DIY Project: Build a Pond

Create a backyard oasis with the addition of a beautiful water feature. Your imagination is the only limitation to the ways in which water can be displayed and highlighted in your outdoor living area. From a simple fountain to a pondless waterfall to a complete ecosystem pond, the options are endless.

Build an Ecosystem Pond

An ecosystem pond is an environmentally friendly combination of natural elements and organisms to create a pleasing, man-made water feature. Relax in your backyard retreat while welcoming birds, butterflies and frogs. Feed the fish, dangle your feet in the cool water and let the peace of your pond wash your cares away.

The Aquascape MicroPond® Kit makes this do-it-yourself project easier than ever. Although it will take time for your ecosystem pond to mature into a sustainable, living environment, you can build it in a day! All the necessary tools and supplies are available in one complete kit at Stone Forest.

The first step in building your pond is to figure out what kind of pond you want to build, where you want to put it, and how big you want it to be. Do you want a koi or fish pond, do you want aquatic plants, or do you simply want the sound of a waterfall?

Koi ponds limit the amount of aquatic plants you can have in your pond because koi eat aquatic plants. A koi pond also needs to be bigger (at least 1,000 gallons of water) than a simple water garden that only hosts plants. There is no specific size requirement for water gardens, but the amount and variety of plants you want to grow should affect your design decision.

Once you decide upon the pond type, you need to find the best place for your pond. Experiment by laying out designs in different areas of your yard. A garden hose is a great tool to play with pond locations and designs.

A few tips will help you decide where to place your pond. Ponds often attract wildlife and are certainly nice to view. Make sure to place your pond close enough to the house so that you can enjoy the scene from your window. Runoff rainwater can pollute your pond, therefore it is smarter to place your pond on high ground or where water runoff will not be a problem. Finally, leaves and yard debris can cause your pond water to turn brown and murky. To help keep leaves out of your pond, do not place ponds under a tree.

Once you have decided upon a good location, use a garden hose to initially outline the shape of your pond. Be creative and have fun trying different shapes. Once you have a shape you like, use spray paint to create the outline and remove the hose.

Now that you have a pond shape and outline, choose the appropriate pond size. The MicroPond Kits comes in three sizes: 4’ x 6’ (which includes an 8’ x 10’ liner), 6’ x 8’ (which includes a 10’ x 12’ liner) and 8’ x 11’ (which includes a 12’ x 15’ liner). It is important to note that the most common mistake for first time pond owners is not making the pond big enough.

Step 2: Place your skimmer and filter.

A MicroSkim® Mechanical Filter (the skimmer) and MicroFalls® Biological Filter (the filter) are included in all MicroPond Kits. The skimmer helps eliminate routine maintenance by removing debris before it sinks to the bottom of the pond. It also helps hide the pump and plumbing from view alongside your pond instead of inside the pond.

The filter creates the perfect base for leak-free waterfalls. It can be sunk in the ground for a stream effect or raised to create a fall. The skimmer and filter should be placed on opposite lengthwise sides of the pond design.

Step 3: Lay out your plumbing & hook up the MicroFalls® Biological Filter.

All necessary plumbing to create your pond is included in the MicroPond Kit. Lay out the plumbing then hook up and level the biological filter.

 

Step 4: Excavate the pond.

We recommend creating a pond with a series of shelves in it to facilitate plant growth and to create a healthy environment for wildlife. When excavating your pond, remember to dig shelves or to create plant pockets for aquatic plants. If you plan to house fish in your pond, pond shelves will also help keep fish cool during the summer and protect them from predators.

Step 5: Install the underlayment and liner.

The underlayment is a non-woven padding that should be laid prior to the liner. Fish-safe liners have a 20-year manufacturer’s guarantee. And, unlike concrete, these liners will not crack and are easy to install. Lay the liner on top of the underlayment.

Step 6: Install the skim and hook it up to the pump.

The MicroPond Kit comes with a 2000 gph AquaSurge™ pump and the necessary installation equipment.

Step 7: Lay the rock foundation.

Adding rocks and gravel help to reduce pond maintenance by providing surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize. Place larger boulders first around the outline of the shelves and along the pond walls. Also place them along the inside of the pond bottom to hold the liner in place. Fill in the rest of the space with gravel which helps protect the liner from harmful UV rays and damage from animals.

Step 8: Wash the rock.

Wash off the rock in your pond with a running stream of water. This helps to reduce initial pond murkiness and mud on the bottom.

Step 9: Fill the pond.

Place a garden hose in the pond and let it fill up. This may take an hour or longer depending on the size of your pond, so take a break and eat lunch. This is also a good stopping point if you want to make building your pond a two-day project.

Step 10: Build the waterfall stream.

Depending on if you built up the MicroFalls filter or sunk it into the ground, you will now create your waterfall or stream effect. If you want a waterfall, the MicroFalls filter should be slightly higher than the pond surface and held in place with boulders. Use a piece of flat flagstone to cover the top of the boulders to create a nice drop for the fall.

Step 11: Bring in top soil.

Cover the back of the filter and any exposed areas outside the pond with top soil. Make sure any exposed lining outside of the pond is covered. Cut the extra exposed liner if needed.

Step 12: Create a border.

Use field stone or boulders to create a pond border or retaining wall. This will help keep ground water runoff from getting into your pond.

Step 13: Plug in and tweak the waterfall.

Plug in the MicroFalls filter so that the waterfall beings to run. Tweak the boulders or filter placement to perfect the waterfall.

 

Step 14: Add beneficial bacteria.

Now that your pond is constructed and filled, add the beneficial bacteria included in your MicroPond kit. Give your pond a few days to clean and clarify itself.

Step 15: Add plants.

Make sure to know your plants before you start adding them to your pond. Pond plants can quickly take over a pond if you are not careful. That said, plants are a critical part to a well-balanced ecosystem and are an aesthetically pleasing addition. With few exceptions, it is best to remove aquatic plants from their pots to make them look more natural. Aquatic plants should be planted directly into the gravel substrate along the shelves. Floating plants, like water lettuce and water hyacinth, can simply be placed in the water as their roots hang below them. Water lilies should be planted into the gravel, however. You may wish to bring your tropical marginals indoors during cold periods. If this is the case, we recommend leaving these plants in their pots as they will be easier to transport indoors.

Step 16: Add fish.

Before adding fish to your pond, it is wise to make sure your ecosystem is stabilized with beneficial bacteria and clear water. Minimal water changes can stress out fish so when introducing fish to a new pond (and when you do a cleanout), acclimate the fish first. Float the fish in a bucket of water or in a plastic bag in the pond for 15-20 minutes. During this time, periodically mix the two water sources (bucket and pond or bag and pond). After the 20 minutes, you can introduce your fish to the new pond. If you have a prized koi or other fish, we recommend introducing a less favored pet to the pond first to make sure the water is balanced before adding your prized possession.

Step 17: Sit back, relax and enjoy your new water feature.

The work is done and now you can enjoy your new, private pond. To make sure your pond stays healthy and is easy to maintain throughout the year, please review the article “A Few Simple Tips for Pond Owners.”