Pond Renovation/Remake

[jwstewar]

Looking good Danny. I had somehow missed this original post, but I found it last night and looked at it this morning. I remember you and I had the same pond set from Wal-Mart. Looked good, but like you said couldn't keep it in the ground. We finally gave up last year and did basically what you did. Except we moved locations and took it from beside the house and made it an attraction in the wifes flower garden. Ours ended up being about 8X13. Ended up kind of squarish, but looks good done the less. We've redone our water falls 3 or 4 times to get a look we like and not have too much of a fall that causes the water to splash out - Guess I can't forget the leak we had too that required removal of the rocks and replacement.

I need to post some updated pictures of ours, but our current setup is a submersible pump with 2 outlets producing a total of 4300 GPH. One feeds the external filter (purchased), the other feeds a UV Sterilizer in turn feeding the waterfall. One problem we are having is floating debris & floating algae the submersible won't pick up. Monica joined a pond forum and did some research (sound familiar? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) and ordered a Salvio skimmer system from a guy on the Internet that everybody on that forum recommened. Should be here later this week. She even met a later on their that gave her 3 different types of plants including a garbage back full of Water Hyacinths and 5 fish. Can't remember what the fish are, but they are Koi or normal gold fish - begins with an S. We still need to get a water heater to keep some surface are open for the little fisheys this winter.

BTW, we have one of those residents too. We drained it earlier this year for cleaning. Made the frog mad. He left for a little while, but once it was refilled and operating he came back. I like him there, but my wife hates him - she is afraid he'll touch her. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[DannyD]

FINALLY have a waterfalls, cascade or creek, whatever you want to call it.

We had this in last week, I started the pump and found out where the leaks were. Seems that we had one side to high, and one side way to low. Back to the drawing board. More mortar and some rocks to disguise it. We bought 800 pounds of small to medium sized smooth stones. Beats the heck out of bagged at 6.25 for the whole 800 pounds. Worked great to hide the mortar and we used some of the ideas from Harv on havind some "decor" in the mortar.

 

[DannyD]

Another view of the whatever

 

[DannyD]

We have a few frogs also, along with the 4 fish. The filter from the old pond is doing well in keeping it clean and clear. Tonite I found out that I will have to put the pipe on the pump a little better. Went out to check on it, and found the pump blowing water up and making a mess of the water.

 

[DannyD]

Well another weekend has past and I find myself uploading pics of the pond progress again. We got some more rocks from our neighbor who's pond I also dug. She has decided on a different avenue around the pond, so yeah I could use them. We changed how we started the "falls" area, stacking rocks now instead of laying them down. The wifey was even happy with what I had done.

 

[DannyD]

Another of some rocks we had. This wholly thing is one of Holly's favorites.

 

[DannyD]

And one of our residents. Apparently they are learning that noise coming from the ground could mean FOOD, they now tend to come up and greet us.

 

[DannyD]

And then a trip to Texas Roadhouse, then back to check how clear the pond is. The filter pump had broken an axle apparently, so it was not running. The falls is a bio filter sort of, but the bottom filter keeps this thing really clear. Another 40.00 and I am good to go.

 

[EddieWalker]

Danny,

Thanks for the update. The falls and pond looks great.

Isn't it funny how you look at rocks differently now?

Eddie

 

[DannyD]

Alright, done for the year anyway. Got lots of more rocks in and moved into their permanent home. We have close to 4 tons of rocks involved so far. Still under 2K $ in it. Had to get it done this weekend, family festival next weekend at our home.

Photo 1 of a few.

 

[DannyD]

The rocks around the pond came from a guy in Indiana, Jeffersonville. He sells these out of his back and side yard. Priced right and we get to pick from the pile. He has creek stones and field stones. 6 cents a pound, or a sport trac full is 60.00.

 

[DannyD]

We had to build up some in front with the liner to get the depth we needed, after that it was put in the stones. After the edges were all in, we decided to build a "wall" on the back of the pond. The beautiful Mrs. Holly was in charge of that.

 

[DannyD]

All good work needs a place to sit. Here we have a seat of the pants, fly by the nite, done as we talked and decided how bench. NO MORTAR, it is just sitting there. The top rock weighs in at about 200 pounds, and under close to 600 total. It actually sits well.

 

[DannyD]

I would be in trouble big time if I did not put this one here. My lovely wife painted this free hand, at 3 am Friday morning. Our daughter as some know past away 7 years ago. This weekend would be her 21st and this is special to us.

 

[DannyD]

Here is how it looks from a distance.

 

[DannyD]

OK, one more. Reflection from the water.....

 

[Cliff_Johns]

What a sweet, serene setting. Just the place to ponder things while drinking a fall cup of hot chocolate.

Cliff

 

[ronjhall]

Great looking pond. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Keep posting pictures.

 

[EddieWalker]

Danny,

I'm truly sorry for your loss. The pond is a beautiful tribute to her memory. You've done a very nice job on it, which shows in the results. Thank you for sharing the process you went through, from decideing what to do, along with the progress from those decisions to the finished result. You do good work!!!

Eddie