quick lime and mix with water (you need a to do carefully in small batches). Fill hole with resulting slaked lime, cover, leave for 6 months, then call me to collect. A pond will form later.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 8:30 am Post subject:
How much will I have to pay you to take it away?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46246
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 8:37 am Post subject:

im not an expert but from observing other folks ponds those with a good ,thick,flexible liner seem to be maintenance free.using soft sand to blind the scrape and being careful to avoid any creases/folds extends the life of the liner.

use water to stretch the liner before making the edges

small ponds are best with a ridged liner big ones with sheet

if there is a deep part (a metre or more) for fish to use as a refuge in icy weather it helps them survive

if there is a gentle slope at at least some of the edge tiggy and froglets etc can easily exit the water

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 8:39 am Post subject:
Nothing, if you donate a weeks worth of labour at a time to suit us. Transport and accommodation not included.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46246
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 8:45 am Post subject:
ps chainlink fencing wire or similar is the only certain heron proofing if you want posh fish.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 8:56 am Post subject: Re: Building a pond, the basics

Nick wrote:

Is there more to it than digging a hole, lining it with sand, and putting in a pond liner? Keeping edges level, and trapping the excess liner under big stones?

That's how we've always done it. The tricky bit is getting the waterfall right (I don't like the ones that sound like someone weeing in a pond. A gurgling stream is more difficult to achieve)

You can line the edges with turf, if you prefer. And some shallow areas are nice if you want to put plants in baskets. We had a chunk of drainpipe for the fishes to hide in, and never lost any to herons that I know of.

It's years since I had a pond. I'm quite envious.

BahamaMama

Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 2315
Location: Away with the fairies

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 9:03 am Post subject:

So, mistakes I have made....

Dig hole, line with sand, line with fleecy soft stuff, line with pond liner, avoiding all sharp stones, sticks etc.
Make sure pond is not on a slope
Make sure pond is not under a tree
Minimise folds and creases in the liner where possible, capilliary action empties the pond quickly
Pond edges and margins need to be much wider than you think if you want pond planting
The pond needs a sensible depth over a reasonable space, as said before if you want fish and wildlife
Consider where the pump and filter are located, both for aesthetics and ease of access for regular cleaning and maintenance

Our pond is one of my favourite things in our garden but if I were doing it again I would do it differently :-/

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46246
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 9:04 am Post subject:
i have been told of heron losses in a variety of places but they do seem to get mentioned re koi rather than re frogs etc so it might more of a problem the more expensive the livestock

BahamaMama

Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 2315
Location: Away with the fairies

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 9:04 am Post subject:

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 9:20 am Post subject:
Location is set, but size is flexible. I'm thinking as large as I can. Probably get in trouble if I minidigger the geranium collection, tho. Do we know what flavour membrane is better? I suspect PVC is rubbish, and butyl is the best, but I'm seeing lots of EDPM suggestions.

BahamaMama

Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 2315
Location: Away with the fairies

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 9:24 am Post subject:

Nick wrote:

Location is set, but size is flexible. I'm thinking as large as I can. Probably get in trouble if I minidigger the geranium collection, tho.

Do we know what flavour membrane is better? I suspect PVC is rubbish, and butyl is the best, but I'm seeing lots of EDPM suggestions.

Ours is butyl and has been in for almost 10 years with no problems. It is expensive but has been trouble-free. I don't know anything about EDPM.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 9:46 am Post subject:
If you find a supplier of butyl or EDPM would you let me know? I need some liner for my lime pit.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 15 10:17 am Post subject:
https://www.pondlinersonline.co.uk/pond-calculator SiL used these after some research, and says they're good. Promise to be cheaper than anyone else. Trawling around suggests they're keenly priced.

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