Rebuilding a new Above Ground Pond w/ Structural Piping - Anyone have experience

[Roguewarrior0]

New to the forum. I am rebuilding an above the ground pond. This will be replacing a previous one that my sons and I built to grow tilapia. The dimensions will be similar. 12ft (L) x 4ft (W) x 3ft (H). The first one was one of our first DIY outdoor projects. The only one burst after 3 years due to bowing in the center. I just 2x6 wood with pond liner.

I am thinking of rebuilding it using a frame made from 3/4" structural piping. I am hoping the structural piping will provide the strength I will need with these dimensions. The pond will be filled with water from the rain gutters. The pond also provides rain water for my garden.

Has anyone worked with structural piping for this? Otherwise I could rebuild with better lumber and more reinforcements. I have more experience now. Based on the pricing, the cost of wood vs piping is actually pretty similar.

I would appreciate any feedback.

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

Where do you live? What do you mean by “structural piping?” Do you mean PVC pipe?

 

[j.w]

@Roguewarrior0

 

[Roguewarrior0]

I live in Texas, so the weather is warm most of the year. At Lowe's, you can buy "structural piping" and it is used in construction to support weight and transfer it to the ground. It is made of steel. I was going to rough out a rectangle with it and then surround it with wood for reinforcement as well as aethestics.

Old Pond: 900 gallons w/ bog filter
current ponds (3) 250 Rain barrels w/ comet gold fish, bog filters (taro plants)

 

[GBBUDD]

By the time you buy the pipe elbows/welding plywood, fabric protection, Liner fasteners, your better off buying an above ground pool.

Or do it right and build it partly in the ground. Have the ground do the hard work holding the bulk of the pressure. Then do a small foot raised wall

 

[Steph3773]

Our above ground pond was built with 2 layers of marine plywood and wooden framing between them. Early on, before we put stone on the outside, the side bowed…for two reasons, one the idiot that built the pond used the wrong screws to hold the plywood and two the framing wasn’t braced sufficiently between the up and down wood. It’s been in place a few years now and all is good. We did sheath the outside in fake stone, which might help. The first picture is how we ended up…the second was when it bowed and I saw how badly it had been framed…then the finished product.

 

[GBBUDD]

When holding back water, even double plied. I would recommend the double 3/4 and studs at 12 inch increments not 16" and that corner needs to have the pocket full of studs and i would make sure all are tied to e top sides and bottom . Then the top should be double top plates and alternating seems.

i did similar and added gaf deck guard against the ply before i placed 8 oz geotech and then my liner. and on the back side i installed gussets on a 45 from the top to the bottom which was mafia blocks and secured