Joined
·
109 Posts
Any of knowledgable people have or have done an outdoor pond before? If so, how involved is it from start to finish? If you have fish, what do you do with them in the winter?
Outdoor Pond
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
You want to think through what you want from the pond if you plan on fish you want to make sure it is deep enough predators cannot get at them. Especially if you are in raccoon country.
Don't skimp on the base for the shape and use a double layer of flexible liner. Don't buy those stupid molded shaped things.
Other issue is what to do with the fish in the winter. One friend in Central Illinois has a gorgeous pond he keeps heated somewhat all year so his Koi do not freeze. Another has fewer fish and just plunks them in a household aquarium for the few critical winter months. Gets a little crowded but they do fine.
Obviously you need to plan the rest of the ecosystem and what plants in the water and near it to add. You might want to add some flowing water feature like a fountain or waterfall to keep it from gucking up too much from algae and stuff. Watch yard fertilizer and nitrogenized grass clippings getting into it.
If you are thinking of a much bigger pond see my post elsewhere and links about natural swimming pools. No chemicals, cleaner water than a pool as most of us no them and almost zilch maintenance.
Don't skimp on the base for the shape and use a double layer of flexible liner. Don't buy those stupid molded shaped things.
Other issue is what to do with the fish in the winter. One friend in Central Illinois has a gorgeous pond he keeps heated somewhat all year so his Koi do not freeze. Another has fewer fish and just plunks them in a household aquarium for the few critical winter months. Gets a little crowded but they do fine.
Obviously you need to plan the rest of the ecosystem and what plants in the water and near it to add. You might want to add some flowing water feature like a fountain or waterfall to keep it from gucking up too much from algae and stuff. Watch yard fertilizer and nitrogenized grass clippings getting into it.
If you are thinking of a much bigger pond see my post elsewhere and links about natural swimming pools. No chemicals, cleaner water than a pool as most of us no them and almost zilch maintenance.
If you need some help let me know. I don't build for a living, I just did mine because most don't know how to build a proper pond. Mine is a Koi only pond and it is a difficult build, if it's to be done right so you can enjoy it. The fish stay in the pond during winter the water only gets to the low 50*.
Old pond before I educated myself.
![]()
![]()
![]()
Filters
![]()
![]()
![]()
Old pond before I educated myself.
Filters
Joined
·
109 Posts
Wow, that's pretty much what I was looking at doing. How much did it cost if you don't mind me asking?
Joined
·
3,165 Posts
WOW - that's one hell of a pond. NICE work!!!!
No ponds for me. I could never keep my dogs out of it :laughing::laughing:
My parents have a MUCH smaller pond - they just leave the goldfish in all year - some of them die off in the winter, but nature takes it course and they make new ones in the spring. :thumbup:
Joined
·
109 Posts
Wow, what cost the most?
pond
Hi I dug a bathtub size pond in my back yard one year,,, and linned it with some rubber I got from lowes,, it is 3 ft deep and now its the size of 2 tubs,,, and as soon as I can in spring I get out there and drain it out hose it and refill it and put the filter in it and let it run for a day or so with some salt,,,and then put the fish out,,I have a bath tub size pool in my plant room and they are kept inside over the winter,, as our winters are to cold to keep them out ,,we have a lot of maple trees around here and we have to many dead leafs that would make the pond nasty in winter and I dont have a heater to float in the water to keep the water open for air either,,and they have to have air and water flowing all winter,,,:yes:
Hi I dug a bathtub size pond in my back yard one year,,, and linned it with some rubber I got from lowes,, it is 3 ft deep and now its the size of 2 tubs,,, and as soon as I can in spring I get out there and drain it out hose it and refill it and put the filter in it and let it run for a day or so with some salt,,,and then put the fish out,,I have a bath tub size pool in my plant room and they are kept inside over the winter,, as our winters are to cold to keep them out ,,we have a lot of maple trees around here and we have to many dead leafs that would make the pond nasty in winter and I dont have a heater to float in the water to keep the water open for air either,,and they have to have air and water flowing all winter,,,:yes:
Thanks It takes some time and planning but it's not too bad.
Joined
·
4 Posts
Fantastic!
Nice work on your pond- thanks for posting pictures. sdsester made a good point. I had a pond that I stocked with koi fish but I experienced the problem of predators feasting on them. It wasn't nice.
Nice work on your pond- thanks for posting pictures. sdsester made a good point. I had a pond that I stocked with koi fish but I experienced the problem of predators feasting on them. It wasn't nice.
That's one reason why I have vertical walls that go 5' down they can't stand in the water and the Sail shades prevent any blue heron from seeing them.
Joined
·
4 Posts
predators
JohninSC, that was smart. Looks and sounds like a thorough job!
JohninSC, that was smart. Looks and sounds like a thorough job!
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
