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Our above ground pond


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#1 OntarioTodd

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 01:40 PM

Something a little different. We wanted something above ground with an easy to navigate walkway for my disabled inlaws to enjoy.

Video:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsK1Hp6QmMg"][/ame]

Pics:
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Lily:

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Thanks
Todd

Edited by OntarioTodd, 09 August 2009 - 01:47 PM.



#2 DrCase

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 01:42 PM

There it is

Edited by DrCase, 09 August 2009 - 01:50 PM.


#3 koiguy1969

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 01:44 PM

post the url not the embed code..........simple cut and paste.
theres definately something fishy about this forum!

#4 OntarioTodd

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 01:49 PM

Fixed!

#5 DrCase

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 01:53 PM

Looks very nice..
and accessible for every one

#6 newday3000

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 01:57 PM

nice pond. what is your filter setup? I don't see a filter anywhere
530 Gallon pond plus 60 gallon Bog and waterfall
220 Gallon African Cichlid tank
3000 Gallon pond in progress
75 Gallon fry tank (possibly winter home for gold fish)

#7 koiguy1969

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 01:59 PM

very nice.........is it partially below ground too? how deep is it?
theres definately something fishy about this forum!

#8 OntarioTodd

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 02:22 PM

It's completely above ground. It's 22" deep

Here's some photo's of it going together:

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You are correct- we don't have any filtration system-only the pump and fountain. We dealt solely with a business that has been in the pond business for 12 years. They have several ponds-both above and below ground, many with koi and they do not use any filtration system. They told me that if I am patient, with the right number of plants and not too many fish the pond will take car of itself. Our water went murky about 2 weeks after it was built, then as the plants started to spread the water cleared up- almost overnight. It was amazing to see this happen. I did have to treat stringy algea using a product called "pond balance" and I have added fertilizer for my suffering water hyacinths. I think next year we'll build up one end (the end closet to the house) and add one of those filter/waterfall units. I do have to clean the pump inlet every 10 days or so. I also just got one of those water vacuum tools to clean silt from the bottom. The view with my underwater camera is very clear- about 4-5 feet however some of the fish like to stir up the silt on the bottom.
Todd

#9 OntarioTodd

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 02:22 PM

The photo's don't show the sand layer and felt we put down before installing the liner.. I also had a couple of very helpful neighbors give me a hand- the fellow in the photo is one of them!

#10 newday3000

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 02:30 PM

I am suprised they recommend no filtration!!! A pond is bigger version of an aquarium which must have a filter. I would agree with no filtration with plants only and no fish.

Plants do not convert ammonia to Nitrate. The natural bacteria that grows on the surface of everything in a pond can not sustain more than a couple of fish for anylength of time. The only other method is water changes to dilute ammonia since nothing in the pond is converting it to Nitrate.

I am curious how many inches of fish the store recommends for a setup with no filtration?
530 Gallon pond plus 60 gallon Bog and waterfall
220 Gallon African Cichlid tank
3000 Gallon pond in progress
75 Gallon fry tank (possibly winter home for gold fish)

#11 stroppy

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 02:32 PM

great pond ...im about to build a raised pond myself so my son who uses a wheelchair will be able to enjoy ponding too ... so seeing yours have given me more ideas :biggrin:

#12 DrDave

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 03:38 PM

Very nice photos and video. I am impressed.

You might share the details on how you attached the timbers and in particular the corners. Did you drill and "pin" them with a steel rod?
DrDave
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#13 OntarioTodd

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 03:54 PM

We used 12" spikes to hold everything in place. Deck screws were only used for areas not bearing the weight of the water. Here's a pic showing us driving the spikes. I'm the guy standing with the hammer watching my neighbor do all the work! :D

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I just came in from sucking up silt from the bottom of the pond. My wife and I were talking and I think we may head out and buy a good filter anyway. Can't hurt!

Todd

#14 DrDave

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 04:04 PM

Cool, did you get any splitting when driving these monster nails?
BTW, what vacuum do you have and how well is it working for you?
DrDave
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#15 koiguy1969

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 04:21 PM

at least use an underwater filter that hooks up before your pump... they make them biological..so you can have some sort of bacterial colony living in circulating water.
theres definately something fishy about this forum!