Above ground timber pond

[Ianpond]

I'm building a pond for four goldfish that are currently in an indoor aquarium. As always, any advice or comments are welcome.

The local fish shops have pond fish in stock but they are not yet for sale due to the outside temperatures still being a bit low. Nevertheless, I would like to get the pond up and running as soon as possible to let everything mature a bit before the fish go in.

 

[Ianpond]

I started with 10 off 3.6m 150 x 50 (6"x2") treated C24 (Certified construction grade) timber, each of which were cut into a 2.1m and a 1.5m. With a 100mm overhang and 50mm slot, this gives an internal measurement of 1.8m x 1.2m (approx. 6'x4')
Deck screws were driven into the overhangs before cutting the slots to guard against splitting.

http://s604.photobucket.com/user/beekeeper_hornet/media/IMG_8582r.jpg.html

Two of the end boards were ripped in half to make the top and bottom end boards. All cut surfaces were then treated with preservative.

 

[Ianpond]

We did a test assembly to decide on the final position. On a piece of plastic it was easy to slide it around.

http://s604.photobucket.com/user/beekeeper_hornet/media/IMG_8568r.jpg.html

http://s604.photobucket.com/user/beekeeper_hornet/media/IMG_8577r.jpg.html

View from the kitchen window: http://s604.photobucket.com/user/beekeeper_hornet/media/IMG_8576r.jpg.html

Next stage - strip the turf and lay the paving slab base.

 

[RobAmy]

Looking good

 

[Big Lou]

Nice view from your home. You are going to have a nice pond.

 

[sissy]

I love the log cabin look of your pond build .Have you thought about insulating the inside of the logs with foam insulation .I did that with parts of my pond .

 

[Ianpond]

Thanks for the comments.

Yes, I will be fitting 25mm Jablite on the bottom and all sides to try and keep the water temperature as stable as possible. It is basically a high grade expanded polystyrene.

This is the pond in kit form: http://s604.photobucket.com/user/beekeeper_hornet/media/IMG_8592r.jpg.html

In the cardboard boxes are the liner and pump & filter which have just arrived, no excuse now!

 

[Ianpond]

This was yesterday's progress: http://s604.photobucket.com/user/beekeeper_hornet/media/IMG_8584r.jpg.html

It got down to 2°C during the night and by late morning it was too hot for manual labour. it rained in the afternoon so that stopped play.

http://s604.photobucket.com/user/beekeeper_hornet/media/IMG_8585r.jpg.html

Next job, get the sand levelled for the slabs

 

[sissy]

I planned my pond to be near my septic tank ,free heat from it .

 

[Ianpond]

I'm a big fan of good planning, a bit of luck helps sometimes as well though...

 

[sissy]

Planning keeps mistakes from happening .I know I am a big planner and have to think everything out because I have to do everything alone .So planning is important .I just got almost done 2 decks and 2 pergolas .

 

[Ianpond]

Progress has been slower than expected this week due to April showers.

The base is finally down, I took ages to make sure it was as level as possible http://s604.photobucket.com/user/beekeeper_hornet/media/IMG_8598r.jpg.html

I had some bitumen paint left over from another job so painted the bottom of the base timbers http://s604.photobucket.com/user/beekeeper_hornet/media/IMG_8604r.jpg.html

Built up http://s604.photobucket.com/user/beekeeper_hornet/media/IMG_8606r.jpg.html

Mrs Ianpond tidying up after me http://s604.photobucket.com/user/beekeeper_hornet/media/IMG_8610r.jpg.html

Insulation installed and ready for the liner http://s604.photobucket.com/user/beekeeper_hornet/media/IMG_8614r.jpg.html

 

[sissy]

The only problem I see is being able to see the fish .You may need a deck around the pond to sit and look at them .

 

[Ianpond]

The only problem I see is being able to see the fish .You may need a deck around the pond to sit and look at them .

The external height is only 750mm which is approx 30" so hopefully should be alright, time will tell on that one.

 

[Ianpond]

Fitted the liner today. It is a Gordon Low 0.5mm PVC budget sort of thing. It took longer than expected getting it in and still didn't get all the creases out. Next time, i would probably do more research on liners.

Filling up - http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt125/beekeeper_hornet/IMG_8620r.jpg

Getting more exciting now - http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt125/beekeeper_hornet/IMG_8624r.jpg