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Can i get a pond in this space...

DaveKearleyDaveKearley Posts: 130
in Garden design
What (if any) options do we have to get a fish pond on this raised space?

It's about 3' wide and 18' long.

The pond would have to be built up not dug down. We would want a waterfall or some features to create some noise and also to aerate the water. The area is not overlooked by trees and also is not in full sunlight so pretty good are for a pond i think.



Maybe two pond areas with one higher than the other and some sort of waterfall between? 

Not sure of construction methods but would not want to go with blocks/bricks as it would be too permanent etc. and my knees/back are not up to block laying any more. There is a slope on there of about 6" over the full run. My planter (just in picture) is made of 4" fence posts layered and fixed to each other - maybe that would work?

Any ideas ?

We used to have a large pond (5' x 10' x 24") in our old house, It was in full sun and very well stocked with fish, needed a large amount of filtration etc but it worked well and the fish grew very large :)

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Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It's going to be quite a squeeze to get a pond suitable for fish in such a small area.
    The waterfall between two levels sounds good, but when the pump is switched off, all the water in the top pond will syphon itself into the lower pond.
    You may be better off buying a ready-made water feature that would suit wildlife.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited September 2022
    The space looks just fine to me. My neighbour has a fish pond/ tank about a third the area of your space and kept coi there for about 20 years.


    There are a huge range of raised pond options. It's a large area and so a heavy volume of raised water. You would need to make sure the material is structurally strong enough to hold it. I recommend going to specialist fish pond suppliers.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Pete.8 said:
    It's going to be quite a squeeze to get a pond suitable for fish in such a small area.
    The waterfall between two levels sounds good, but when the pump is switched off, all the water in the top pond will syphon itself into the lower pond.
    You may be better off buying a ready-made water feature that would suit wildlife.

    There's only a risk of syphoning if the end of the water feed into the upper pond is below water level.  Feed the water in via a chute and the risk is removed. 
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    @DaveKearley have you checked out the price of timber lately?  To create a framework of that size and minimum 18" high will be expensive.  You will also need some form of internal bracing to stop and 18' run from bowing outwards.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    We have no idea of Dave's budget. You could easily spend thousands setting up a good system. Or not.

    Are you thinking of using just timber and a pond liner?

    There are loads of online pond specialists. There will be lots of resources on the net for choosing a design.






  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    edited September 2022
    It is recommended that ponds are sited in sunny area,to stop the water going green.  If you don't want to build up or down, what about the sort of thing Adam frost used on GW, metal tank or similar from a reclaimation yard.
  • DaveKearleyDaveKearley Posts: 130
    Thanks all,

    I'll look at the linked sites tonight.

    Yes i was thinking of timber framed, and the long run was the reason for my split idea - 2 x 9' ponds or even 3 x 6' maybe. And yes, have the pump feeding into a hopper or waterfall with an open end so no syphon when off.

    Its not totally shaded - the far end in the picture gets sun almost all day in the summer, the left end only gets it in the afternoons/evenings.
  • DaveKearleyDaveKearley Posts: 130
    Something like a couple of these....


  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Woodblox (link above) offer something similar - as a purchase of a model to copy.
  • DaveKearleyDaveKearley Posts: 130
    Went to a water-garden superstore today and saw these - they use them in-store and they look very sturdy.

    We can get their 1m x 2m x 650mm unit in just where we want it. Would need minimal work under to create a level perimeter. They come with a welded box-liner and 10year warranty.

    Not too cheap at £700 but a sight easier than brick, and as the walls are tongue/grooved together, they are only 44mm thick which means more internal volume than my fencepost idea would yield and more volume is better. There is also a marginal shelf that hangs over the side so it can carry plants etc.

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