Pond Construction

Ponds are made from all sorts of things, from whiskey barrels to water troughs to bathtubs to a hole in the ground. There are many ways to make them water tight from concrete to fiberglass to liners to prefabrication. No one is better or worse than another. There are advantages and disadvantages of each. Here are a few helpful hints or tips on how to create a successful pond.

Pond Placement

The placement of the pond is the most important part of ponding. A pond placed in full sunshine will have more algae problems than a pond in the shade and less oxygen for the fish in the summer, but a pond in the shade will not have good plant or fish growth. What do you do?


Choose a spot where the pond will get morning sun and up to 6 hours of sun each day. If you are going to have a waterfall, it should ideally face north or northeastward. If it must face south or west, plant a tree that will shade the falls in the afternoon through evening. Otherwise, the falls will constantly be covered in algae.

Do not place the pond in the lowest part of the yard. Runoff will carry pesticides, fertilizers and other undesirable chemicals into the pond that will kill the fish and plants.

When placing ponds under trees, realize you may encounter roots. Cutting these roots may kill the tree if the roots are large enough. It is best to put trees in after you dig the hole for your pond. You will end up with an above ground pond or partially above ground pond if the roots are shallow, which makes the pond more expensive to make.

The pond must be level right to left and front to back if you want it to have a nice appearance. An unleveled pond will put the lip of the pond substantially above the water line and the other end will be flooding over constantly.

Digging a pond

Outline the shape of the pond using rope, a hose or spray paint before digging to make sure the pond fits in the desired location.


When digging the hole or making the shape of the pond, keep in mind that the walls of the pond will greatly influence how algae grows in the pond. Straight walled ponds have less algae problems than sloped wall ponds. Straight walls will also give the appearance of a larger and deeper pond.

The bottom of your pond should be sloped (about 7°) so that all the crud at the bottom of the pond will slide to a corner of the pond. This makes keeping the pond clean easier.

Do not use rocks all the way down the side walls of the pond. The rocks will be covered with algae and after spending so much money and time, it serves as a frustration point for you. Use rocks as a toping on the liner by placing them just above the water line. If you must have water contact with the rocks, keep it to a minimal depth. Do not use sandstone or limestone. Sandstone will fall apart during the winter when exposed to water and limestone will contribute to pH increases.

Equipment	Edging
Landscaping and Design
Filtration
Underlayment

Want someone to build it for you? In Utah, try Waters Edge
Need Supplies? Go to Eagar, Inc