Outdoor pond - Page 3

Posted by RicodJour on October 3, 2009, 8:22 am

> Have any of you ever built an outdoor pond? I'm curious whether I
> really need to use 45 mil pond liner, or can I save $$$ and go with 20
> mil for about 30% less?
> I'm in NC, if it matters.

The first tear in the liner will make you regret "saving" the, what?
$60?

R

Posted by aemeijers on October 3, 2009, 9:22 am

Jason Carlton wrote:

> Have any of you ever built an outdoor pond? I'm curious whether I
> really need to use 45 mil pond liner, or can I save $$$ and go with 20
> mil for about 30% less?
>
> I'm in NC, if it matters.

What, you don't like indoor ponds any more?
:^/
--
aem sends...

Posted by Tom Horne on October 3, 2009, 11:44 am

If your pond will hold one thousand gallons or more and you do not
have fire hydrants within one thousand all weather road feet of your
home you may want to consider providing a drafting hydrant for use by
the fire department in protecting your home. Installed at the same
time as the pond the additional cost are quite low. Some insurers
will give you a break on your homeowners insurance if you provide
water for fire protection. FWIW.

--
Tom Horne

Posted by Don Phillipson on October 3, 2009, 2:19 pm

> Have any of you ever built an outdoor pond? I'm curious whether I
> really need to use 45 mil pond liner, or can I save $$$ and go with 20
> mil for about 30% less?

State Agricultural Extension departments usually provide
detailed instructions how to d.i.y. (These are usually designed
for farmers, working alone but with machinery, e.g. backhoes
or bulldozers.)

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Posted by windcrest on October 3, 2009, 3:24 pm

I built an outdoor pond, and never will do it again. Mine was only 4
feet deep, all the fish froze to death over the winter (Chicago) (it
should have been minimum 6 feet deep). I also regret not installing a
bottom drain return for the bio filter, as that would have kept the
bottom clean. If I did go 6 feet I would have had too much ground
water pushing the liner back up. Also if it is not on perfectly level
ground you'll get runoff into the pond and liner lift out, mine was on
a very slight slope which was problematic. All in all I learned a
lot, it was hard work and cost a lot of money to build. After built
it was a constant source of maintenance work and little jabs from the
wife worrying about a neighbor kid falling into it. Both of these
were not worth it. But it did look pretty with the lilypads and fake
koi (colored goldfish that look like koi but are 1/16th the price).

I would never have another pond in suburbia, maybe on a farm if I
could do it naturally by tapping a spring or artesian well and use a
clay bottom.

After 2 years I pulled the liner and filled it with black dirt, now
its a vegetable garden and I have bought myself back many months of
living doing other things I enjoy more.

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