Im looking to build my 2nd pond. My current pond is a smaller 500 gallon in ground pond, mainly a yard accent piece with some fish and plants. I love it but want a bigger one, mainly to house some bigger fish.
Im trying to design a exterior above ground pond my goal is around 1,200 gallons mainly because above ground for the reason it can be moved if drained, though will be heavy, still moveable. Im thinking of building a frame around 4x4x14-16 feet long but the pond would only extend 10-12 feet and having 4 feet sectioned off to house a filter and extended above the pond to have a waterfall, ive seen many inside tanks, quarantine tanks and stock takes build like this and a couple bigger outside tanks and no it can be done I have a few questions about liner, filtration and pumps.
Im leaning towards a 2x6 frame constructions just like exterior walls on a new house (house framer was my last job) and i know wood likes to bow, and unless strengtend i know it will bow so im thinking a long threaded rod with bracing between the studs basically in the center span of the pond would help, the base will be a 2x4 construction layered twice with a 3/4 plywood sheet and the walls will be built on that and using lags and other anchors, secured on that. I was thinking of using cement board inside for the walls so any moisture wont damage it much. Also planning on 2 or three shelfs, one a foot away from the surface, another 2 feet away and the 3rd 3 feet down for plants and each would be 1 to 2 feet in shelf depth and those will help increase the wall strength by tying them together.
I will install a bottom drain to a filter, still undecided on the filter. I like the idea of a skippy filter. Any sugestions on that would be great! Also plan on having a box pre filter go to a pump that goes to a uv light that goes back to the pond for a aerator like affect (i have a uv light and a pump for back up on the shelf)
Now the last thing, the liner. I honestly dont feel i need a 45mil epdm firestone liner. Thats whats used in my in ground pond and i feel i could use a 30 mil thick liner and be ok. I know the firestone liner has a better warranty but theres no rocks, no branches in the box and i wont be adding rocks to the pond. Ive actually been looking at a homedepot/lowes liner but i ust found out its 14.5 mills thick and i feel i would have the replace that pretty soon, though its cheap. Would you have anyy suggestions on a liner and a place to purchase it? if not i found a seller that has there firestone liners for .80 cents
Thank you for the awesome forum, Ive been lurking last couple of days and finally joined!
Mitchell
edit, will be adding a sketch to the post as soon as i get this darn scanner working.
Im trying to design a exterior above ground pond my goal is around 1,200 gallons mainly because above ground for the reason it can be moved if drained, though will be heavy, still moveable. Im thinking of building a frame around 4x4x14-16 feet long but the pond would only extend 10-12 feet and having 4 feet sectioned off to house a filter and extended above the pond to have a waterfall, ive seen many inside tanks, quarantine tanks and stock takes build like this and a couple bigger outside tanks and no it can be done I have a few questions about liner, filtration and pumps.
Im leaning towards a 2x6 frame constructions just like exterior walls on a new house (house framer was my last job) and i know wood likes to bow, and unless strengtend i know it will bow so im thinking a long threaded rod with bracing between the studs basically in the center span of the pond would help, the base will be a 2x4 construction layered twice with a 3/4 plywood sheet and the walls will be built on that and using lags and other anchors, secured on that. I was thinking of using cement board inside for the walls so any moisture wont damage it much. Also planning on 2 or three shelfs, one a foot away from the surface, another 2 feet away and the 3rd 3 feet down for plants and each would be 1 to 2 feet in shelf depth and those will help increase the wall strength by tying them together.
I will install a bottom drain to a filter, still undecided on the filter. I like the idea of a skippy filter. Any sugestions on that would be great! Also plan on having a box pre filter go to a pump that goes to a uv light that goes back to the pond for a aerator like affect (i have a uv light and a pump for back up on the shelf)
Now the last thing, the liner. I honestly dont feel i need a 45mil epdm firestone liner. Thats whats used in my in ground pond and i feel i could use a 30 mil thick liner and be ok. I know the firestone liner has a better warranty but theres no rocks, no branches in the box and i wont be adding rocks to the pond. Ive actually been looking at a homedepot/lowes liner but i ust found out its 14.5 mills thick and i feel i would have the replace that pretty soon, though its cheap. Would you have anyy suggestions on a liner and a place to purchase it? if not i found a seller that has there firestone liners for .80 cents
Thank you for the awesome forum, Ive been lurking last couple of days and finally joined!
Mitchell
edit, will be adding a sketch to the post as soon as i get this darn scanner working.