Backyard water garden build begins!

[bagsmom]

Thank you! that is great to hear about Big Frog as I was a bit concerned when Half-off Ponds decided to swap out the pump brand without telling me. I wish I got a pump with variable control for flow reduction. I would say not getting a pump with that feature is currently my main regret of my build, but I put a ball valve in so I can restrict flow when needed. This pump moves some serious water.

I can't remember - are you going to have a bog? I saw a neat video from Ozponds about how to put a breather pipe (with a ball valve) in the bog. It prevents back flow if a check valve fails - but also allows you to play with the water flow a little. I am planning to do this in mine. It will be nice to control the speed of the water flowing through the bog and will also let me have some movement in any standing water at the bog top. In your case, with such a powerful pump, this might be a nice way to deal with any extra power without straining the pump. I have heard that just restricting flow on a bigger pump can shorten the life. (Not sure if this is true but I know someone on here will be able to comment with more accuracy!)

 

[YShahar]

So a lot of progress was made over the holiday weekend.

Looks really good! The stream looks natural and proportional to the scale of the garden. Nice work!

 

[combatwombat]

I would say not getting a pump with that feature is currently my main regret of my build, but I put a ball valve in so I can restrict flow when needed. This pump moves some serious water.

I stressed about that, too. Then I learned something cool, and counterintuitive about pumps: they use less energy as you restrict their flow.

If you stick a current monitor on your pump’s plug, you’ll see that as you close the valve, the pump will draw less power.

So the value in a variable speed pump—for a pond anyway—is only in having electronic speed control.

 

[cas]

What a nice looking pond!

 

[Rabungalow]

I can't remember - are you going to have a bog? I saw a neat video from Ozponds about how to put a breather pipe (with a ball valve) in the bog. It prevents back flow if a check valve fails - but also allows you to play with the water flow a little. I am planning to do this in mine. It will be nice to control the speed of the water flowing through the bog and will also let me have some movement in any standing water at the bog top. In your case, with such a powerful pump, this might be a nice way to deal with any extra power without straining the pump. I have heard that just restricting flow on a bigger pump can shorten the life. (Not sure if this is true but I know someone on here will be able to comment with more accuracy!)

The bog is up at the top of the hill, although its hard to tell because I ran out of rocks to fill it to the top. My bog doesn't have a breather pipe to break a a siphon which I may still add down the road. I left the top part of the pipe exposed so I can still make changes if needed. I am also not sure about the shortening of the pump life either, but hey if my pump dies then It gives me the opportunity to swap for a variable speed pump.

 

[bagsmom]

I am so excited to see yours all finished! It is inspiring to me as I work on mine!

 

[Rabungalow]

I am so excited to see yours all finished! It is inspiring to me as I work on mine!

I have the last shipment of rock arriving next Wednesday to finish the bog. I will shoot to have some updates later next week. Shifting my focus to landscape/pond lighting since I am just waiting.

 

[Rabungalow]

Update: bog is essentially rocked. May take a few more bags of rocks to bring it up in some spots, but to be honest I kinda dig the stream running through the middle. I still have to do some foam around the edges to really blend it all with some smaller rock, but at least you can see how it’s going to look. I still need to hide the snorkel pipe, but this is all minor tasks. I’ve ordered my pond and landscape lights so those should be here by the weekend.

 

[combatwombat]

Well done. What size is that snorkel pipe? Can you fit a pump down there?

 

[Rabungalow]

Well done. What size is that snorkel pipe? Can you fit a pump down there?

standard 4inch drainage pipe. I’m using a 1162GPH shallow well jet pump when I need to do my cleaning. Just drop a standard hose down with a foot nozzle on it and magic you don’t need a massive snorkel pipe and I can walk around and water my backyard as I pump it out.

 

[GBBUDD]

Be careful a few of your edges appear to be low at least in the photo and wrinkles like these can wick water up a 2 inch lift maybe more. i'd throw a quick bead a foam or caulking to stop it.

 

[Rabungalow]

Be careful a few of your edges appear to be low at least in the photo and wrinkles like these can wick water up a 2 inch lift maybe more. i'd throw a quick bead a foam or caulking to stop it.View attachment 150077

I plan on foaming and rocking in that whole middle section just Haven’t gotten to it yet. I’ll make sure to get into any folded spots.

 

[Rabungalow]

Todays agenda is pond/landscape lighting. So started this morning with draining the pond. I was able to get out the hose and get the layer of sediment that settled for a clean fill when I’m done. I siliconed all the folds in the bog, but still need to foam and do more rock blending.

If I work fast maybe I can have it all lit up by tonight.

 

[TheFishGuy]

Todays agenda is pond/landscape lighting. So started this morning with draining the pond. I was able to get out the hose and get the layer of sediment that settled for a clean fill when I’m done. I siliconed all the folds in the bog, but still need to foam and do more rock blending.

If I work fast maybe I can have it all lit up by tonight.

You are working fast out there!

 

[Rabungalow]

Finished most of the lighting last night and refilled the pond. Still need to bury the lines, but I wanted to make sure I was okay with the light placements and that it wasn’t to much light. I like how it turned out for the most part, I find myself playing with the positions of the bog spotlights, but oh well. Apologies for the light shimmers, I’m not a photographer by any means. I’ll get some better pictures later and work on not getting the bright ghost effect. Now that the pond lights are in, I can move to planting and try to soften up all the edges.