raised ponds

Does anyone have any experience with a raised pond constructed from brick? We were thinking of a modest sized structure for the front of the house to take the place of ancient foundation plantings recently removed. Much thanks in advance.

escubed.......My ponds are raised. Our back yard sloped into our house, instead of away from our house, so our decks were built fairly high. We built raised ponds in between each deck layer with cement block. I'll try to get a pic, so my confusing commentary makes more sense!
:)

My main pond is in a raised bed built of concrete wall sections that we poured & lifted into place over rebar supports. Still working after several years on some of the elements, but the pond itself is great. It's plumbed to another pond at a lower level that is the biofilter. Our dirt is heavy clay, and digging by hand deep enough to support koi was NOT appealing. Having the raised bed brings the fish up closer. Eventually, when I get the edge of the wall done better, it will be wide enough to sit on and really enjoy them!

Well, a few things to consider ...

1) Make sure to use a liner.

2) I see that you're in MA. Are you planning on keeping fish in this pond? If so, given your more northernly environ I would recommend not attempting to over-winter fish in there. Being raised makes all the more likely that the water will freeze over and, perhaps, rather deeply. Small raised ponds do provide added challenges for a fish keeper.

3) It would probably make sense to make the load bearing walls of your pond with cinder block and brick the outside with nicer brick afterwards. During construction you will want to drive some appropriate lengths of rebar into the ground and also make sure to fill each cinder block with concrete. Remember, water weighs a LOT!

Thanks for all the advice. We aren't sure if we are going with a pond or not. After having the plants in front of the house for over 25 years my wife is enjoying the open space. I like the idea of a water feature and we'll have to weigh the pros and cons. Mosquitos are an issue as well. I am an aquatic ecologist and have mentioned to my wife that we could use flatworms, scuds or backswimmers instead of fish but she isn't impressed. We are clearing the other side of the house next week so maybe I can convince her that the pond should be on that side.

Here is a picture of my above ground pond. I used a pre formed pond and put rocks around it. I have planted some more plants since this picture but my koi do fine. It's not a big as I would like it to be but I rent and did not want to dig.

Betty

This is my above ground pond. It was here when I bought the house and I believe it's an old satellite dish. It's steel and very heavy. When it settled off kilter last summer it took three guys to level it even almost empty. I don't know where one could find another but the old gentleman I who lived here was an incredible DIY innovator.

Very nice KatyMac!!!

Excuse the mess while I do my summer time planting and clean-ups. These are some of my ponds, built above ground out of cement block lined with black pond liner. The decks are built in different levels around them.

The large one is about 7x9 and 3 feet deep, the smaller one is about 7x5, and the smallest, is about 6x4.

My filters are usually hidden back in the banana trees, but the weather has been nice, so time to clean everything before the really hot weather arrives.

Oooo, oooo! Gorgeous!

MerryMary ..... what a COOL setup!!!!

My wife is going to hate you! :o)

wormwood777.....She can hate me one more time, I'm hoping to add one more small one (basically I hate mowing, so ponds take up more lawn space!)

:)

That's exactly what I'VE been thinking!!!!