Wondering if I could create a pond on solid rock?

Hi all,
I am completely new, have never created or maintained a pond before,
but I am contemplating a new one and would really appreciate some
advice. We have a huge outcropping of rock (sandstone) outside our
house, and it has a natural "pool" which will hold water when it
rains. I have taken to filling the pool every few days with the garden
hose for the birds and the dogs (who just drink from it, they're not
swimmers.) Anyway, with just a little mortar, I could dam up the end
and create a fairly large pool, about 15 feet across. I don't think it
would be more than about 12 inches deep at the deepest part, though. I
don't have any intention of keeping fish, just plants, so I don't
think that would be a problem. It would get full, full sun, all day
long.
My questions are, is it feasible to create a pond on a piece of rock?
Would minerals leach from the rock into the water and create a
problem? Do you think I would have too much trouble from algae?
I would really appreciate any thoughts and comments; I'm sure there
are many things which I have not considered.
Thank you,
Kelly

Hi Kelly,

People will probably have a lot to say...people with expertise.

It is clear that you can create a pool. Cement will do it. Sounds as
though you would have to formulate a way to fill it on a regulkar
basis or perhaps with son auto-fill device (we use a toilet fill
device taht shuts off when the pond reaches its level). Would you be
aiming for plants in it? A good selection would cut the algae by
grabbing nutrients.

Good lick.

Jim

wrote:
> Hi all,
> I am completely new, have never created or maintained a pond before,
> but I am contemplating a new one and would really appreciate some
> advice. We have a huge outcropping of rock (sandstone) outside our
> house, and it has a natural "pool" which will hold water when it
> rains. I have taken to filling the pool every few days with the garden
> hose for the birds and the dogs (who just drink from it, they're not
> swimmers.) Anyway, with just a little mortar, I could dam up the end
> and create a fairly large pool, about 15 feet across. I don't think it
> would be more than about 12 inches deep at the deepest part, though. I
> don't have any intention of keeping fish, just plants, so I don't
> think that would be a problem. It would get full, full sun, all day
> long.
> My questions are, is it feasible to create a pond on a piece of rock?
> Would minerals leach from the rock into the water and create a
> problem? Do you think I would have too much trouble from algae?
> I would really appreciate any thoughts and comments; I'm sure there
> are many things which I have not considered.
> Thank you,

If you have to fill a 12" deep pool every few days, it sounds pretty
porous. Check the pH of the water you're putting in and what's left just
before you refill it. Most sandstone is pretty stable, chemically, but some
are alkaline.

--
Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!

Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! !
~Semper Fi~

Algae likes sun, blown in dirt, fish waste,
rotting plants, uneaten fish food and fresh water.

Keep those things under control and you'll have
a fighting chance!

k :-)

On Apr 9, 7:01 pm, Nick Cramer <n_cramerS...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> standridgeke...@gmail.com wrote:
> > Hi all,
> > I am completely new, have never created or maintained a pond before,
> > but I am contemplating a new one and would really appreciate some
> > advice. We have a huge outcropping of rock (sandstone) outside our
> > house, and it has a natural "pool" which will hold water when it
> > rains. I have taken to filling the pool every few days with the garden
> > hose for the birds and the dogs (who just drink from it, they're not
> > swimmers.) Anyway, with just a little mortar, I could dam up the end
> > and create a fairly large pool, about 15 feet across. I don't think it
> > would be more than about 12 inches deep at the deepest part, though. I
> > don't have any intention of keeping fish, just plants, so I don't
> > think that would be a problem. It would get full, full sun, all day
> > long.
> > My questions are, is it feasible to create a pond on a piece of rock?
> > Would minerals leach from the rock into the water and create a
> > problem? Do you think I would have too much trouble from algae?
> > I would really appreciate any thoughts and comments; I'm sure there
> > are many things which I have not considered.
> > Thank you,
>
> If you have to fill a 12" deep pool every few days, it sounds pretty
> porous. Check the pH of the water you're putting in and what's left just
> before you refill it. Most sandstone is pretty stable, chemically, but some
> are alkaline.
>
> --
> Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!
>
> Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! !
> ~Semper Fi~- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Oh, no, the pool is only about 1-2" deep and maybe about 3 feet wide
right now, which is why I have to fill it every few days. If I dam up
one end though, I could create a much larger pool. I will check the pH
of the water; I didn't even think of that. (see, I knew you all would
be a big help!) My biggest concern is going to be algae, I think,
since it will receive sun from dawn to dusk. Can you (or others)
recommend some of the best plants for helping to control algae? I am
in USDA zone 7, so our winters are pretty mild, but our summers are
scorching, scorching, scorching.
Thanks,
Kelly

wrote:

> My questions are, is it feasible to create a pond on a piece of rock?

Definitely. If it leaks, you could use a liner, but it doesn't seem like
it'll be necessary.

> Would minerals leach from the rock into the water

Probably...

> and create a problem?

And probably not :-)

> Do you think I would have too much trouble from algae?

We _all_ have trouble from algae. The most important advice is to be
patient! It can be controlled.
--
derek
- Unless otherwise noted, I speak for myself, not rec.ponds.moderated
moderators.

On Apr 10, 11:20 am, "standridgekelly" <standridgeke...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> On Apr 9, 7:01 pm, Nick Cramer <n_cramerS...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > standridgeke...@gmail.com wrote:
> > > Hi all,
> > > I am completely new, have never created or maintained a pond before,
> > > but I am contemplating a new one and would really appreciate some
> > > advice. We have a huge outcropping of rock (sandstone) outside our
> > > house, and it has a natural "pool" which will hold water when it
> > > rains. I have taken to filling the pool every few days with the garden
> > > hose for the birds and the dogs (who just drink from it, they're not
> > > swimmers.) Anyway, with just a little mortar, I could dam up the end
> > > and create a fairly large pool, about 15 feet across. I don't think it
> > > would be more than about 12 inches deep at the deepest part, though. I
> > > don't have any intention of keeping fish, just plants, so I don't
> > > think that would be a problem. It would get full, full sun, all day
> > > long.
> > > My questions are, is it feasible to create a pond on a piece of rock?
> > > Would minerals leach from the rock into the water and create a
> > > problem? Do you think I would have too much trouble from algae?
> > > I would really appreciate any thoughts and comments; I'm sure there
> > > are many things which I have not considered.
> > > Thank you,
>
> > If you have to fill a 12" deep pool every few days, it sounds pretty
> > porous. Check the pH of the water you're putting in and what's left just
> > before you refill it. Most sandstone is pretty stable, chemically, but some
> > are alkaline.
>
> > --
> > Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!
>
> > Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! !
> > ~Semper Fi~- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Oh, no, the pool is only about 1-2" deep and maybe about 3 feet wide
> right now, which is why I have to fill it every few days. If I dam up
> one end though, I could create a much larger pool. I will check the pH
> of the water; I didn't even think of that. (see, I knew you all would
> be a big help!) My biggest concern is going to be algae, I think,
> since it will receive sun from dawn to dusk. Can you (or others)
> recommend some of the best plants for helping to control algae? I am
> in USDA zone 7, so our winters are pretty mild, but our summers are
> scorching, scorching, scorching.
> Thanks,
> Kelly- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Sounds good. You might need to seal a bit if you find the rockwork
soaks up or leaks water. I think you want to control the heat, so it
doesn't boil whatever vegetation goes in there. To that end, I would
shovel some earth into the bottom (or use pots) and plant lots of
lilypad-like vegetation to shade the water (cool and darken the water
to minimize the algae).
~~

"standridgekelly" <> wrote:
> On Apr 9, 7:01 pm, Nick Cramer <n_cramerS...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > standridgeke...@gmail.com wrote:
> > > [ . . . ]
> Oh, no, the pool is only about 1-2" deep and maybe about 3 feet wide
> right now, which is why I have to fill it every few days. If I dam up
> one end though, I could create a much larger pool. I will check the pH
> of the water; I didn't even think of that. (see, I knew you all would
> be a big help!) My biggest concern is going to be algae, I think,
> since it will receive sun from dawn to dusk. Can you (or others)
> recommend some of the best plants for helping to control algae? I am
> in USDA zone 7, so our winters are pretty mild, but our summers are
> scorching, scorching, scorching.

I know of no plants that will control algae, although some fish eat it. A
deeper pond will have less algae than a shallow one.

My Dad worked for the NYC Water Dept. They used copper sulfate to control
algae in the reservoirs. If you don't have any fish, that will work.
WARNING: The stuff is toxic, although I don't remember the particulars
(1940's).

You'll learn more as others chime in.

--
Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!

Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! !
~Semper Fi~

without fish there shouldnt be much of an algae problem if you run an
aerator in there just to keep everything oxygenated. Ingrid