Need help with first and new pond

[Onyxlinkia]

Hi, this is my first pond building experience and would like to get help. I dug down in the area right next to my patio and found sprinkler pipe(2ft deep) on one end where I want to put water fall.It was installed before I moved in so I had no idea. The pond is small, about 5 ftx 4ftx 3 ft deep.

My question is can I leave the pipe the way it is (by building water fall on top of it) or I need to reroute it?

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[Lisak1]

If it's a working sprinkler system, I wouldn't build anything over it in case you ever need to access it.

 

[sissy]

I would fill that side back to the pipe and since it is not that much you could always dig out a little from another side or go a little deeper or maybe make it a half raised pond .I did mine half raised because of shale and it worked out better for it .You don't have to even build the whole pond up just part of it and dirt that is extra can do a waterfall area

 

[DrCase]

It's realy easy to move the sprinkler pipe out of the way

 

[Onyxlinkia]

Hi, thanks for your replies. I want to move the pipes away but I have limited space to work with but I still will give it a try.

Now another silly question, if I have 'overdug' the dirt walls. I had to dig more than I wanted to see where the sprinkler pipes go. Can I back fill it and will it still hold its place and for me to put the liner against it?

 

[Lisak1]

You can backfill behind your liner. Just make sure you use dirt that will compact and really tamp it down. Depending on your soil, wetting it as you tamp may also help harden it.

 

[Mmathis]

Just curious, but 1) where do you live, and 2) are you planning to have fish and what kind?

 

[Onyxlinkia]

Hi, i'm in socal and only plan to keep goldfish. Koi would be nice but too small for them

 

[sissy]

shubbies are pretty just remember they do have babies so don't buy to many to start with

 

[Onyxlinkia]

I'm thinking to start with 6 or so and yes I know they will breed like rabbit

 

[sissy]

mine had 20 plus babies the first year.I had people to give them to already.I only had 2 koi and 4 fancy tail and 2 fantails and 2 shubbies in 2500 gallons

 

[Onyxlinkia]

Regarding edging stones, I was thinking of getting some flagstones but they are pricey. Any other alternatives or suggestions?

 

[addy1]

Search stream beds, roadside, fields etc. You can find a lot of nice stones.

 

[sissy]

yep free is better .I even posted on a local sight here and got lots of calls and picked up rocks ,concrete block and even some retaining wall block that helped a lot with saving money on the rebuild .Amazing what people will give away if you offer to pick it up

 

[Onyxlinkia]

Ok, I've relocated the sprinkler pipes, it's time consuming and lots of work but it's done. My next step is to build up side walls and shelves to hide the liners. My next question is how do you hide the power cord of the pump and flexible tubing from the pump to the water fall?