Pond in backyard

[Campus Loop(y)]

I love taking my dog swimming but sometimes during peak times there are too many a-holes out and about and they usual places get too crowded. So I have the idea I may want a pond type thing in the backyard. I would have it nice enough to "accent" the backyard and maybe have a pump as a waterfall ttype thing to keep it moving.

I would think I would need it about 6 feet wide and maybe 15 to 20 feet wide. It would maybe be 3 feet deep w/ stairs rather than a gradual decline to make more use of the space for her to swim.

What am I looking at and has anybody ever done or known of someone w/ a pond near this size? No fish or anything in it eiher. Just the dog. Don't want a pool under any circumstance. Just a pond.

Thanks for the info. This is pre first search too. I am hoping to do most if not all the work myself on it...if it happens. But it would be kick *** to be able to have her swim anytime she wants in order to tire her out.

 

[next2naus]

good idea, but probably not too pactical. it would have to pump dirven to kepe the water from getting stagnant (sp?) and funky. funky water and dogs are not a good combo for your house. there is a website in Austin for people who want Koi Ponds, thats a good place to start, minus the fish.

 

[msdw24]

You are gonna have to have a lot of upkeep with a pond, just like you would with a pool, so why not just buy the pool?

 

[horn4life]

Hell yes you can do it! I have a smoking koi pond I did myself in my court yard. The hardest part is the excavation.

HOWEVER!!!!!!! - you will have to be VERY careful in your selection of liner material and you should definitely put and underliner (like a huge old tarp) to help further pad the liner.

the problem is that your dog may end up puncturing the liner if you do not get one thick enough. If you get close I can cetainly help you out with some plants as I do battle with them to keep them in check all summer long. Think of free versus $16 a plant for example.

What you will probably do is dig the pond down a few feet and then use the excess dirt to creat a berm around the pond to give it additional depth. What will be important is to make sure your intake for the pond is well away from the waterfall so as to ceate good circulation and prevent any stagnation. Since your pond is going to be reltively large here are a couple of hints-

1) rig up an automatic fill mechanism. As simple as a connection to your water line and the same float mechanism you use in your toilet.

2) UV Light- these will kill all the bateria in flow of the water. I wish I had installed one as you will get algae growth especially in summer to some degree. Try talking to the guys atI think the Lightbuld shoppe etc next to the fans store on Burnet north of 2222. they can seel you the bulb and tell you where to buy the quartz class you will need to build your housing, or you can buy at Austin Water Gardens in Cedar Park for a bit over $100. But worth it for the clear bacteria free water you probably want for your dog.

3) Check out the water garden place in Cedar park and attend one of their free seminars

4) If you are chaep like me check for active construction sites to scavange the rock for the waterfall. It's tough labor but free rock is good rock!

Good luck!

Also look at the pumps in the plumbing supply as well as in the pond area. you can also find som heavier more durable liner material on the internet, that may come in wider widths more in line with the scope you are thinking of.

PM with any other questions and I will try to help!

 

[Longhorn_Fan68]

In reply to:

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[Longhorn_Fan68]

Something else I just thought of. If you make it narrow enough we could build you a cover that could easily be removed, but would prevent neighborhood idoits from jumping in a drowning. That way you wouldn't be liable.

Also, you may want to check city ordinances because this would probably classify as a pool (even though you don't call it that) and there are restrictions on how pools have to be handled so that above-mentioned idiots don't drown themselves.

Dammit, now you have me thinking.

 

[runner]

Even with a filter / pump / waterfall combo, if you don't have mosquito fish in the pond, you will have a wonderful breeding ground for mosquitos.

 

[horn4life]

sorry should have been more clear on "construction site" I was talking about excavation where they have tons of rock. This is a waste product they will either haul away or dump onto some adjacent property.

I got most of mine from the construction of the Buildings out at the Reatta complex in NW Austin.

 

[blacklab]

I started a koi pond in my back yard a few months ago and am almost done. Every time I get time to work on it it fills up with water from the rain and I got to hold off till it dries up. I was planning on keeping the dog out of it but chances are she'll get in anyway.

I've dug my hole about 15 ft by 10ft and down about 2 feet and put a berm around the edge so it's actually going to be 2-3 feet deep. The hardest part I've had to deal with is re-routing the sprinker system. I've talked to several places and all of them claim their lining should handle a 90 pound lab with no problems.

I bought my rock up at a place in round rock. It was pennsylvania blue granite. I bought bricks to make a fake well out of and big flat pieces for the creek that will run though my backyard. I plan on using the flat pieces to make a shelf around the pond as well.

For filtering the water I plan on building a simple rock filter. I went out to a pond place near columbus and he showed me how. Get a small trash can and put a few bricks at the bottom. Then put a screen and then pour in some lava rock, then another screen then some pebbles. Send water to the bottom of the can using a hose and have the water work it's way back up though the rocks and over the edge of the can. Good algea will live in the nooks and cranny's of the lava rock, eating the bad algea.

Post any questions you have and if you want to come over to take a look at what I've done let me know.

 

[Longhorn_Fan68]

Loop, you could also consider rerouting your roof drainage into the pond to save money on water usage.

 

[hornian]

I'll trade you labor. I'm probably going to be putting in a fence (thining about 8 ft high w/ welded wire, gonna be more than this backyard warrior can handle on his own) for Kaci before classes start.

I'm good at digging holes, too. And so is Kaci.