Installation and Construction
by Dave Breiter, Petstore Staff Member

Now it’s time to take your design, your dream, and start turning it into a reality. The pencils and paper need to be replaced with tools and work gloves. You need to leave the safety of the indoors and venture outside. This guide is designed to walk you through the construction phase of your pond and hopefully address and help you to prevent any road blocks you may encounter along the way.

Helpful tips before you select and purchase your components

Below you will find several tools that will assist you in making the correct purchases for your system. These tools are a collection of suggestions from fellow hobbyist who have already built ponds. These are their recommendations for preparing for the purchasing phase of your project.

Calculating your pond volume

Most products that you purchase for your pond will come in various sizes. Todays pond market is designed to accommodate a wide range of sizes. That being said it is important to know, with a reasonable degree of accuracy, what size your pond is. Unlike clothing, ponds are not categorized into general sizes like small, medium and large. When referring to a ponds size we generally refer to how many gallons the pond contains; in other words it’s volume. Below you will see a simple formula for calculating the volume of your pond.

(Length (at the longest point) x Width (at the widest point) x Average Depth) x 7.48 = Volume in gallons

Determining the appropriate liner size

If you are planning to use a flexible liner for your pond you will need to know how to select the right size for your needs. Your pond might be six feet long by five feet wide but that does not mean a liner that is six feet by five feet will line your pond. Truth be told it won’t. Why is that? Did you forget to consider the depth of your pond and how much that will affect your liner size? The depth of your pond plays a very important role in selecting the appropriate liner size. In an effort to make it easy as possible for you follow the simple steps listed below to calculate the appropriate liner size to select.

1^st – Measure the length of your pond at the longest point. Then add to that figure twice the measurement of the deepest point in your pond to get the overall length. Then finally add 12 to 24 inches to the overall length to allow for the appropriate amount of overhang.

2^nd – Repeat the first step for the width of your pond

3^rd – Bring the two figures together to get the appropriate dimensions of the liner your pond will require.

Seasonal affects to consider before beginning construction

For some people who have experience in construction it is routine for them to consider the weather and how it’s going to affect their project; but, for the novice or first time pond builder it’s not necessarily something that is considering during the planning stage. However it is very important not to overlook this factor. It can mean the difference between an easy and pain free install followed by a smooth start up vs. an ongoing nightmare. Each location has its own individual set backs, whether it’s spring rains, summer heat, fall leaves and debris, or frozen ground during the winter. Only you know your area and its climate. Please be sure to factor that in when making your decision as to when to begin construction on your pond.

Basic construction guide

One of the great things about ponds is that no matter how simple or complex a pond design is they all can be created using the same step by step process. It is true that the more complicated the design the more complex the construction will be; but, it will still follow the simple steps below. The complexity and length of time to complete each step will vary depending upon the design but the design will not change how to install the pond. To make things even less complicated we have taken the popular step by step process and broken it down to two sub categories, preformed ponds and flexible liner ponds.

 The step by step process for Flexible Liner Ponds

1. Mark out your pond area
2. Place your components
3. Lay out your plumbing
4. Excavate your pond and plumbing runs
5. Install your liner and underlayment
6. Hook up all your components
7. Place your rock and gravel (pre-wash before placing)
8. Position any underwater features (lights, fountains, etc.)
9. Build any water fall(s) and/or stream(s)
10. Fill your pond
11. Make any necessary adjustments to plumbing, water fall(s), stream(s), etc.
12. Trim your liner and landscape the edges of your pond
13. Clean up
14. Enjoy and when appropriate add any fish or plants

The step by step process for Preformed Ponds

1. Mark out your pond area
2. Place your components
3. Lay out your plumbing
4. Excavate your pond area and plumbing runs
5. Hook up all your components
6. Install your preformed pond
7. Place your rock and gravel (pre-wash before placing)
8. Position any underwater features (lights, fountains, etc.)
9. Build any water fall(s) and/or stream(s)
10. Fill your pond
11. Make any necessary adjustments to plumbing, water fall(s), stream(s), etc.
12. Landscape the edges of your pond
13. Clean up
14. Enjoy and when appropriate add any fish or plants

Helpful accessories

As with any project once you’ve done it once you realize tools and accessories that make the project easier to do the next time you attempt it. The more times you complete a particular project the more tools and accessories you find to make the job easier and easier on you each time. Rather than forcing you to build three or four ponds to gain that knowledge base we, who have successfully built many ponds, have put a list together of recommended tools and accessories that will help make the construction phase of your project as easy and pain free as possible.

Waders
Knee Pads
Black Sealant Foam
PVC Cutters
Nets
Skimmers
Gloves
Kneeling Pad
Back Brace
Test Kits
Water Prep Treatments