Looking to create my first pond...where to get supplies?

Hey all,

I have a small yard behind my home and I am looking to add a petite water garden to it to give my yard some charm. I have never owned a decorative pond before and so I am wondering if any of you recommend certain websites to find the supplies. I'm thinking that a 200 gallon pond would be enough for what I want, so maybe there are pond kits that include everything I would need in one package? Also, I live in the US. I know that Lowe's and Home Depot sell pond supplies, but I'd rather do some research first before buying supplies at those retailers.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hello and welcome.

Sorry I can't recommend any suppliers because I only know UK companies.

As for what to buy, well there's a number of options, each with pros and cons.

You could buy a preformed pond. The advantage is you don't need to be so creative because someone else has designed the shape and contours for you. Other than that, I see no advantage. Its the more expensive option, and those that sell pre-formed ponds will tell you its less work to install them. I don't believe that for a second, because you'd have to dig a hole to match it perfectly. If you don't, then the weight of the water pressing the pond liner where it is not adequately supported, will potentially bust it.

Or you can dig your pond how you want it, then use a liner to stop it from simply draining when you fill it. This is the option I went for, and it was nice and easy and cheap. You just dig the hole in the shape and size you want it, then I lined the bottom with loads of old newspaper just to make sure no sharp bits could puncture the liner. Lay the liner over it, then fill it up. Tidy the edges, chuck some plants in, job pretty much done.

As for liners, there are several options. A combination of research and recommendations led me to use a butyl liner. Its slightly more expensive than the cheaper plastic/nylon fabric (whatever they are), but I'm so glad I went for this option. It is slightly elastic and tough as old boots, so when you fill it, it stretches into all the contours of the hole you dug, so it looks more natural. I have a friend who used the cheaper stuff, and 3 years on the liner still looks like wrinkled fabric liner. Or you can use concrete. I did so on my first attempt, and failed miserably. Probably because I'm not that experienced in mixing and working with concrete. I thought it would be a cheaper and more reliable option, but I actually spent as much on sand and cement as I did on the butyl liner, and I had to smash the concrete back out when I'd done because it just didn't work. So butyl is the way to go.

Of course all this assume it is going to be an actual pond, with plants and wildlife living in it. If its going to be a purely decorative pool, then butyl is not the answer, as its black, so will not give you that lagoon look. I guess it depends what you're aiming for though.

 

Thanks for the insightful replies! I've decided that I'll install a small, simple decorative pond with no plants or fish in it. I figure a 200-250 gallon pond is just too small to sustain any koi, as they can grow quite large. Perhaps I am wrong about that, but for now I would rather hold off on fish. There are smaller pond fish that I could probably add in there, but right now my priority would be to get this pond built. At first I won't add any plants, but that is something I may also consider later.

I've been looking into the various liners, and I think a flexible PVC liner would be a suitable choice. That way I can just drop the liner into the hole I dig, and trim it according to the dimensions of the hole.

What do you guys think?

 

Hi Ponderer90, here's a link to my little wildlife pond I created less than a year ago, it may not be what you have in mind but may give you some ideas

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/new-project-on-the-horizon.53467/