tomnky
Platinum Member
Very Scenic setting!
Looks Great Steve /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Looks Great Steve /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Ponds?
- Thread starter sparkkky
- Start date
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RobertN
Super Member
On a skid steer or all terrain loader maybe...
It all depends on what you want too. We built a smaller 24x17 pond in the front yard. It has a 16 shelf for planting, and then drops to about 4' at the deepest. It has a 4' high waterfall that cascades along a 17' "streambed".
Since it is small relative diameter, and deep, there is no way I could have gotten my Kubota and FEL in there to do much, especially since there was little room to manuever around it.
We used an excavator in conjunction with my Kubota and a Bobcat. Our excavator guy took less than 4 hours to dig the pond. He piled the dirt to one side, where I used the two other tractors to load and move the dirt.
If you are building a larger pond, in an area with room to manuever, you might be able to go in, rip the soil with your ripper/scraper, all the while pulling some dirt out with the scraper. Then go behind and scoop the dirt the scrpaer left, with the loader.
Remember, the FEL is a "loader". It is not a digger. Having used skid steers, all-terrain loader(skid steer hi-brid with tracks like CAT-247, ASV-RC30 or RC50) and compact tractors(I have a Kubota B8200 with FEL, T&T, scraper ect), I would do it with a all terrain loader first, Skid steer as second choice, and CUT third choice.
The All Terrain and Skid steer will out dig any CUT, and will out manuever them too. Of course, the machines I am mentioning are heavier and more HP than a CUT. It's not entirely fair to compare a 60hp 6000lb all terrain machine to a 20-30hp 2500lb CUT...
If you want it to have shelves, or steep banks, then and excavator or backhoe could do it.
It all depends on what you want too. We built a smaller 24x17 pond in the front yard. It has a 16 shelf for planting, and then drops to about 4' at the deepest. It has a 4' high waterfall that cascades along a 17' "streambed".
Since it is small relative diameter, and deep, there is no way I could have gotten my Kubota and FEL in there to do much, especially since there was little room to manuever around it.
We used an excavator in conjunction with my Kubota and a Bobcat. Our excavator guy took less than 4 hours to dig the pond. He piled the dirt to one side, where I used the two other tractors to load and move the dirt.
If you are building a larger pond, in an area with room to manuever, you might be able to go in, rip the soil with your ripper/scraper, all the while pulling some dirt out with the scraper. Then go behind and scoop the dirt the scrpaer left, with the loader.
Remember, the FEL is a "loader". It is not a digger. Having used skid steers, all-terrain loader(skid steer hi-brid with tracks like CAT-247, ASV-RC30 or RC50) and compact tractors(I have a Kubota B8200 with FEL, T&T, scraper ect), I would do it with a all terrain loader first, Skid steer as second choice, and CUT third choice.
The All Terrain and Skid steer will out dig any CUT, and will out manuever them too. Of course, the machines I am mentioning are heavier and more HP than a CUT. It's not entirely fair to compare a 60hp 6000lb all terrain machine to a 20-30hp 2500lb CUT...
If you want it to have shelves, or steep banks, then and excavator or backhoe could do it.
That looks really nice and I like the little island. When I enlarge my pond, I'm going to put an island or two or maybe even a peninsula at one end. I am not quit sure on how I want it configured or how deep I want to go. My existing pond is roughly three feet deep. G
jd2210va
Bronze Member
In keeping with your moto "the stupid question is one that isn't asked" I'll ask the following. What type of maintenance is required for a small pond? As a future project I would like to consider putting in a small pond but our lot is generally heavily wooded. I have cut down several trees in the back to open up the area a little and thought about possibly putting a small pond (20'x15') in that area. What are the considerations for putting in a pond?
PineRidge
Super Member
Maybe this will help you. Pond Construction: Some Practical Considerations click here
RobertN
Super Member
Look for books by Anthony Archer-Willis. He is a premier water feature designer. I recently saw one of his siminars. His work is amazing.
Check also Sunset Publishing. They have great garden and pond books.
The question is somewhat vague, as there is an amazing variety of ponds out there. Some are lined, some are not, some filter but others not. My pond is lined, and covered with rock and gravels. It has a waterfall with constant circulation through bio filters. Plants in the pond, and the surface area of the gravel/rock create a complete ecosystem. It also has a waterfall and 17' streammbed leading to it.
We used the basic setup from Aquascape. Our 24x17x4' pond, with waterfall and stream is large than most residential yard setups, so it was somewhat custom based on thier components and techniques.They are worth checking out...
www.aquascapedesigns.com
Check also Sunset Publishing. They have great garden and pond books.
The question is somewhat vague, as there is an amazing variety of ponds out there. Some are lined, some are not, some filter but others not. My pond is lined, and covered with rock and gravels. It has a waterfall with constant circulation through bio filters. Plants in the pond, and the surface area of the gravel/rock create a complete ecosystem. It also has a waterfall and 17' streammbed leading to it.
We used the basic setup from Aquascape. Our 24x17x4' pond, with waterfall and stream is large than most residential yard setups, so it was somewhat custom based on thier components and techniques.They are worth checking out...
www.aquascapedesigns.com
Ken_f
Member
It can be done... I have a B2410. This was all field grass so I ran a tiller over it to break up the top soil. Due to incorrect farming practices on my property over the past 80 years I have close to 2 feet of rich top soil on the lower parts of my property. I want to save this to spread over the dam and use it on other projects.
I dig appx. 3-4 feet at a time taking chunks with the FEL. I work a wall from a flat surface and continue along till its gone then start again. At no time do I think that I am over stressing the tractor. Sure, I could do it a great deal faster with a rented dozer but, I am having fun and doing it when I want to. One of my neighbors thinks I am constructing an underground parking garage. And yes... I have a toothbar !!!
I have spent appx. 14 hrs over 3 weekends in digging so far (two tanks of diesel) I have appx 21 acres and when the pond is done I will construct a number of diversion channels and I should have no problem in keeping water in it. If I can't then I have a small stream on a friendly neighbors property that I can put a pump in and keep water in it that way. I built
one last year that is already holding water and the overflow will feed into this lower one.
I have yet to measure the size but I would guess appx. 200 feet back side 125 in the front and 75 feet on the two short sides. I plan on making it 12 feet deep. Not sure of the design of the dam but being an engineer I will over design it.. (also got way too much dirt anyway) The over flow will be
via a 48ft x 2ft black poly pipe buried to drain it out of the backside near where the tractor is in the photo. Also, I will install a spillway over the front.
With the strange weather that we seem to have anymore I like to keep as much of the water that falls on my property, on my property recharging my well.
Also, I am amazed at what these little tractors can do !!
Photo 1 is from the house looking over the entire project
I dig appx. 3-4 feet at a time taking chunks with the FEL. I work a wall from a flat surface and continue along till its gone then start again. At no time do I think that I am over stressing the tractor. Sure, I could do it a great deal faster with a rented dozer but, I am having fun and doing it when I want to. One of my neighbors thinks I am constructing an underground parking garage. And yes... I have a toothbar !!!
I have spent appx. 14 hrs over 3 weekends in digging so far (two tanks of diesel) I have appx 21 acres and when the pond is done I will construct a number of diversion channels and I should have no problem in keeping water in it. If I can't then I have a small stream on a friendly neighbors property that I can put a pump in and keep water in it that way. I built
one last year that is already holding water and the overflow will feed into this lower one.
I have yet to measure the size but I would guess appx. 200 feet back side 125 in the front and 75 feet on the two short sides. I plan on making it 12 feet deep. Not sure of the design of the dam but being an engineer I will over design it.. (also got way too much dirt anyway) The over flow will be
via a 48ft x 2ft black poly pipe buried to drain it out of the backside near where the tractor is in the photo. Also, I will install a spillway over the front.
With the strange weather that we seem to have anymore I like to keep as much of the water that falls on my property, on my property recharging my well.
Also, I am amazed at what these little tractors can do !!
Photo 1 is from the house looking over the entire project
