Pond/Spring Rehabilitation

[Airic]

Started a dry stack retaining wall around the edge of the pond this week end. Set large concrete slabs down for the footer and backfilled with #9 river stone. Wall will set about 24" high. Hope it holds. Only time will tell.

 

[Airic]

All done for now on the wall till I get more stone. Next is the spillway then the waterfall and bio filter.

 

[nolefan]

Great job. I like the stacked stone look and the whole area is just beautiful. You should be proud.

 

[pat32rf]

Love the colour of that water! I would do some research on possible ways to control your PH. Pond Boss Magazine Home Page! might have some suggestions as a neutral PH will open a whole world of wildlife/fish possibilities.

 

[Airic]

Thanks for the kind comments guys. Been researching a lot on ponds, PondBoss being one, along with some Koi pond research and bio filtering to develop the best water environment possible. Been testing PH levels for both fish and plants and have had a steady PH level of 8, which is good. Attached is my plan for a mechanical Bio Filter which will control the nitrogen levels and make the pond water clearer and a water fall for the oxygenating. I will also be creating a stream with lots of plants for natural bio filtration as well. All will be done with two pumps for a total of 10,000 GPH. I'm making progress but, this is a multiyear project that is being done in phases. Goal for this year is to get the mechanical bio filter and falls done.

 

[NubsNob]

Nice looking project! I notice on your site plan, you indicated in the pond pumps. I think you may want to go with out of the pond pumps for many reasons. For the volume of water you will be moving for the stream, waterfalls, and the length of your run to the bio filter requires a pump with a lot of capacity involving lift/Gal per hr. Out of the pond pumps are utilized on commercial size ponds, because of their capacity, longevity/repairable, cost to run/check the amp ratings. For your liner needs, I would recommend www.btliners.com. If you plan on doing Koi, for over wintering, you should have an area of the pond that has a depth of at least 4 foot. If you can go deeper, say 6 foot all the better. Don't know what your winters are like! I have a 6 foot area and have not lost a Koi due to northern Michigan winters. If you want to pick my brain for info, advise.

 

[Charlton John]

Nice looking project! I notice on your site plan, you indicated in the pond pumps. I think you may want to go with out of the pond pumps for many reasons. For the volume of water you will be moving for the stream, waterfalls, and the length of your run to the bio filter requires a pump with a lot of capacity involving lift/Gal per hr. Out of the pond pumps are utilized on commercial size ponds, because of their capacity, longevity/repairable, cost to run/check the amp ratings. For your liner needs, I would recommend www.btliners.com. If you plan on doing Koi, for over wintering, you should have an area of the pond that has a depth of at least 4 foot. If you can go deeper, say 6 foot all the better. Don't know what your winters are like! I have a 6 foot area and have not lost a Koi due to northern Michigan winters. If you want to pick my brain for info, advise.

Very nice looking project Airic. I personally would love to pick your brain or anyone elses w/ more knowledge on ponds than I have, which is none. I too want a pond about 25x25 w/ a waterfall and stream as well. Can this be achieved with out a pump to move the water through? Thanks for sharing.

 

[Airic]

Thanks NubsNob. I've been researching some on pumps and still trying to decide on what is best. I've looked up some external pumps but, price seems to go up with these as well so, I was keeping my options open. You sound very knowledgeable on this subject so, I may buck up the additional expense for externals. Got any good recommendations? The pump at the not yet constructed lower pond will be a 7500GPH pump to compensate for the distance and lift. I won't be installing any pipe until I have a better idea on what pumps I'll be getting. If I can I will be running the uper pond pump 24/7 but the lower pond pump will be on a timer and run enough to keep the creak plants going for addition filtration if needed but, really not sure yet.

For liner, I got a bunch of 45 mil from an nursery auction about a year ago. The waterfall and creek will have rubber liner and possibly the lower pond too. The top pond will not have rubber liner as a spring is within the pond so my plan is to install Geo Fabric with river stone over it to minimize stirring up mud while water is circulating.

As for Koi, the pond is 7' deep on one end. Got four Koi earlier in the year which are growing like mad. Heard they can grow 3/4" a month and mine appear to be doing just that. If you can keep them alive in upper Michigan I should be just fine here in Indiana, I hope.

Going to a Koi Pond Expo show in two weeks to learn myself some more but, most definitely be picking your mind as an additional resource.

Charlton John,
Unless you have a sustainable source of water from an upper elevation you will need a pump to recirculate. I did look at wind mills to use as a pump but, it just got a bit too complex for me and was not enough for my needs. As Pat32rf stated, read through the forum on Pond Boss. This will give you a good idea of the type of conditions and area needed to create a good pond along with different types. Other things to think about is what you want in your pond. For me, I wanted a water garden and lots of Koi which creates a different set of criteria from other type ponds. As an example, I want the water as clear as possible to see the fish and water plants. Most people will say you want to direct run off to your pond to keep it full but, for me it is the opposite. I want no run off. My pond is feed off of a spring that keeps it full. Run off would only make it murky and susceptible to contaminates. Post some pictures and there are enough people on this forum with pond experience that will give you some excellent recommendations and ideas on how to construct.

 

[Charlton John]

Charlton John,
Unless you have a sustainable source of water from an upper elevation you will need a pump to recirculate. I did look at wind mills to use as a pump but, it just got a bit too complex for me and was not enough for my needs. As Pat32rf stated, read through the forum on Pond Boss. This will give you a good idea of the type of conditions and area needed to create a good pond along with different types. Other things to think about is what you want in your pond. For me, I wanted a water garden and lots of Koi which creates a different set of criteria from other type ponds. As an example, I want the water as clear as possible to see the fish and water plants. Most people will say you want to direct run off to your pond to keep it full but, for me it is the opposite. I want no run off. My pond is feed off of a spring that keeps it full. Run off would only make it murky and susceptible to contaminates. Post some pictures and there are enough people on this forum with pond experience that will give you some excellent recommendations and ideas on how to construct.

Thanks a lot Airic, I too am going for the look you are. I want water to be as clear as possible and to be more of a water garden affect as well. I would also like to do some Koi and plants so sounds like our plans are very similiar. I dont have the luxery of a spring and I too am not crazy about having run off either so this is why I wasnt sure if this was going to be feasable for me. But based on some of these discussions it sounds as if it would be. I will check the forumn mentioned and will take some pics of the area over the weekend and submit for everyones feedback (of course including yours) Thanks again!

 

[Airic]

Here is my weekend pond story. My neighbor let me take up all of his big rocks in his lawn so, I've been collecting a bunch and putting in my pond. Some of these are quite large (800lbs est.). There was this one particular rock that he said if I can get it, I can have it. I see this as sort of a challenge and it's a really nice salt and pepper granite rock. I'm estimating it weighs somewhere between 3,500-4000lbs, its really big. After about and hour of digging and tugging I do manage to get it out with my backhoe. Love my little tractor.

Now time to move it. Tractor won't budge it no matter what I do. Get the truck and try to pull in forward, nope. Try to pull in reverse, nope. Get my friend over with his full size Chevy and he pulls with the truck and I push with the tractor. This worked but, with frequent stops to place conduit under the rock to roll on. 1 hour and 1,000 ft and we are to the pond. Need to find an old car hood for these type of pulls.

Placing the rock. I wanted to dig a pocket for the rock and my friend did not think it would be necessary. I went with his thought and we proceeded to work it into place with my backhoe and the conduit. We had the flat top level and in position perfectly. Pulled away with the backhoe and sat and admired for about 1 minute and then it happened. The whole thing went down like the titanic. It started off real slow, we both sat and watched, look at each other, then it took off for the depths of the pond. Created such a big wave the water went over the dam on the back side.

Well, after a bit of work I got it back out of the pond and resting in its place, still chained up of course.

 

[NubsNob]

AIRIC: Make a bed of rocks ( bushel basket size) where you want the bolder to rest and using your skids position it resting on this bed. When making the bed, position the larger rocks away from your shore line.

 

[Airic]

Thanks NubsNob but, this rock is not moving anymore. It is sitting on a good clay shelf now and shouldn't be running away anytime soon. Still looking at pumps and have got it down to Seq. or an Artesian. There are a few out there that are better price but, these seem to be pretty efficient pumps. Thanks for your recommendations on this.

I did start the waterfall and it's a work in progress but, will post some photos soon anyway. In all, there will be a 50' creak that feeds to a 7' waterfall. Based upon my calculations of a 15' head, 100' of 3" pipe I will have a total head of 30'. This is a lot bigger than I expected but, still works out based upon my stream and waterfall dimension of 26"-28".

 

[Airic]

Attached is my waterfall build progress. This is the time I wish I had a thumb on my BH for setting rocks but, chains and straps work pretty well.

 

[Airic]

Thought I would give an update on my pond progress. Ended up diggin more out of the shallow side of the pond after seeing its low point in the summer. Didn't like seeing to bottom on the shallow side so I pulled the big rocks in the water out and dug it 3'-4' deeper which now make the entire pond around 7' deep and around 60,000 gallons. Had put about 20 feeder goldfish in this last spring and ended up pulling them all out due to their population explosion of about 300. The origonals grew to about 6"-8". All have been relocated to a new home. The four Koi I had put in around the same time are still in. They started at 4" and are all around 12" now and I'm about to add 20 more to the mix. Been collecting lots and lots of rock and setting them around the pond and hope to start the softscape next spring.

Attached are some progress photos. Still a ways to go but, its starting to come together.

 

[Airic]

36 koi added to the pond as of yesterday. These were purchased for cheap and are all 9"-12".

 

[FortClatsop]

I have pond envy. Thanks for the update.

 

[Airic]

Still a work in progress but, it is some progress. Hoping to get the waterfall and poor for the patio/fire pit.

 

[Timber]

Nice looking pond, I cant wait to see the waterfall completed

 

[Dog Lover]

Real Nice JOB. I really like the stone walkway on the one side. Should be great when you are all done!

 

[JohninCT]

Still a work in progress but, it is some progress. Hoping to get the waterfall and poor for the patio/fire pit.

Wow! You've come a long way since that first picture was taken. Great job. The pond and surronding area look beautiful.