Hello all,
I am looking to add a pond for goldfish and plants to our Chicago (Galewood/North Austin area) backyard over the next two weeks. Digging will start as soon as we can get 3-4 consecutive days without rain. Our backyard is rather small at 18’x21’. We have 6’ tall fencing along with the detached garage to secure the backyard. We have been adding a number of plants and landscaping since we bought the house about 18 months ago. See the pics attached for an idea of the space.
Our goal is to have a pond that allows us to more of a nature feel to the backyard with goldfish to view, plants to view, a calming waterfall sound, and the ability to attract more birds and butterflies to the yard. I want to do nearly all the work on my own and I have slightly above average “work around the house” skills. Except for new sod, we have done all the landscaping work on our own. I am also trying to be rather cost conscious on the pond build with a budget of $1,000.
I have also had fresh and saltwater aquariums ranging from 10 gallons to 95 gallons over the last 20 years. At one point, I had four aquariums going that totaled about 300 gallons. I know how to care for fish and look forward to the added challenge or a pond.
Here are the current details of the pond:
1. 7’x5’x3’ (LxWxD); generally a rectangle with curves to break up the symmetrical shape. I estimate the pond to be 800 gallons.
2. For the pond perimeter, thanks to advise from another post, the pond will be dug with a 4” wide by 4” long top shelf with rocks to hide the top of the liner. I think I will use reataining wall stones of the heavy sort for this purpose.
3. After the 4”x4” pond perimeter, there will be a shelf (across the entire perimeter) that is 12” wide by 6” long for plants. After that will be the final ”hole” down to 4’ deep and across the width of the pond.
4. I plan to add underlayment though I am not sure what I will use between, felt paper, remnant carpet, or landscape weed control fabric.
5. I will add river rocks across more the base of the pond and the 12”x6” shelf with rock from 3” to 10” in diameter across the shelves to both hold the liner in place and for visual interest. We will be sourcing rocks and plants from a good friend who apparently has a ton on his property in the Chicago suburbs, Craigslist, and anywhere cheap and suitable.
6. Filter A will be a TetraPond 26596 Waterfall Filter, which is rated for ponds up to 1,000 gallons and includes. I will run this of a TetraPond Water Garden Pump rated at 1,000 gallons. I really like to due to economy and it gives me the waterfall my wife really wants. Nothing tall, though I may use dirt to build up an area about 18" tall that the water fall can use to fall down into the pond.
7. Filter B will be a Pond master 700 GPH Pond Pump with Filter and Fountain Set because I like the added filtration and the fountain effect.
Before I get started, please let me know of an advice you have or areas where I can do something different or better.
The final pic, which I thinking I found on the this site, is visually closet to what we would like to our pond to look like once completed, with a waterfall.
Thanks for any advice.
I am looking to add a pond for goldfish and plants to our Chicago (Galewood/North Austin area) backyard over the next two weeks. Digging will start as soon as we can get 3-4 consecutive days without rain. Our backyard is rather small at 18’x21’. We have 6’ tall fencing along with the detached garage to secure the backyard. We have been adding a number of plants and landscaping since we bought the house about 18 months ago. See the pics attached for an idea of the space.
Our goal is to have a pond that allows us to more of a nature feel to the backyard with goldfish to view, plants to view, a calming waterfall sound, and the ability to attract more birds and butterflies to the yard. I want to do nearly all the work on my own and I have slightly above average “work around the house” skills. Except for new sod, we have done all the landscaping work on our own. I am also trying to be rather cost conscious on the pond build with a budget of $1,000.
I have also had fresh and saltwater aquariums ranging from 10 gallons to 95 gallons over the last 20 years. At one point, I had four aquariums going that totaled about 300 gallons. I know how to care for fish and look forward to the added challenge or a pond.
Here are the current details of the pond:
1. 7’x5’x3’ (LxWxD); generally a rectangle with curves to break up the symmetrical shape. I estimate the pond to be 800 gallons.
2. For the pond perimeter, thanks to advise from another post, the pond will be dug with a 4” wide by 4” long top shelf with rocks to hide the top of the liner. I think I will use reataining wall stones of the heavy sort for this purpose.
3. After the 4”x4” pond perimeter, there will be a shelf (across the entire perimeter) that is 12” wide by 6” long for plants. After that will be the final ”hole” down to 4’ deep and across the width of the pond.
4. I plan to add underlayment though I am not sure what I will use between, felt paper, remnant carpet, or landscape weed control fabric.
5. I will add river rocks across more the base of the pond and the 12”x6” shelf with rock from 3” to 10” in diameter across the shelves to both hold the liner in place and for visual interest. We will be sourcing rocks and plants from a good friend who apparently has a ton on his property in the Chicago suburbs, Craigslist, and anywhere cheap and suitable.
6. Filter A will be a TetraPond 26596 Waterfall Filter, which is rated for ponds up to 1,000 gallons and includes. I will run this of a TetraPond Water Garden Pump rated at 1,000 gallons. I really like to due to economy and it gives me the waterfall my wife really wants. Nothing tall, though I may use dirt to build up an area about 18" tall that the water fall can use to fall down into the pond.
7. Filter B will be a Pond master 700 GPH Pond Pump with Filter and Fountain Set because I like the added filtration and the fountain effect.
Before I get started, please let me know of an advice you have or areas where I can do something different or better.
The final pic, which I thinking I found on the this site, is visually closet to what we would like to our pond to look like once completed, with a waterfall.
Thanks for any advice.
