How to Build a Pond
It's easier than you think!
Backyard water features are becoming increasingly popular. They are soothing to see and hear and will bring beautiful wildlife into your yard. If well thought out and properly maintained, a water garden will also add substantial value to your property.
The following are a few things you will want to know before moving forward with creating a babbling water garden:
What, Where, & Safety
First, identify your objectives: is a general water feature enough, or would you like to introduce fish and wildlife into your pond? The answer to this question will impact the depth and size of your pond, where you put it, and what kind of pumps, filters and plants you will need to sustain it.
Next, evaluate where you will put your pond. Placing it somewhere close to your house will ensure your enjoyment of its sites and sounds all year round. On the other hand, make sure to keep it out of the path of rain runoff as this can carry chemicals and garden debris into the pond. Also, avoid placing it under a tree for the simple fact that you will have to constantly scoop fallen leaves from it, and although a shaded pond is fine for fish ponds, you will need a certain number of hours of direct sunlight to grow some water plants.
Safety is a key consideration when building your pond. Any water features introduce drowning hazards to the backyard. Check with your local municipality if you are required to fence off your pond. Also, once you have marked out the shape of your pond, check with the municipality again to make sure you are not going to hit any shallow pipes or cables during your project.
Pond Liners
Once you are in the clear, start digging! If you are planning a habitat for gold fish or Koi, make sure to research what depths you need to reach to accommodate them. If you are just planning a simple water garden, dig down 16” (distributing the excess earth evenly around the edges of the hole), and another 10 inches deeper in one area that will form a pit to host the pump.
Now you are ready to line the pond. There are 2 distinctly different types of pond liners available: the rubber (flexible) pond liner, and the rigid pre-formed shell.
The flexible pond liner is not as restrictive on design and size as the pre-formed shell, but it can mean a little more work.
A few steps can be taken to prepare the surface of the hole and pit to better protect a rubber liner, but both are optional. The first method is to layer the hole and pit with screened mason's sand, and the other is to pre-line the pond with underlayment. Both these optional steps will protect the rubber pond liner from punctures.
Calculating the size of the pond liner can be a bit tricky. Some sites offer an automatic calculator to help you determine the total dimensions, but this simple formula will also do the trick:
- Length of liner = 2 x max pond depth + max length of pond + 1m (to be safe!)
- Width of liner = 2 x max depth + max width + 1m (to be safe again!)
If you choose a ridgid pre-formed shell the shape and size of your pond is predetermined.
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Liners
(view all)
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$21.97
at
The Home Depot
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$179.00
at
The Home Depot
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$1,204.06
2
stores
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Pumps & Filters
Pumps are the heart of any fishpond or water garden. They are essential for creating water effects and oxygenating the water so plants and fish can thrive.
The key to choosing an effective pump is to determine your required flow rate. The flow rate refers to the number of gallons of water that a unit can pump over the course of an hour and is measured in GPH (Gallons per Hour). The minimum flow rate should be at least half your pond volume, but if you intend to include fountains or other water features, this will not be sufficient. The use of a filter and UV sterilizer will also impact your flow rate requirements, so be sure to take all these factors into account before selecting your pump.
There are 2 types of pumps available:
- Submersible Pump – sits inside the pond and is best suited to small/medium sized (about 200 – 800 gallons) designs. Flow rates range from 250 GPH to 4,100 GPH, and they are easy to install. The downside of a submersible pump is that once the motor wears out the entire unit has to be replaced.
- External Pump – sits out of the water and is best suited for larger ponds of 1000 gallons or more. They tend to be more energy efficient, which results in lower operating costs. Flow rates range from 1800 GPH to 7000GPH.
While the pump oxygenates the water, the filter is responsible for cleaning the water. A filter combined with a UV sterilizer is your best recipe for crystal clear water.
You will need to purchase the filter according to pond volume, which can be calculated using this formula:
- Pond Volume in Gallons = Average Width x Average Length x Average Depth x 6.23
- Pond Volume in Litres = Average Width x Average Length x Average Depth x 4.5
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Pumps
(view all)
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$19.99
at
Canadian Tire Corp
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$209.00
at
The Home Depot
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$116.39
2
stores
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Pond Accessories
The most common water garden accessories are fountains. They not only bring beautiful visuals and sounds to your yard, they also help ensure the health of your pond animals by oxygenating the water.
Plants are a naturally beautiful addition that can transform your water feature into a real water garden. A nursery professional will be able to make recommendations according to the location of your pond and the aquatic animals you have living in it.
Ornamental statues or rock features are also popular accessories.
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Decorative Accessories
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$19.99
at
Canadian Tire Corp
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$34.99
at
The Home Depot
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$16.99
at
Canadian Tire Corp
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Maintaining Your Pond
As long as the pump and filter are working in your pond, there should be minimal maintenance to go along with it. Treatments are however available to remove harmful naturally occurring ammonia, or to cleanse the water if you find yourself in need.
Winterizing a water garden requires removing the leaves with a net and vacuuming the sludge off the bottom with a specialty vacuum or a shop vacuum.
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Treatments
(view all)
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$39.99
at
Canadian Tire Corp
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$39.99
at
Canadian Tire Corp
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$89.99
at
Canadian Tire Corp
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