How not to build a small pond

Galen Hekhuis · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 41

I imagine there are a thousand ways to screw up building a pond, so
don't take this as encyclopedic, I've only stumbled on a few.

Dig the notch for the skimmer way too low when you first dig the pond.
It is critical that this be done if you are going to mount the skimmer
and bond it to the liner later. Too low, of course.

Make your pond full of sharp angles and difficult to line areas.

Don't worry about wrinkles in your pond liner as the Magic Pond Fairy
will be along to straighten things out.

Actually place the skimmer (and hence, the water level) too low in
your pond. This will help expose more of the wrinkled liner to help
the Magic Pond Fairy who hasn't shown up yet.

Get too big a pump for the pond. You'll thrill to the sight of the
water absolutely gushing into your skimmer. You'll gasp at the
geyser-like output.

Make sure at least one side of your pond is lined with bricks (in my
case, cinderblocks) that look like they are about to tumble into the
pond. Not only will it provide that old, worn look, it will also
provide many hours of entertainment as to what to do should they
actually tumble into the pond. (To be honest, my cinderblocks will
probably never fall into the pond. To do so, they would have to make
it over a huge wrinkle in the liner, which the Magic Pond Fairy still
hasn't fixed.)

I did get two things right. The overflow pipe for the pond is exactly
the right height for the skimmer, which would be ideal, except the
skimmer is too low. OK, maybe I only got one thing right. But at
least the skimmer (though low) is perfectly level. Water doesn't rush
into it any faster on the right than it does on the left. You can
balance a dime on its cover.

Anyway, they say you learn from your mistakes. I have sure learned a
lot digging this pond. One thing is not to count on that Magic Pond
Fairy.
Galen Hekhuis ghekhuis@earthlink.net
.

Archived from group: rec>ponds>moderated

Phyllis and Jim · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 161

Galen,

You are wonderful in your ironic/sardonic. The Pond Fairy OWES you a
visit.

Jim

Bill Stock · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 217

"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message @4ax.com...
>I imagine there are a thousand ways to screw up building a pond, so
> don't take this as encyclopedic, I've only stumbled on a few.
>
> Dig the notch for the skimmer way too low when you first dig the pond.
> It is critical that this be done if you are going to mount the skimmer
> and bond it to the liner later. Too low, of course.

LOL, I haven't actually installed mine yet. I just have to slit the liner in
the Spring, put the nut on the Bulhead and attach the floating skimmer. I
can't tell you how many times I measured the skimmer, the depth of the
bulkhead, etc. Although since it's a floating skimmer, I've got some room
for screw ups.

> Make your pond full of sharp angles and difficult to line areas.

Pretty hard not to with a small deep pond.

> Don't worry about wrinkles in your pond liner as the Magic Pond Fairy
> will be along to straighten things out.

You mean they won't be gone in the Spring? I was hoping the Pond Fairies
would do their magic under the snow. :O
I think I'll have the liner tape out in the Spring.

> Actually place the skimmer (and hence, the water level) too low in
> your pond. This will help expose more of the wrinkled liner to help
> the Magic Pond Fairy who hasn't shown up yet.

Yet to be determined.

> Get too big a pump for the pond. You'll thrill to the sight of the
> water absolutely gushing into your skimmer. You'll gasp at the
> geyser-like output.

You can never have too big a pump! Smile

> Make sure at least one side of your pond is lined with bricks (in my
> case, cinderblocks) that look like they are about to tumble into the
> pond. Not only will it provide that old, worn look, it will also
> provide many hours of entertainment as to what to do should they
> actually tumble into the pond. (To be honest, my cinderblocks will
> probably never fall into the pond. To do so, they would have to make
> it over a huge wrinkle in the liner, which the Magic Pond Fairy still
> hasn't fixed.)

No cinderblocks, but two rows of overlapping pavers to hold the liner at the
top. This turned out very well for the original pond, but they look a little
wobbly in the reno.

> I di get two things right. The overflow pipe for the pond is exactly
> the right height for the skimmer, which would be ideal, except the
> skimmer is too low. OK, maybe I only got one thing right. But at
> least the skimmer (though low) is perfectly level. Water doesn't rush
> into it any faster on the right than it does on the left. You can
> balance a dime on its cover.

Haven't put the overflow in yet, I'm hoping it's the right height for the
filter since I really can't move the filter too much. (Basement filter room)

> Anyway, they say you learn from your mistakes. I have sure learned a
> lot digging this pond. One thing is not to count on that Magic Pond
> Fairy.

I'll either be a genius or a Dumkoff in the Spring when I attach the bottom
drain and pipes tunneled under the sidewalk and hope there are no leaks. It
really would have been much less work to dig up the sidewalk than to tunnel
12' under the sidewalk. Especially if I'd paid someone to do it. Smile

> Galen Hekhuis ghekhuis@earthlink.net
> .
>

Reel McKoi · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 385

"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message @4ax.com...
>I imagine there are a thousand ways to screw up building a pond, so
> don't take this as encyclopedic, I've only stumbled on a few.
>

Have you been seriously affected by the drought down south? Have you
received much rain? I remember you mentioning your pond being real low.
--

RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ } ~~~ }

Galen Hekhuis · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 41

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:27:13 CST, "Reel McKoi"
wrote:

>
>"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
>@4ax.com...
>>I imagine there are a thousand ways to screw up building a pond, so
>> don't take this as encyclopedic, I've only stumbled on a few.
>>
>
>
>Have you been seriously affected by the drought down south? Have you
>received much rain? I remember you mentioning your pond being real low.

We have been affected by the drought. The pond by my house, which
normally has 4-5 feet of water, has been down to only inches of water.
That is largely why I dug the small water garden, it seemed to me that
there ought to be something with more than a few inches of water.

Phyllis and Jim · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 161

I am sorry that the drought has stayed with you.

The rain has returned to MS. We got 3" yesterday! My not-so-small
(acre) pond is now full...for the first time! Yesterday, in the
pouring rain, I put grass carp and 150 red ears into the pond. Last
year's sunfish have gone from 2" to 6". The bass the same. It is now
fully stocked with four species in what the dfw says is a stable mix.
We shall see.

Jim