making a pond need advice Please

HI my DH has said I can have a small pond and while I was cleaning my car he started digging for it.
I was only talking and didn't mean we had to start it now but anyway.

picture below of the area and the hole...I did get 2 "shelfs" on each side dig out also and we are planning on having a waterfall form the top of the timbers into the pond.
I am looking at plants for sure.
He is talking the pump being in the water at the bottom with a "hose" coming up from it to above the timbers to make the waterfall.

HELP?!?!
I want this to be as low maintenance as possible and realize there will be electric costs with the pump.
He is planning on using rubber roofing for the liner since we have some that we have been using to starve out bamboo roots.

Mibus2 - congrats on your soon-to-be pond. Your picture didn't show up. Can you retry? Do you plan to have fish or just plants? What will the dimensions be?

ok here is the picture I hope
and jsut made a drawing with the dimensions will post it next

am thinking only plants for now ...maybe some gold fish later ..but that is a maybe

here is a small drawing of it with the measurements I just took.
DH was thinking of using rubber roofing for the liner but it is not easy to mold in to shape so I think I have him talked into using it as the underlining then we can get a pond liner to put over it that way the roofing will protect against any bamboo roots that might be near by (long story but am trying to kill off the bamboo left)

thanks SongsofJoy for even asking
but the idea is a scratch..once I started going over things pumps, filter and liner to do it the right way it's a no go for now so am filling the hole back in no need to have a hole sitting there waiting for a some day thing.

Awe .... here is a shot of mine. I like your waterfall idea.

I have a temporary liner made out of a cheap plastic tarp. $20.00 at the hardware store. I have a $20.00 aquarium power head circulating the water and about 30 feeder goldfish for $10.00.

Total investment $50.00. Mind you, this was just to get my pond rolling. A purchase here and there for next year.

willie, that is wonderful! Phyllis, this lady can help you get started for sure. I have the stock tank, $109...no digging. Fountain pump from HD $89 +tax. Aqaurium aereator, WallyWorld, $29.00. My biggest problem is the six koi. Takes lots of chemicals to keep the water just so. And the food. Have been trying to give the koi away as I will be out of commission for some 3-4 months and Mike has all he can do without fish to worry about. If I give them away will start over next year with goldfish. They aren't so delicate.

LouC

Oh, and several pond plants, mostly from other DGer's.

thanks ladies for the pictures and the ideas wonderful ponds!!!
but with where it was going to be I would have to make sure at least the liner was the right to start with there would be no putting in a new one later.
I thought about going with one for an aquarium but wasn't' sure if that would work with a waterfall and even talked the tyler pond place today and she said a pump that would handle the waterfall and pond for 90. and then the filter without the uv light for 50. (but in texas you really need the uv and that was 290.)
and she would sell me liner for 80cents a sq ft but HD had one for around 60.
but I already started filling the spot back in.

Well go figure men can't make up their minds ........and they complain about us women. LOL

Went into town today just to look around at things, get ideas and prices and we cam home with

mind you it isn't the best stuff but it is a start and he even looked at the uv light but I said we can start without it for now
so tonight we have

well dang have to post again to put the picture in editing doesn't give you the option to add it

This message was edited Jul 16, 2008 9:35 PM

ok here we go helps to pay attention to what button you are clicking on LOL

I am SOOOOO jealous ... I probably won't start on my liner until this Fall at the earliest .... most likely next spring ..... Good thing the business has been continually improving!!

I did just buy 6 koi babies yesterday (3) 3" and (3) 4-5" for about $25.00. Mesmerizing ....

Looks like you have a GREAT start on things. I do want to see more photos!!
(how demanding is that!??! But, I do thank you, kindly)

Don't tell anyone I said so, but, we guys probably change our minds more often than you gals!! :-)

well I kinda feel like a dope as I had posted asking for advise then turned around and said it was a no go which it was by what he had said ....I do not like it when he says something seriously then quickly changes his mind it's such a let down
and I know nothing hehehe

so I was trying to find ways to make it work cheap just to get something since I have no place for any of the cute little table top or patio fountains and the dog would knock those over with her tail.

I was not about to take and go buy things without DH going along and agreeing on doing it either

oh I plan on pictures I have to have them to show the progress on my website for picture journal pages anyway.
so family can see it too since they are back in Illinois.

well off to round up rocks from the property so we can start working on the waterfall set up.

Hey Phyllis! Does Doug know when has been had? You are soooo clever.
Mike never knows what hit him. Always thinks it is his idea. hahahaha

Chris

(taking notes)

This message was edited Jul 17, 2008 10:37 AM

LOl willie
make sure you take notes that when you use the black foam for waterfalls when they say to use it a 1/3 of the way in the spots you want to direct the water you do that or maybe a lil less see picture below....but we will be trimming it back once it is cured. lol

LouC ....ROFL....yeah he knows I told ya I wasn't going to buy the stuff without him with me and him saying let's do this the right way if we're going to do it ...of course the pump and filter aren't the best but they will work for now and I can always upgrade as time goes by.

note for the ladies : the men may grumble about it but they can't fool ya when they are right in there workin' with ya to get it set up and going...mine is having just as much fun with this as I am and is already pokin' fun at me that there are no plants in it or goldfish

Phyllis

I bought my first koi babies yesterday .... now the REAL excitement begins.

I am going to wait until later in August to get any fish IF I get any...plants first but I have to remember the name of the ones to use to help filter the water.

ooh .... pass that plant info along, for sure!

here's one link to share to start with as there are plants that can't be grown some states
http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/seagrant/invlists.html

Thanks there are some plants that have been mentioned favorably that we can't grow here, like Parrotfeather.

glad to help

I know I was looking online at pond plants and thought owww I like Water Hyacinth...but then I found that site and looked and nope can't have it in Texas :( oh well will figure out what I can have and what I can use that will grow tall to kinda hide the backside of the pond by the waterfall

We can't have Water Hyacinth here either.

Canna and or Louisiana Iris make a good background.

can I use cannas like I have no in the ground or do they have to be special ones for ponds????
I was looking at cat tails too for the sides LOL

I love cat tails and the ones that have little fuzzy balls on them that grow by them most of the time. I can't think of what they are called right now.

Just plain ole canna. Also EE, caladium, fern, you'd actually be ok with just about anything. Wish we were closer and I could fix you up right now.

Chris

Almost said bamboo but it would have to be very contained or it would grow through your liner. Some one has said to line with old carpet before putting down the plastic liner for even more protection.

Went out this morning and my most favorite koi was floating on her back. sniff, sniff. Took the other 5 next door to Becky to add to the other 150 she has. Mike has more than enough on his plate for now. Took the shop-vac and cleaned it real good. Will replant the pond plants tomorrow and have just water and the little fountain until I am back on my feet. Can always get more koi from Becky. Sure wish you were close enough to share. These wouldn't mail very well.

C

I have heard the carpet idea from quite a few folk now, so it must be a good idea!

Fuzzy balls?? Burdock?

we used some rubber roofing that was given to us by a friend from Illinois that also works for a guy over in Denton...
C.....you know Bamboo is a dirty word to me LMAO that is why we used the rubber roofing no other use for it really other then to use as a trap style to try and starve the roots out that are still left....but as the under lay it will protect the liner from them also.
I know C I would be over in a heart beat and have thought about it but dang gas is up to 3.92 now over here.

DH decided that he did not like the foam stuff at all and to be honest it looked yucky so he has now mortared all the way around and between the rocks on the waterfall part so it is here to stay LOL

willie - Tip when using the black foam wear disposable gloves it is very hard to get off your hands afterwards lol

The price of gasoline is stunting a lot of good times.

C

yeah I know bummer

I was just complaining about gas in another forum!

yeah it is a popular topic now a days isn't it...Where I ma in East Texas it is 3.92 a gallon but I know up in Illinois where family is it is over 4.00

It's way over $4 here. $4.38 I think is what I saw last time. We would throw a party if it got below $4.

ouch...would really be nice if they would be honest as to why it is getting so high so many "stories" as to the reason

My bet is on those Hedge Fund morons!!

Over $4.23 here, at the moment

OK .... and now, back to some FUN STUFF!!

Here is a shot of my new two MINUTE baby plants that just about broke the bank!! :-)

well here it is working...for the time being ...DH told me last night when I got home that it works then stops for 5 min or so then runs again *sigh* so not sure what is up other then it was like 99 here yesterday and the water was warm.
dug up some volunteer EE's, mexican petunia, and a few ruella and potted them and put on the shallow shelf for now.

Very nice ....

I can't wait to hear that sound in my yard.

I bet yours sounds nice!

thank you and yeah I like it LOL