smelly pond water

If you're going for an EPDM liner, Gizmo, it's worth trying to get hold of some old carpet or carpet underlay to put down first, instead of sand. As for the shelves, if you have some idea what depth your planting baskets will be, that will determine at what depth to form the shelves. It's handy to have a couple of different depths. Some marginal plants prefer deeper water than others

Oups! Crossed posts, ARMANDII

 

My liner is butyl, and has been there since 1989, you need to stop the sun from getting to the edges, thats where the rocks etc. come in, as the uv from the sun makes it deteriorate.
It also looks more natural if the liner is not visible.

 

Many thanks for your replys. With the old pond we had problems with dirty water from plants and soil in the bottom of pond. I didn't know this untill I started to empty the pond to make way for new pond all though cleaned out pump filters weekly this is why I asked about filtration to make the water clearer unsure how these work or if electric is needed
With the new pond that we wanted to create would be a rockery pond with water fall feature steps for plants etc rocks around pond with plants.
With making plant steps we have been looking at YouTube about digging out pond they use a tamper to flatten the soil on top of step shape so it looks like a L shape.
May I ask why using sand under liner is not a good idea and to use carpet etc instead how thick does carpet etc has to be under liner.
May I ask why a filtration system is not OK for a pond 5 x 7 x 2 to 3 feet
I would have thought better the filtration the better and clearer water you get
Sorry just learning

 

You will get soil on the bottom of the pond, its not a problem, especially if you want a pond that wildlife will use. Think about the old village duck pond, it would have a clay bottom, probably, its natural.
I'd never go for the super clean pond, the type Koi people go for, its very unnatural.
Soil will settle and only be a problem for a while if it gets disturbed.

Filters have a couple of uses, you can have a UV light with some, that kills algae and stops green water, but more importantly a biological filter removes dangerous chemicals that can build up in the water and harm the fish.
It I'm not sure of the actual chemical process, but it changes the fish waste into fertilizer for the plants, basically, which then stops the build up of algae and nitrate in the water.

 

Should add, you will need electricity to run a pump to feed the filter.

 

Thanks for your replys the pump we have is hozelock clean 4500 with uv
All though cleaned out filters weekly didn't seem to stop algae etc. And water looks very dirty

 

A pond is a pond Gizmo, would I drink it, No.
Would wildlife like it, yes they would.

There is dirty water, which will settle and there is green water, mostly seen in spring or when the pond is out of balance, too much nitrogen in the water causes algae to grow and turn the water green.
Filters only stop alae up to a point, the best way is to establish a balance whereby algae cant grow.
The UV light kills algae but it doesn't alter the water quality.

 

The biggest single factor in clearing the water in my ponds is when the water lily leaves cover the surface, cutting out the sunlight. There's not much water visible, but what there is is crystal clear

 

Hello again Gizmo, sand is OK on the bottom of the hole, but it's nearly impossible to make it stick on vertical or sloping sides, especially when you drape the liner in the hole. It also gets absorbed into the soil over time, and encourages ants. You can buy special underlay from the supplier of the liner, but if you can find an old carpet or underlay at the local tip, it's just as effective, and it's free Doesn't have to be shag pile

 

Many thanks for your reply I have been looking about www and found a site called water garden that sells Bonar yarns uhd underlay will this be OK to use under pond liner.
With underlay do you have to pin it in place around steps etc or just lay it across.
When searching www I saw that carpet has to be made of man made fabric like polypropylene as it can rot? Won't something like weed control fabric do the same thing
Thanks for the help and advice

 

As the aim of underlay is to protect the liner against sharp stones/objects, you'd probably need two or three layers for it to be effective. If whatever material you use is in one big piece, you cut it so it overlaps, forming to the 3D shape of the pond. You could pin it temporarily round the edges using fleece pegs.

 

Just going back a few step, regarding the dirty water, when using a pump in the pond, rest it on a couple of house bricks etc so its clear of the debris on the bottom of the pond.
Equally important not to oversize the pump as that will just create too much turbulence.

Re carpeting, just visit some of the smaller back street carpet places who will have lots of cheap off cuts or even used ones.