A backyard DIY pond is a beautiful addition to your home that doesn't have to cost a fortune. Having a pond installed can be pricey, but worth it if you don't want to tackle the job yourself. To save on labor costs, look at the steps and you'll probably realize it's not as daunting as you might have thought. It's a project that an experienced do-it-yourselfer can do, but anyone with a little skill and some patience can end up with a beautiful water garden, goldfish or koi DIY pond to enjoy.
First, you need to decide what type of pond you want. You can have a water garden with beautiful aquatic plants and flowers, a goldfish pond or a koi pond. You can also add touches like a waterfall, if you wish. You need to make this decision before you begin building the pond because there are different requirements.
In a DIY pond for koi, you'll have to limit the types of plants you use, and you'll need a pond that's at least 1000 gallons with an area that's around 4 to 5 feet deep, to allow for the growth and health of the fish. For a water garden with or without goldfish, you can go a little more shallow. But you'll want an area at least 2 feet deep. And if you have freezing temperatures in the winter, you have to make sure the pond extends at least 12 to 16 inches below freeze level.
Now, choose the location of your DIY pond. It shouldn't be put in a low area where rain runoff will pollute it, and it's best to keep the pond away from trees and all those falling leaves. At least 4 hours of direct sunlight will be needed per day for most aquatic plants.
Next, figure out how big you want your DIY pond to be. A common mistake for first-time pond builders is to start out too small. Build the biggest pond that you want. If you start small, you're stuck with that size. And a small pond can only hold a small amount of plants and fish. Aside from a little extra digging, installing a very large pond is the same as installing a small one.
Use a rope or other object to essentially map out the pound on the ground and then begin digging. Put your underlayment in place and then install the pond liner. Smooth it as much as you can. Put your pumps and other equipment in place around the pond so you know where everything will be. Now's the time to install a stream or waterfall.
Connect the skimmer, if you're using one, as the manufacturer says, and put stones or coping around DIY pond. Fold the pond liner in such a way that it's behind the stones and above the water level. You can mortar for stability if you wish, but if the stones are sturdy it's not necessary. Back fill to make sure the liner is firm against the stone, and then fill with water within a few inches of the top to check of levelness. Your DIY pond is ready for a dechlorinator, water plants and fish that you add a few at a time over a number of weeks, to help the right bacteria grow.
Photo Credits: krossbow
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