New Pond

dummy · Apr 22, 2002

Nice photo Harv. With the shadows it almost makes it look like you have your own island there. Must make it tough to go back to "city life".

Anonymous Poster · Apr 22, 2002

One site I found that has a lot of info on ponds is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.pondboss.com>http://www.pondboss.com</A>. If you visit the site, click on "Ask the Boss". I've been following the site for awhile and gleaned alot of good info. One point I will mention is that last week some butt head decided to show off his computer skills and wiped out a good portion of the message board. I'm not sure what info is available from previous posts but if there is something you have a question on, just jump in. Lot of good folks over there.

Russ

rlk · Apr 22, 2002

Dozernut, thanks for the advice. Is the collar you are recommending similar to the concrete collar shown in this link <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/fisheries/420-011/figure1.html>http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/fisheries/420-011/figure1.html</A>? I think that is what you are describing, but just want to make sure.

Thanks again for your advice. It is amazing how much helpful information this forum provides.

Dozernut · Apr 23, 2002

Yes, those are the collars. Concrete will work very well for this. If you do use metal, caulk heavy with silicone. As the diagram showed, use more than one collar. Don't know how big your pond is, but if it is a smaller pond, I don't believe you will need three of them. But overkill never hurt anything! Good luck!

Buck · Apr 23, 2002

Bill,

My pond is a lot smaller than yours -- it is only 50-60 ft. in diameter. Yet it consistently produces fish!

When I lived in Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin, it seemed that smaller ponds never had fish. I wish I knew what the difference was between where I live now (upstate NY) and the places I lived in the past, because the fishing is far better here than any other place I have lived.

Enclosed is a photo that I took last weekend of my son with his tenth fish of the hour.

Interestingly, my neighbor, last fall, dug an acre and a half pond and already small sunfish schools are swarming about! I am told that the birds bring the eggs on their wings.

Buck

Anonymous Poster · Apr 24, 2002

what if you have \'bad\' soil?

I live in Delaware and here we have a lot of sandy soil located about 24" below the surface (about 12" of good top soil). I would like to put in a pond (planning on renting a bobcat with a ripper blade-they move quickly and I can get a large bucket) about 60' x 50' (larger if possible). My neighbor has a pond in his backyard and its always full (we hit the water table at about 36"). My question is this: I would like a pond that is 'sort of' deep but not sure if my type of soil will support water retention. has anyone had experience with soil such as ours? I've read this thread and others on the net to famililarize myself with procedures to build a successful pond and know of the liner and kitty litter method (bi-carbonate something I believe?).

I 'suckered' my wife into letting me get a tractor to finish up yard work too-seriuosly though its a small ford 1520 w/ FEL and its great for small yard work (acre and a half). Its a 4wd and I installed 'bobcat' tires on the front (they were the same size) and the support is tremendious as compared to the original R4 tires (bobcat tires are 6 ply versus the original 4 ply tires).

Thank you for any help,

Paul

Soundguy · Apr 24, 2002

Re: what if you have \'bad\' soil?

Ponds are best built with a liner of some sort, whether rigid or flexible.

It is possible to 'build' a liner into place using bentonite clay mixed into the ground with a small roto tiller... You will find this very labor intensive. However the bentonite is very resistant to harsh chemicals.. but that is a feature that you probably wont need.

The last time I put in a bentonite liner, was as a water holding pond filled with water hiassins(sp?) at a primary water treatment plant in tavare, fl.

Let us know what you decide.

Soundguy

Alan L. · Apr 24, 2002

The problem I've seen with people digging/improving ponds around here is that it takes so long with the small equipment that it rains, fills it full of mud, and about the time it starts drying it rains again. You can never get your tractor back in there. A dozer could do it a lot faster, and give you a better chance of beating the weather.

Buck · Apr 24, 2002

Re: what if you have \'bad\' soil?

Iwantapondtoo,

No one around here uses liners. The soil is naturally clayish. Sandy soil is clearly the worst for holding water, but -- if your neighbor hit the water table at 36", you should too -- assuming land is flat, and he doesn't live too far away.

Now, the age old question of digging the pond with a BobCat or Compact comes up. To this, I promise you I will post a picture when I get a chance this weekend showing the vast amount of dirt you will be moving. My neighbor used two large excavators and the dirt is still there. Pictures are worth a thousand calculations!

Buck

rmorgan · Apr 24, 2002

Re: what if you have \'bad\' soil?

Wantapond--

Along the lines of Buck's post, here's our front yard in early May 2000, about a week into pond construction. In terms of being able to do this with the TC33D . . . not.