Front yard pond

[Bowhunter223]

Hello everyone. I plan to put a pond with either a 45 or 60 EPDM liner in front of my porch. See attached pic. My main question is do you think I should use a skimmer or drop a pump on the opposite end of my waterfall? I plan to put a waterfall in the area where the tree currently is, maybe a little behind it. Yes I plan to remove all the greenery and tree for the pond build. My goal is to get a 5X12 foot pond in the area. What would you all recommend to use a drop in pump with a screen to give it more surface area or just install a skimmer? There are not many trees in the area. I do have 1 on the other side of my driveway but it's not in a heavily wooded area. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

 

[j.w]

@Bowhunter223

 

[Stephen Noble]

Welcome @Bowhunter223! Glad to have you as a member. There is lots of friendly experience on this site.
To answer your filtration question, I would use a submerged pump, placed on a brick or something to keep it off of the bottom and pump the water up and into a bog filter. The bog filter can then gravity flow (waterfall) back into your pond.
I see the area is on high ground and your gutter vents below the level of your proposed pond. That is good. Do you have electrical service nearby?
What is the total size of the area?

 

[Bowhunter223]

Thanks Stephen! There's a lot to learn here and appreciate expertise here. I had not considered a bog filter but will definitely do so.
Follow up question. The waterfall I was looking at has filter pads and a bag for further media. Would a bog filter still be necessary here or would it just be "added" filtration and hold beneficial bacteria?
Yes I have an available electric outlets readily available along the front wall of my house.
The total size is 17X5 in the narrow part and 17X8 in the wider part along my sidewalk.
I should also mention I plan to have an 8-10 inch deep shelf around most of the perimeter. and a 24 inch depth close to the front patio as a fish feeding area.
Thanks again!

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

If the pond will be near your front porch, be sure you look into any city or local ordinances regarding depth and fencing — for safety reasons! There’s always the worry that a child will explore the pond (who wouldn’t), and be injured or drown.

 

[Bowhunter223]

Yes thank you
Already did so and got the ok to go forward

 

[RMaynard]

Constructed properly the bog would take the place of a commercial waterfall unit. The gravel does provide tons of surface are for bacteria, but also the plants that grow in it can uptake and export (via you trimming them) the nitrates that are the end product of the nitrogen cycle.

You could use the uppermost 4' or so of the narrow area (closest to the front door) as the bog, raised slightly above and spilling into the lower pond.

 

[addy1]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Bowhunter223]

Another question regarding the bog. I think I plan to put the bog in the narrower area (roughly 5 foot wide). I'd like a waterfall of some type. Should I elevate the bog with say a ~100-150 gallon tub/bin as my waterfall and camoflauge it in with rocks/dirt or should I dig a separate hole with the piping laid in there and have it empty into the pond? I've been watching Ozponds bogs using natural filtration with rocks and pebbles. I'm not sure the logistics and how I should best arrange the bog. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you

 

[GBBUDD]

if this was my space id be putting the water fall off to the left side along with a bog. the falls would be so that they face the driveway and walkway and your sitting area would get a side view of the falls with a couple mini falls breaking away from the main falls and heading toward the sitting area.

i would also try to save the tree. i'd have no problem cutting a few roots along the way but if the tree does die you gave it a shot. if it survives it will help shade you and the pond , as well as giving character to the area. with this small an area if you do the skimmer and a bog you should have no problem keeping a healthy pond.

 

[Bowhunter223]

OK thanks. Would you put a bog say in a barrel or something sitting on the ground to gravity feed the waterfall? Or should I dig down a bit and put bog in?
Too late on tree. I cut down bc it was starting to die anyways and leaning into house clogging gutters

 

[GBBUDD]

BEING IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY AND THAT IS WITH A LINER AND BUILD UP ALONG THE WALLS SO MANY CHOICES . 4X4 PT. OR RETAINING WALLS . STONE, EVEN CONCRETE PAVERS. THERE ARE A GREAT DEAL OF BUILDS ON THIS FORUM ON BUILDING A BOG STICK WITH THOSE WHO USED LINERS THE PREFORMS ARE A NIGHTMARE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND THEY CRACK WITHIN A COUPLE YEARS