This place has done wonders for my soul, better than chicken soup

[chibae]

I have had a garden "micro" pond for years, with hopes of moving up to a much larger container pond either this year or in the spring of 2026. Well, four weeks ago my daughter received a cancer diagnosis (we have high hopes, starts chemo on Tuesday). I have spent my downtime going down the pond rabbit hole. I have read all of the pages of threads here, followed links, read the articles, explored other sources to deny or confirm, etc. It has helped me get out of my head to just go in a new direction for a while when I need it.

I already have water test kit, TDS meter, etc from decades of orchid and tropical carnivours plant care. So, I have "practicing" on my little pond, seeing what I can do for it without chemicals. I now know, side quest, more than I ever thought I would about snails. Plus a bonus, I want some rain lilies and know exactly where to put them.

 

[GBBUDD]

Sorry to hear of he diagnosis, but on the bright side they have many tools for combatting cancer today. Good news is there is even more information out there you have only scratched the depths of the rabbit hole. I was doing the same 7 years ago now it's hard to believe i broke grown that long ago x mass of 2017. The wife had asked that we put a LITTLE water feature in the corner of the patio, and as she describes it now i misunderstood and the water feature now surrounds the patio. ooops....

I have spent a lot of time pond side these days after telling the corporate world i had, had enough of thinking like todays BS. And have not regretted one minute of it. I will suggest looking into how to build with pond liner over a preformed of any kind. in the long run it is far easier as well as creativity is only limited by your mind. If you realy want to loose all sense of normalcy go read my showcase. that will get your mind in a knot.. lol

Wish you and your daughter the best..

 

[chibae]

@GBBUDD Thank you for the kind response. We have decided on a container rather than a liner for a few reasons. The ground in the backyard is impossible to dig without a lot of effort and power tools. The builders, house is 25 years old, we bought it five years ago, dumped truck loads of rocks, broken bricks, etc. then compacted it all and put a small layer of topsoil over it to hold the grass. It was hard work putting in the posts for the garden deer fence and for the grape trellises. I had to hire someone to dig out enough rock, etc to bury my pond liners that hold my two bog gardens. Running power lines to the back workshop took a rented trencher. The water table in the front yard (on a slight slope) is so high that in a "good" rain we get ponding.

My husband and I are both retired now. So the plan, to keep things simple, is as large a container as I can convince him of (thinking Rubbermaid style troughs) partially buried, with hired help, then landscaped around it. After twenty years with an in-ground pool (prior house) we are avoiding anything that at some point can't be somewhat easy to dismantle.

 

[GBBUDD]

@GBBUDD Thank you for the kind response. We have decided on a container rather than a liner for a few reasons. The ground in the backyard is impossible to dig without a lot of effort and power tools. The builders, house is 25 years old, we bought it five years ago, dumped truck loads of rocks, broken bricks, etc. then compacted it all and put a small layer of topsoil over it to hold the grass. It was hard work putting in the posts for the garden deer fence and for the grape trellises. I had to hire someone to dig out enough rock, etc to bury my pond liners that hold my two bog gardens. Running power lines to the back workshop took a rented trencher. The water table in the front yard (on a slight slope) is so high that in a "good" rain we get ponding.

My husband and I are both retired now. So the plan, to keep things simple, is as large a container as I can convince him of (thinking Rubbermaid style troughs) partially buried, with hired help, then landscaped around it. After twenty years with an in-ground pool (prior house) we are avoiding anything that at some point can't be somewhat easy to dismantle.

Understood im looking at this bohemouth i have built now in my 60's and saying it will help keep my busy and young. I would take a rubbermaid over any preformed tubs they call ponds out there that i know of. i know people who have those 150 gallon rubbermaids for their horse and thave been there 20 years sitting in the sun and getting abused by the horses. dang builders ..... Never buy the builders place.... it will always have a few surprises.

Long story short, i had an insulated sliding glass door panel. I built into an arched top window in my first house. so in the upper corners of the slider glass panel was hidden behind the custom rounded trim work and sheet rock. WELL I left a few longer finish nails sticking uot a half inch to be able to hang x mass lights on these nails . it was high enough no one ever saw them.
Well when i got divorced TO TOLD BY 6 YEAR OLD MAKE SURE MOM NEVER TRIES TO DRIVE THOSE NAILS . well it wasn't her but her BF and my son saw him and said hey my dad said to never drive those nails. His responce was your DAD in not here This is our home. He proceeded to drive the nail and blew the glass panel into a million pieces being tempered. Lucky for them it WAS a thermal pane meaning two panes of gas , that was now one . Hearing That story MADE MY DAY ......

 

[j.w]

I have had a garden "micro" pond for years, with hopes of moving up to a much larger container pond either this year or in the spring of 2026. Well, four weeks ago my daughter received a cancer diagnosis (we have high hopes, starts chemo on Tuesday). I have spent my downtime going down the pond rabbit hole. I have read all of the pages of threads here, followed links, read the articles, explored other sources to deny or confirm, etc. It has helped me get out of my head to just go in a new direction for a while when I need it.

I already have water test kit, TDS meter, etc from decades of orchid and tropical carnivours plant care. So, I have "practicing" on my little pond, seeing what I can do for it without chemicals. I now know, side quest, more than I ever thought I would about snails. Plus a bonus, I want some rain lilies and know exactly where to put them.

Prayers for your daughter. We also have a cancer issue also going on in our family right now. Will be treated soon w/radiation for 5&1/2 wks.
Hope you find all the info you need here to get your little pond started. @addy1 has some nice above the ground ponds of various types. Also you could make a whole larger pond out of liner using big timber like safe wood for the edging. Put down lots of protective underlay so junk in the ground can't poke through. I guess you could even build it on some kind of a flat platform made of something junk can't ever get through. Have to make sure it is perfectly flat but you have to do that w/any container pond also.
Here are some photo's of idea's and you can make it small or large or anything in-between: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=ab...8d/2e/f1/8d2ef104f88af6908aa260107b168b9a.jpg

 

[chibae]

Prayers for your daughter. We also have a cancer issue also going on in our family right now. Will be treated soon w/radiation for 5&1/2 wks.
Hope you find all the info you need here to get your little pond started. @addy1 has some nice above the ground ponds of various types. Also you could make a whole larger pond out of liner using big timber like safe wood for the edging. Put down lots of protective underlay so junk in the ground can't poke through. I guess you could even build it on some kind of a flat platform made of something junk can't ever get through. Have to make sure it is perfectly flat but you have to do that w/any container pond also.
Here are some photo's of idea's and you can make it small or large or anything in-between: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=above+ground+pond+photos&atb=v257-1&ia=images&iax=images&iai=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8d/2e/f1/8d2ef104f88af6908aa260107b168b9a.jpg

That's a great link. Thank you.

 

[Lisak1]

I have find so much solace in my pond and in my ponding friends here. Life can be so hard sometimes, but finding these tiny peaceful pockets in life can help alleviate the resulting stress and help mend the broken heart.

 

[GBBUDD]

I have find so much solace in my pond and in my ponding friends here. Life can be so hard sometimes, but finding these tiny peaceful pockets in life can help alleviate the resulting stress and help mend the broken heart.

Even for this gruff biker guy , the pond and watching the fish and wildlife calm me more than almost anything . The landscaping keeps me busy {like i need help with that} but seeing a hawk come flying in or even a tiny sparrow who may come to get a drink or take a bath. The occasional turtle or Ribbon snake, i find little else id rather be doing then sitting in my chair on a light rainy day only me and the fish.

 

[addy1]

I agree stay away from preforms, I had them got rid of them.
Cracked, heaved, miserable to level.

I have a 1000 and 300 gallon stock tank. They work great. The 1000 gallon has been partially buried for 14ish years.

 

[chibae]

I agree stay away from preforms, I had them got rid of them.
Cracked, heaved, miserable to level.

I have a 1000 and 300 gallon stock tank. They work great. The 1000 gallon has been partially buried for 14ish years.

My preforms have holes drilled along the bottom and are partially buried for use as bog gardens. The largest is 12" deep. So my 18" tall micro pond is buried in it to provide stability and winter protection. Definitely looking towards a stock tank, as I also want depth.