Newbie to ponds

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Hi guys
I plan to make a raised bed pond approx 7ft long by 4/5ft wide by 2/3ft high, here is my issues, I would like to have 1/2ft into the ground as well as the 2/3ft raised frame, do I need to somehow support the frame ? Was going to make it like a stud wall but with 4x8 and finish the outer with deck board, fixed together with 120mm timberlok screws countersunk and capped.

Like I say my main concern is am I ok to put the framework around a 2ft deep hole, could I leave a ledge for the frame to sit on ?

Thanks and sorry if my question sounds bizarre.
 
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As Meyer stated, if you're going to have a wall you will want to do a concrete ring footer, something like this:

IMG_5150.JPG


IMG_5166.JPG

IMG_5189.JPG
 
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Thanks guys it's not going to be a wall, its just making the depth deeper with the raised frame around it, I was leaving around half a foot from the raised frame to the hole was thinking I could do without footings, it will be resting on the ground with a 1/2 foot ledge from frame to hole.
 
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welcome2.gif

I'm looking to build something similar to what you described, good luck, and hopefully you will post your journey from start to finish!

eta: I still think you need footings!
 

addy1

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Welcome to our group!. Mine is in the ground so can't help with your ??.
 

Meyer Jordan

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Thanks guys it's not going to be a wall, its just making the depth deeper with the raised frame around it, I was leaving around half a foot from the raised frame to the hole was thinking I could do without footings, it will be resting on the ground with a 1/2 foot ledge from frame to hole.

A wooden wall must be anchored in some fashion or it will "walk" over time.
 
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Hi and Welcome! I don't think a 2x4 wall will be stable with the pressure of the water against it. Obviously if someone did the engineering they could tell you, but I have done concrete work and typically 2x4 walls need to be kicked to keep them from buckling if there is a lot of pressure against it. The bottom of the wall will have more pressure against it than the top. I'm guessing somewhere 150-200 lbs per square foot close to the bottom of a 2-3 ft high wall. Maybe build your wall before setting it in the pond and prop it up on the ends and try standing on it if you weigh around that much. I doubt it will hold you. Also if it is not perfectly level this will create more problems so a footing makes sense to do as well.
 

j.w

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Am I understanding this right? I thought the part out of the ground was not going to be very high. Only 1/2 ft high above the edge of pond? Or is it going to be 2 to 3 ft above the ground level? I am confused.
 
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I interpreted the following:

" I would like to have 1/2ft into the ground as well as the 2/3ft raised frame"

to mean:

"I would like to have 1 to 2 feet into the ground as well as 2 to 3 feet raised frame"

So if I read that right we are talking about up to 5 feet of water. If that's the case you're really going to want a cement collar (footing) that you can use to both support the wall above ground and also help stabilize the wall below ground. Also, two-to-three feet of water is going to put a LOT of lateral pressure on the walls.
 
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Am I understanding this right? I thought the part out of the ground was not going to be very high. Only 1/2 ft high above the edge of pond? Or is it going to be 2 to 3 ft above the ground level? I am confused.
It's going to be 2ft above ground level and 1/2 foot below ground with a ledge of around half a foot from the framework to the hole, I was actually thinking of using metal spikes to secure the framework would this work ??
 
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I'm struggling to understand what the difference is that if you just have a raised pond you don't need footings but if you have sunken and raised you need footings ?
 

MoonShadows

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Welcome, there are lots of above ground pond kits available, I don't know how extensive the framing is on them. @MoonShadows has one, maybe can offer some insight.
@Faebinder , do you have any insight?

The framing around my 425 gallon pond is made from redwood 2x3's with interlocking notches at the ends (think log cabin). Below is a pic before I attached the 3 benches. The pond is about 6' wide and 30" deep. The lack of heavy duty framing, I believe, has to do with the fact that it is a hexagon...pulling evenly in all 6 directions. Of course as variables change...the shape of a pond....the water volume...the length the sides...the size of the frame needs to be able to accommodate all these.

008-Apr_15.jpg
 

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