My Deck Pond From the Start

[Nick83]

Hello, a couple of months ago I decided to embark on a project for my wife which she has been wanting for years now and I have been putting it off. Well, one day I grabbed my measuring tools and a circular saw. The first cut into my raised front porch deck was the hardest because I knew that there was no turning back. I continued to cut a 3.5ft by 7ft opening and that was the easy part.

Now, I had a big rectangle cut out from my deck the began shoveling out dirt to get the the depth I was aiming for which is about 35inches to the top of the deck. Once I have shoveled out the dirt/sand I was ready to create an insulation and support wall on all four sides and prepare for the lining. Its not a professionally made structure but dang near close.

After I had the construction out of the way I planned how I needed to lay down the liner(which was probably the most frustrating part). Then it was onto securing it to a border trim. Once I was happy with that, let the water filling commence. I'm on a well so I get my water directly from the freshwater water springs that run under my property so I knew I was getting clean water not heavily chlorinated water.

Getting filtration going took longer than I had hoped so I added an air stone to get the water moving and breathing. I transplanted some hornwort plants from the pond in my yard because there was an over abundance anyway. After a few weeks I began adding some goldfish snails and tadpoles.

So that's my story of the start of my pond. Please feel free to chime in as I will use this thread for updates and picture/videos to come!

 

[MoonShadows]

Great project, @Nick83. I like it! Can you detail how you created the support walls. Are they sunk into the ground? What size lumber, etc? Thanks.

 

[Nick83]

@MoonShadows For the support braces I screwed underneath the deck a 2x4 laid flat trim to screw in treated pine vertical so they were flush with the cut out deck. I used 4 vertical 2x4s at each end and did the same with the sides but used 6 planks. Since I dug out about a 12-16" I used most of that sand for support at the bottom. Once the framing was in place I tacked up some weather proofing. Then after that I used treated 1/2" plywood to box it in with more decking screws(countersunk). I left the bottom bare with sand so I was able to build up the bottom edges.
In hindsight I wish I would have dug out a place for a prefilter and pump rather than having the prefilter above the pond floor. Somewhere down the road I plan on adding a trap door on the deck and box in a place for my canister filter, aerator and such to keep them safe under the deck from the element's while keeping the deck aesthetically pleasing without all the visible plumbing.

 

[MoonShadows]

Thanks for that info @Nick83. Please keep posting pics and info as you progress. I am thinking of doing something similar.

 

[Nick83]

You're welcome @MoonShadows . I certainly will post updates and more pictures as the pond evolves. I went to my local water garden supplier and picked out some plants that I'm going to pick up tomorrow. They have a a really big selection so it took some time to pick something out.

 

[Gemma]

Can't wait to see more, it's gonna be awesome!

 

[Nick83]

Thank you @Gemma. I picked up my Lillie's this morning I ended up getting a Cororado and a Rhonda keys. The Rhonda has little extra sprouts so I was very happy to get a little extra from that plant.

Pictures soon to come!

 

[Nick83]

I had to put the plants on some baskets to get them closer to the surface or the flower buds would be below the surface and I wouldnt be able to enjoy them. Bottom picture is the Rhonda and top show shows the cororado on the left.

 

[j.w]

You will have many hours of enjoyment from your new pond. Pretty bloom on that new lily w/many more to come

 

[Nick83]

Indeed! Its becoming a very tranquil atmosphere.

 

[Gemma]

I love that color!!

 

[addy1]

Beautiful lily! Love the tropical colors. Great looking deck pond

 

[Nick83]

Thank you @addy1. I really appreciate that! My wife wants to stain the boarder with a natural paint/stain called Unicorn Spit. I think that will definitely give it a nice tropical look rather than bare wood.

 

[texmaster]

Very nice looking deck!

 

[Nick83]

This evening I pulled up my prefilter and it was full of gunk so I rinsed it off then opened my canister and the first 3 layers were also full of gunk. I rinsed those off with well water so I didnt kill off any beneficial bacteria.