Cheryl's pond rebuild project.

[Cheryl]

I am so glad I found this forum, I am getting so much information. I have just started to redo my pond. Here is a link to a video of my project that I posted on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgCPjz6kOpw&feature=plcp[/URL]
The digging is going to kill me though, I am going much, much bigger this time, my husband thinks I have lost my mind, but luckily he isn't totally against the idea, he just isn't as excited as I am, he keeps saying, "What are we going to do with all the dirt" honestly, I don't know, and I don't care right now, I am borderline obsessed, okay, totally obsessed. Due to lack of funds, I will be doing this by myself and saving and buying things as I go, but luckily digging is free. I am hoping for lots of advice and mostly encouragement, I'm going to need it. I think I attached a picture, the dirt pile in the background is just the small pile, the large pile is behind me.

[Sp00ks]

Have any plans for filtration?

[Cheryl]

I really like the ERIC system, but I will probably DIY it. I am thinking two 4" bottom drains, two skimmers and I am trying to learn more about TPR's. I also like Terje's (New Norwegian pond buildup) filter, it is a lot like the ERIC system from what I can tell. I need to learn a lot more about how to build my filter so I am hoping for suggestions and ideas from this forum. I was thinking of building the filter in back of the pond the entire length with skimmers feeding it from either side then through brushes, mats, biological media, from outside in on either side and then meeting in the middle where I will have two pumps, one to feed the waterfall and one to go to the TPR's. That probably makes no sense at all, I will have to draw it out. Anyway, I will have lots of time to think about it while I dig and dig and dig. I also am wanting to know how to do the standpipes for the filter for cleaning and draining, I am hoping someone here can explain that to me.

[Goshiki Rose]

Hi cheryl,

Big undertaking, good for you. I'm doing the same thing, this digging is a chore. Anyway, perhaps you can use the dirt for landscape projects. I used it for a couple of mounds, one large and one medium, also for filling in around plantings.

Good luck
Theresa

[Moneypit]

Looks like a good start, how deep are you going?

[icu2]

Welcome to Koiphen Cheryl!
Always glad to have another Washingtonian on board!

I dug both my ponds by hand too... it can be done!

I'll give you a hand with the video...

[WAC]

Very nice! I like the naturalistic curves ... assumming you're keeping a free-form shape?

[birdman]

Looks like your off to a good start. Do you have an area for a filter pit for gravity flow filtration? It doesn't have to be right at the pond but can be in some remote area out of sight.
Also are you planning a waterfall?

[Cheryl]

Looks like a good start, how deep are you going?

I am digging it about 2 1/2 to 3 feet deep, but it will be half below ground and half above so a total of about 5 feet deep.

[Cheryl]

Thanks Steve for posting my video! The digging is hard, but I am seeing progress and that keeps me going.

Cheryl

[Cheryl]

Looks like your off to a good start. Do you have an area for a filter pit for gravity flow filtration? It doesn't have to be right at the pond but can be in some remote area out of sight.
Also are you planning a waterfall?

I was thinking of doing it behind the pond in a big long strip, definitely gravity flow, once I get it dug I will plan out the filter and plumbing. I was thinking a small waterfall in the middle of the back side. I will try and draw it out in the next couple of days and post it.

Cheryl

[Cheryl]

Very nice! I like the naturalistic curves ... assumming you're keeping a free-form shape?

The back side will be squared off, but the front and one side will be curved, you can kind of see it in my picture, I will be digging up to the grass line.

Cheryl

[Pond James_Pond]

You go girl!


Ponds can activate the obsessive gene, can't they?

I'm looking forward to seeing your drawing and plans for filtration. I definitely learned alot and made several changes during my design and build. You can use the dirt for landscaping mounds and to create a more natural looking waterfall mound. Once we know the approximate size of the pond we can help with filtration suggestions.

I grew up in Kent, on Scenic Hill. There's a few of us not too far away in Puyallup, Bellevue, etc. I can't help with the diggin! But I'm sure we can help you figure out the plumbing and how to "git 'er done" right.

steve

[Cheryl]

You go girl!


Ponds can activate the obsessive gene, can't they?

I'm looking forward to seeing your drawing and plans for filtration. I definitely learned alot and made several changes during my design and build. You can use the dirt for landscaping mounds and to create a more natural looking waterfall mound. Once we know the approximate size of the pond we can help with filtration suggestions.

I grew up in Kent, on Scenic Hill. There's a few of us not too far away in Puyallup, Bellevue, etc. I can't help with the diggin! But I'm sure we can help you figure out the plumbing and how to "git 'er done" right.

steve

OMG, I grew up on Scenic Hill, we lived on Tildon Ave. right by the swim club, I lived there from 1970-1986, what a small world! I may take you up on your plumbing and pond expertise, I don't want to do this wrong!

[Pond James_Pond]

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle! We swam and played tennis there every summer for years! Armstrongs, Dona's, Currans... Lot's of old friends up that way.

Looking forward to seeing your drawings and filter plans.

steve

[Leekinneykoi]

Welcome to Koiphen Cheryl, looking good and with Steve and James offering help you should be in good shape.

[mpageler]

Are you looking at full block walls or dirt hole below ground and then colar/block walls above ground. What kind of perimeter size are you looking at? Once you get the pond shape/footprint tied down, you can then start working through the filtration and plumbing needs. Depending the footprint of the bottom, you may or maynot need 2 BDs. If you only need 1, then the TPR setup. become more streamlined.

[Cheryl]

I am planning on doing cinder block walls all the way down and using some kind of epoxy like Pond Armor, I would love to have it fiberglassed but I need something I can do myself. As of today, the pond is almost completely dug out around the perimeter, now I just have to get it leveled out on the bottom and get if ready for footings.

Cheryl

[Cheryl]

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle! We swam and played tennis there every summer for years! Armstrongs, Dona's, Currans... Lot's of old friends up that way.

Looking forward to seeing your drawings and filter plans.

steve

I know all those folks, the Armstrongs lived right by us, on Maple. I also spent many summers at the swim club and was on the diving team. I have been working really long hours at work so I haven't had a chance to draw out my pond plans, I will try and do it this weekend between digging, lol.

[mtsklar]

Cheryl,

Good work on the digging. Here's a question for you...did you have the underground power and gas lines located?