Planning a new Pond Project!

YShahar

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That weird area at about 1:00 -- with the wonky flat rock on top of underlayment -- that is a blocked-in void where the gate valve is for the other pond. I need to be able to access it. I'm going to put a pretty pot of some trailing kind of plant on top of it.
I like that idea! So this little pond connects to another pond for circulation?
 
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I like that idea! So this little pond connects to another pond for circulation?
No - it is just right next to it. Previously, I had a pre-formed pool as a planter for my lotus - dug into the ground. It never looked very good. This is the new and "improved" version of that. Liner instead of pre-formed plastic. When I enlarged the footprint, it encroached upon the buried drain line from the other pond's waterfall filter, so I just worked around it. This little pool has still water. I'm hoping some frogs will find it!
 
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Good morning! Just doing a little update, here. We talked with my Dad and decided it will be good for him to have a small to medium pond with a waterfall filter (pads and bio balls) and a small intake bay. He can scoop debris out of the intake bay and other more complicated maintenance can be done by visiting family - once or twice a year. (Like cleaning out the filter falls.) We are planning to give him a drain out the bottom of the filter falls, so he can do like I do - and periodically let gunk settle to the bottom and drain out into the garden. This has worked well for my pond out front. Super easy - just turn off the pump, let things settle, then open the gate valve. Close and re-start -- easy peasy!
I was very pleased with the customer service from Webb's Online/Universal Ponds. I put a bunch of stuff in my shopping cart and then called. A guy listened to my request for a consultation about equipment and then said he would have a man named Joe call me back. Joe was really great! He pointed out some areas where I could make things easier (instead of this check valve assembly, which we would have to adapt to the tubing we are using -- use this one, which comes with all the adapters.) He figured out all the plumbing parts I would need. He asked lots of questions and walked through the whole thing. He said to give him a day, during which time he would add a couple of parts to the cart and carefully check through everything again. He called me the next day and went over things again -- AND he had managed to get me a small discount. I ordered everything -- so I guess this will really happen!!!!!!! :p
 
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You should make an area outside the pond rocks where theres water two inches deep. so dad can watch the birds bath.
 
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Good morning! Just doing a little update, here. We talked with my Dad and decided it will be good for him to have a small to medium pond with a waterfall filter (pads and bio balls) and a small intake bay. He can scoop debris out of the intake bay and other more complicated maintenance can be done by visiting family - once or twice a year. (Like cleaning out the filter falls.) We are planning to give him a drain out the bottom of the filter falls, so he can do like I do - and periodically let gunk settle to the bottom and drain out into the garden. This has worked well for my pond out front. Super easy - just turn off the pump, let things settle, then open the gate valve. Close and re-start -- easy peasy!
I was very pleased with the customer service from Webb's Online/Universal Ponds. I put a bunch of stuff in my shopping cart and then called. A guy listened to my request for a consultation about equipment and then said he would have a man named Joe call me back. Joe was really great! He pointed out some areas where I could make things easier (instead of this check valve assembly, which we would have to adapt to the tubing we are using -- use this one, which comes with all the adapters.) He figured out all the plumbing parts I would need. He asked lots of questions and walked through the whole thing. He said to give him a day, during which time he would add a couple of parts to the cart and carefully check through everything again. He called me the next day and went over things again -- AND he had managed to get me a small discount. I ordered everything -- so I guess this will really happen!!!!!!! :p
I have enjoyed ordering from Webb's also. Have not had personal interaction with them but no issues with the orders. I think it is important to help small businesses like this in a niche industry, sure you can buy a lot of this stuff on Amazon but its nice to support these types of businesses.
 
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You should make an area outside the pond rocks where theres water two inches deep. so dad can watch the birds bath.
I like that idea! I ordered the largest liner I could - without paying for separate freight, etc. - which was 20 x 20. When we get there, we will just dig to accommodate and make the most of that liner. I'm absolutely planning some little areas like that!
 
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Just a little update. We are planning to go up and do the pond this summer - exact dates tbd. Equipment is arriving and my Dad is getting excited!
 
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This is a plant question, but I'm including it here, since it is part of the new pond project.
The waterfall filter we purchased for my Dad has multiple parts, including a tray at the top to hold medium rocks and plants. I know a lot will have to happen as we work, depending on what rocks we have, etc.
Do you think we should stick with rocks up there? Or a combo of rocks and a shallow-rooted plant? If the latter, what plant would be good?
The filter is an Atlantic Filterfalls BF1600.
 

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YShahar

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This is a plant question, but I'm including it here, since it is part of the new pond project.
The waterfall filter we purchased for my Dad has multiple parts, including a tray at the top to hold medium rocks and plants. I know a lot will have to happen as we work, depending on what rocks we have, etc.
Do you think we should stick with rocks up there? Or a combo of rocks and a shallow-rooted plant? If the latter, what plant would be good?
The filter is an Atlantic Filterfalls BF1600.

Could you do a combination of low growing plants and rocks? If you can use the same rocks and plants on the slope above the biofalls, that would help it blend in. I don't know what grows where your dad lives, but I'll bet there are a lot of options for trailing plants that would work.
 
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Could you do a combination of low growing plants and rocks? If you can use the same rocks and plants on the slope above the biofalls, that would help it blend in. I don't know what grows where your dad lives, but I'll bet there are a lot of options for trailing plants that would work.
Creeping Jenny! My brother is doing demo on the old water feature and sent a few photos. My Dad has a ton of creeping Jenny so we can move a little to the filter. Thanks for sparking that idea!
 
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That was my suggestion as well , creping jenny is shallow rooted but it will need a little. but the more i think bout it , i think impatience is a better choice with maybe a hyacinth These will both die out over the winter easy to remove and won't grow to the point they will redirect the water that wouldn't be easily fixed. oh and the hyacinth is to be between the rocks sitting in water
 
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You may have seen in the general area that the pond project had an unpleasant and unexpected twist. My Dad broke his hip. "Pro tip:" (as the kids jokingly say) keep your worksite impeccably tidy and safe and do not allow the homeowner access to the worksite!!!!! The pond was good, though. Photos to follow.
 
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Construction
 

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More construction:
 

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Rock time. Keep in mind we were limited to what I could move on my own and what we could carry on my Dad's pickup. Of course, a real pond contractor could have moved much larger rocks. We had to work with what he had and what we could easily get.
 

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