The new pond for my trees.

Underdog

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Maybe not the proper place to put this but it is the purpose of my new pond. Wanted to share as I know many of you have backyard ponds. @herzausstahl pointed me to a good pond forum which I've learned from.

Obviously not finished yet but getting excited as I got my new pump installed Sunday. Lots more to do yet. Need to get back in the water to work on the falls and pump/filter placement, hide the hose ect.. Bout got hypothermia Sunday. LOL

Basic plan is to have trees on stone, Larger ones to be added soon. and a mulched area with a path around the pond to water and fuss over them.

I'm researching making the upper pond a bottom fed filter. 4200 GPH Little Giant pump moves way more water than I expected.

My one goldfish will get lose in here. Still in the aquarium for the last winter and gonna have to get tuff next winter. About 2.5 feet deep so he should make it. If not I'm out 79 cents! He's almost sandwich size now.IMG_20170402_132749913.jpg
 

Underdog

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Last years setup and a couple build pics.
Love to hear any thoughts as long as it isn't something I should have done but can't now because it's too late. LOL
 

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Bonsai Nut

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Love to hear any thoughts as long as it isn't something I should have done but can't now because it's too late. LOL

No - you'll do that yourself :) First pond is always the one you learn from, and then the second one you'll want to be:
(1) Bigger
(2) Deeper
(3) Better filtration
(4) Better landscaping
(5) Better seating / viewing area

That's a given :) The only thing I will say before you start dropping koi in that baby is to think about critters - particularly birds of prey. 2.5 feet sounds like a lot, but it is all well within the range of a Great Blue Heron. You'll find yourself feeding birds if you aren't careful!
 

JudyB

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This looks like a big project, coming along nicely. I don't know about your area, but we have too many herons around here to even think about koi, without proper netting over the pond.
 

TomB

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Think about your tree placement - I'd want to avoid run-off from watering (and the fertiliser it will contain) going into the pond.
 

Underdog

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I've always loved the look of a tree stand or two rising out of the water.
That is in the plan Collin. I have a long shelf on the back side for my Bald Cypress and willow but have thoughts about a stone or floating island. Maybe a Cypress Swamp area.

I don't know about your area, but we have too many herons around here to even think about koi, without proper netting over the pond.
No plans for Koi. Not many Blue Heron in town here but they are in the area. River near by.

Had half dozen small goldfish disappear last summer out of the little pond with no remains. Thinking my Mean Azzed Blue Jay who tears up my moss...

I don't really like those big ugly Carp
 

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Underdog

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No - you'll do that yourself :) First pond is always the one you learn from, and then the second one you'll want to be:
(1) Bigger
(2) Deeper
(3) Better filtration
(4) Better landscaping
(5) Better seating / viewing area

All good stuff. Traded the labor for a motor rebuild. Used rubber roofing which only comes 20ft wide so pond is 14ft in diameter. All but bigger and deeper are all things which I plan to tackle soon. That's about all the yard I want to give up.

Thanks for everyone's replies! The fert runoff came to mind yesterday when watering. Hope to get all the stones/stands angled away from the pond for that reason. Good point @TomB
 

Cadillactaste

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Be sure to find a way to anchor said trees to stands. I used to have trees on large rocks in my landscape and they were always being blown off the rocks by cross winds. With the pond in the open and not blocking winds. It's the first thing I thought of. Looking good though.
 

Underdog

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Be sure to find a way to anchor said trees to stands. I used to have trees on large rocks in my landscape and they were always being blown off the rocks by cross winds. With the pond in the open and not blocking winds. It's the first thing I thought of. Looking good though.
Thanks. Good point. We are getting 30mph this afternoon and I already moved a few to the back porch. Tying to the sandstone could be a challenge.

Maybe on the large flat "keeper" stones I have and yet to collect, I could drill and install anchor rings. Nice! Thanks
 

Cadillactaste

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Thanks. Good point. We are getting 30mph this afternoon and I already moved a few to the back porch. Tying to the sandstone could be a challenge.

Maybe on the large flat "keeper" stones I have and yet to collect, I could drill and install anchor rings. Nice! Thanks

You're welcome...we did a huge waterfall feature and hardscape...I can appreciate the labor of love your creating.
 

Underdog

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What are others thoughts/experiences with using old stumps as stands? Bugs and critter magnet? Thought about a couple stumps in the background area which will be all mulch/gravel and such. Maybe about a couple taller ones behind the falls about 3-4 ft high. Could dig them in a bit and set in quick-crete for more weight at the base.
 

Bonsai Nut

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Had half dozen small goldfish disappear last summer out of the little pond with no remains.

No remains means birds. It it were cats/possums/coons you would see scales and possibly other remains. You'd be surprised at the number of birds that eat fish. Bigger fish like koi are pretty much only at risk from herons and raptors, but it is amazing how having a pond will attract them to your yard. You will live in a neighborhood for ten years and never seen one anywhere, but put a pond in your yard and the next week you'll find a heron walking around it.

Here in Southern Cal herons will come visit even the smallest bodies of water in the smallest yards.
 

Underdog

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IMG_20170404_110805871.jpg
but put a pond in your yard and the next week you'll find a heron walking around it.
All I want walking around and IN it are me and the grand kids. I see me in a floaty raft with an umbrella drink this summer after working on motorcycles in my back yard shop all day.

My ramapo dwarf Rhode is happy in his new pot around the pond. First bloom in two years.
 

Underdog

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Nice Underdog!

You could/should build a rock hideout for your fish under the waterfall....
He'll be safe there!

Sorce
Fish dead... Got stuck in the waterfall/rocks. Garden fertilizer now.

But I did get stoned this weekend. Long way to go... Got some rocks too.IMG_20170430_121812801.jpg IMG_20170501_185055400.jpg
 

Giga

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not to shabby - when I buy a bigger house this next year, this is what I'm doing too
 

GGB

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Well done, I used to want a pond, then I priced everything out.....
 

Underdog

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Well done, I used to want a pond, then I priced everything out.....
pump and hose 200 and rubber roofing 20x20 feet 200, stone would have been 200 delivered but I traded for them.

I priced treated lumber for a couple benches first. LOL
 
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