My Pond

[Rodders]

I never took any photos of the progress and only just taken some of the finished thing. I dug a footing and payed concrete in that, 4m x 2m and the little end part. I dug down 1.5 metres on one half and left the other half at ground level. I then built up the wall 60cm (2ft). This gives around 2 metres in the deepest part and a shallow 60cm (2ft) end. I put the liner in and filled, then built up the waterfall end. This has a liner and about 1 foot of water depth for plants. Thers a stainless steel waterfall glued in. The bricks are finished off with a stone capping. Took around 1100 bricks and over 1 tonne of sand, which I stupidly mixed by hand, lol. Never laid a brick before in my life, so think I've done not too bad a job.
The white on the brick, so I understand, is salt that has come out of the water in the concrete mix. I've seen it on houses and walls etc... and comes off with time.

Its about 3 months old now, well had water in it for 3 months. I need a bit of decking at the end just to finish the gardens off.
I have 5 koi in there and some goldfish, ghost carp and shubunkins.
The filter system is capable for 30,000ltr pond, mines about 10,000ltrs, so plenty of capacity. UV's built in. 9000ltr p/h pump feeding the filters.

Decking required at this end

My lily

Plant end with water fall

One of my five Kois

More of them

And more

More

Final shot of my Koi

Filter system.

 

[WeeMan147]

Wow! Very impressive, I have often dreamed of doing something like that.

~WeeMan~

 

[Rodders]

Thanks for the comment.

I'd wanted one for ages too and one sunday afternoon I was bored so just started to dig!! lol. Half way through I wished I hadnt, but now its finished, im glad I did.

 

[fergalthefish]

looks great! gotta love that cat lol

 

[dortiz24]

wow, great pics! Your pond is lovely! That's a cute pic with the cat. lol You did a great job on your pond!

 

[Amunet]

Wow, that is really awesome! You did a great job with that. I hope I can have something like that one day

 

[paul_219]

Thats a gr8 looking pond. Nice setup.

 

[kribensis12]

VERY NICE!

 

[simonas]

That looks fab

My skip is coming tomorrow for me to dig my whole garden up and flag however I want a pond in the corner just like yours but slightly smaller scale probably 8ft by 3-4ft wide and built up just like yours. Can you give me any tips as I've never done this kind of thing before. when you dug down did you brick all round or just brick above level and did you use a liner and if so what one etc?? thanks Simon

 

[ColdGold]

Brilliant pond !!!

We are hoping to do something like that. How long did it take you to build?

 

[simonas]

just noticed text at top gives commentary but could you give me more info pretty please as thats just what I want in the small garden i have!!!

 

[Waterbox]

Very cool man, and I like that bonsai

 

[invader]

Really nice and clean looking!

 

[Rodders]

Very cool man, and I like that bonsai

I have about 12 more on the other side of the garden!


With regards to building.

It took me over all a few months. Weather and money kinda held me back for a while.

The footing is only just below ground level, so its hiden. Its about 8-9 inches thick and I used a company that delivers premixed concrete, I needed about 1m cube of the stuff, I think thats almost 2 ton. They just load it into wheel barrows for you and you pour in. I really recommended it!!! If any of you are in the UK they are called, MIX A MATE. Cost approx £175

I dug my hole after the footing was layed. Skip £180

I built a double wall as I did not want a single wall with peers half way down, these are kinda brick posts you build in to give strength. Obviously this would not look nice, well to me, and make it awkward to liner the pond. But it does take twice as many bricks and twice the time for a double wall but worth it. I used a few ties along the way to hold the two rows of bricks together. I did not want to lay them opposed, change 90 degrees each level, as I did not like the finished look. Cost for bricks £550, sand and cement was around £100.

Once I had built up to approx 2 foot, I think that was 9 courses. I carpeted then fleeced the hole, there was a few stones etc.. I only fleeced the walls as these were pretty smooth. I then linered the pond. Fleece and liner was around £400

I then filled the pond, 2 days later. Glad I dont have a water meter, lol.

I then trimmed the liner after a few days so it lined up with the middle of the two rows. I left it a few days to settle, incase the water pushed the ground down a little or something.

I then built up the back end of the pond, 2 courses, for the water fall and plants. I filled up a little so that when I lined it, I had about 1 foot of water depth.

I then capped all around with stone, cost about £100 for them. I cemented to the half liner I left trimmed and then the row of bricks exposed from trimming.

Then I glued in the stainless water fall with black pond sealent. A friend made this for me, so no cost
But that silicone sealent is quite expensive.

Installed the filter system, that all cost around £400

Air pump was around £100, but come with all pipes, air stones etc...

The water proof switch box cost about £40

I think it took around 2 months (ish) to finish. The first course of bricks, as I had never done it before, took all weekend, lol. But after a while I was getting 2 courses done a day. I recon i spent a good 7-10 days laying bricks. A professional could have done it in 1-2 days, but cost £££££££££££ Plus now I get the satisfaction of "I built that"

And now I wish I took progress pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

 

[Genesis]

Great pond!