Garrik's Crazy 100,000 gallon Rec Pond Build Thread

[Garrik]

Ok, I will use this thread to post updates on my project. Just getting started. Always appreciate hints/comments/suggestions and questions.

This is a roughly 100,000 gallon swim pond being built near San Francisco. I am doing most of the design and construction myself, with a bit of help from a pro. The main pond is about 75' x 40', with a deeper 20'x 50' swimming section. The outer "ring/shelf" in this picture is 2' deep, the next larger shelf is 4' deep, and the swimming area is 5.5' deep. It will be a traditional Aquascape based design, with an intake bay that also acts as a skimmer, and a large wetland biofilter - but I am not using all Aquascape gear to try to save some money. More on that later.

Here is the current state of the project - a big hole in the ground! The wetland has not yet been excavated, that is the next step. It will go "below" the main pond in this picture, in that area marked out with the garden hose where the centipedes are sitting. The wetland will actual be about 6" higher than the pod, so that water flows through a couple of waterfalls down into the main pond.

The intake bay is to the upper left in this picture, the swimming area in the middle obviously. Entry will be from the right on this picture.

 

[j.w]

Ok, I will use this thread to post updates on my project. Just getting started. Always appreciate hints/comments/suggestions and questions.

This is a roughly 100,000 gallon swim pond being built near San Francisco. I am doing most of the design and construction myself, with a bit of help from a pro. The main pond is about 75' x 40', with a deeper 20'x 50' swimming section. The outer "ring/shelf" in this picture is 2' deep, the next larger shelf is 4' deep, and the swimming area is 5.5' deep. It will be a traditional Aquascape based design, with an intake bay that also acts as a skimmer, and a large wetland biofilter - but I am not using all Aquascape gear to try to save some money. More on that later.

Here is the current state of the project - a big hole in the ground! The wetland has not yet been excavated, that is the next step. It will go "below" the main pond in this picture, in that area marked out with the garden hose where the centipedes are sitting. The wetland will actual be about 6" higher than the pod, so that water flows through a couple of waterfalls down into the main pond.

The intake bay is to the upper left in this picture, the swimming area in the middle obviously. Entry will be from the right on this picture.

View attachment 170425

Can't give you much help but sure am interested in watching you do this!

 

[addy1]

Wow that will be neat!

 

[GBBUDD]

Ok, I will use this thread to post updates on my project. Just getting started. Always appreciate hints/comments/suggestions and questions.

This is a roughly 100,000 gallon swim pond being built near San Francisco. I am doing most of the design and construction myself, with a bit of help from a pro. The main pond is about 75' x 40', with a deeper 20'x 50' swimming section. The outer "ring/shelf" in this picture is 2' deep, the next larger shelf is 4' deep, and the swimming area is 5.5' deep. It will be a traditional Aquascape based design, with an intake bay that also acts as a skimmer, and a large wetland biofilter - but I am not using all Aquascape gear to try to save some money. More on that later.

Here is the current state of the project - a big hole in the ground! The wetland has not yet been excavated, that is the next step. It will go "below" the main pond in this picture, in that area marked out with the garden hose where the centipedes are sitting. The wetland will actual be about 6" higher than the pod, so that water flows through a couple of waterfalls down into the main pond.

The intake bay is to the upper left in this picture, the swimming area in the middle obviously. Entry will be from the right on this picture.

View attachment 170425

I'd reevaluate the 6inch water fall. Trust me that will become a huge regret when everything is done. Im imagining your lot is pretty flat but if you look into how much it would cost or do your self a 2 foot tall or even 3 foot tall retaining wall realy won't break the bank in the long tere topm picture. Wil it hurt on everything your doing now probably .

Im assuming the house is just out of frame at the top? This is even more reason to build the area up. Even if not an actual water fall but a stream with the water bouncing off boulders we rs on the way down.

If you do decide it's too much now do your self a favor and order your liner like you were. That way a few years down the road you can just unfold the extra liner build up the bog and make your waterfalls.

Why am I pushing so hard because I did the same as your thinking . A 6 inch waterfall the was so lame could barely see it from the sitting area and 5 years latter I was ripping the entire bog apart and rebuilding simply to have a waterfall that was 3 feet tall and it definitely cost a hell of a lot more then if I had just done it in the beginning.
But In order to get the 6 inch water fall I had to build a 6 foot high retaining wall. So another 3 feet was s very big deal. Especialy considering it was holding back tons of rock and water. Your wetland will be big enough it will not look like a volcano. Will it require some good planting details . Yes will it be beyond worth it ? In my eyes yes and if you talk to any pond owner I'm willing to bet they would agree.

One other thing I'd consider is if you have a centipedes let's say you use a leaching pipe how will the water get into the grid above. I believe the units your looking at have a solid bottom ? Other brands do not, the bottom is open.

 

[Garrik]

First of all, hugely appreciate the feedback!

And you are right on both counts, the area is pretty flat, and the house is above the pond in the picture.

My thinking was that I just need to get the water out of the wetland and back into the pond, and the easiest way to do that is to have some (small) height difference between them. I am actually thinking that most of the water will make its way back via a shallow, wide, slowly moving "stream", and the idea of a small waterfall was just to add a bit of visible movement and noise.

This kind of feeling:

View attachment 170452

I will have somewhere around 12,000 - 15,000 GPH moving through the wetland (still deciding exactly which pumps to use, and yes, I know that is barely enough), so I have quite a bit of water coming back into the pond. But I also want to minimize head because I need flow into the wetland, and going to pumps that can take even 3' of additional head would require me to go to external pumps that are very expensive.

All that said, I will think hard about the waterfall topic...

The Infiltrator units that I am going to use in place of Aquablox are open on the bottom...

 

[Ronfire]

I would go with an external pump. They will be easier to maintain. You will need some sort of screen to protect the pump from stuff getting into it. A priming pot on an external pump is easier to maintain than something in the pond. My issue for my system is string algae so I clean my screen and skimmer when required, depends on the season as to how often. If the pump fails on a submersible pump it can leak oil into the pond. If you spend the money and get a quality external pump it can save power cost, in the long run this will cover the cost of the pricier pump. I chose a Sequence pump because of the power consumption vs cost to run. I just found another I use in a water feature that was $500 for Waterfall about 15' above the pond and 36 " wide. It put out so much water that I divert 1/2 back to the pond . Also don't cheap out in the plumbing, for larger pumps 3" main lines will be worth it and stay away from sharp 90 degree corners. I found someplace that had flow calculator for pond plumbing that has rise, corners , valves ect in the calculator. Spend the money for a good pump system, it hurts now but in a year you will not remember the cost but will enjoy the benefits.. Have fun, enjoy.

 

[addy1]

I bought a huge pre filter for my external pump. Like a big metal basket, made for the job.

It works great. It has a large draw field, which reduces the suction at any one area.

No fish, no snails minimal plant material drawn in.

 

[Garrik]

Today's update...

I've decided on a 1,000 square foot wetland, 25' x 40'.

The wetland will be immediately adjascent to the pond, separated by a foot or two of dirt. That is the curved area at the top of the picture below.

I will build the wetland out of 2 Aquascape snorkels, and 6 centipedes per snorkel (3 on each side, so snorkel in the middle). Half will be built with Aquascape small Aquablox (I have 72 on site already, so just need to buy 24 more). The other half will be build using Infiltrator septic chambers in place of Aquablox, they are about 1/3rd the price and I believe will do the job just as well.

I have decided to use out of the water pumps, since I will be swimming in it. Know anyone who needs a new in box Aquascape 9PL-7000? I have a spare lol I will be using PerformancePro ArtesianPro pumps - their 1 HP high flow model will give me net flow after friction and head loss of about 11,500 GPH per half of the wetland (I will use two pumps). I will go through the liner using bulkheads to keep the suction of the pumps flooded and to reduce fittings and thus friction loss. I will run 4" hard line to the upper and lower midpoints of the wetland, then through the liner again and 'T' to 3" pipe around the sides to feed each of the four quarters of the wetland with about 5,750 GPH.

Water will return to the pond via a waterfall at the upper right corner of the picture above.

The wetland water level will be 12" above the pond water level to allow for a nice waterfall back into the pond.

As always, any comments/hints/suggestions most welcome!

 

[GBBUDD]

If i. Reading your print correctly I'm seeing the septic line running parallel to the centipede. I would think they would do the job better if they , meaning all the rows crossed the snorkel so when its clean out time each row has an unimpeded line.

 

[Garrik]

If i. Reading your print correctly I'm seeing the septic line running parallel to the centipede. I would think they would do the job better if they , meaning all the rows crossed the snorkel so when its clean out time each row has an unimpeded line.

Yep, the plan is to run the septic chambers, which are open on the bottom, perpendicular to the snorkel. That way the water can flow up easily and out horizontally away from the snorkel - so I agree with your suggestion Appreciate it, as always!