pond or water garden ideas?

[mb911]

My wife wants to build a pond in the yard something kidney shaped about 25x20 Approx. The thing is that the liners are uber expensive along with all the pumps etc. has anyone had any experience with good companies to work with or where is a better place to buy. Any suggestions or warnings? Looking to compile as much info as possible. I will be putting this in over the summer months just my wife and I so labor is a non issue. Thanks for any and all suggestions

[Rot 911]

There are some really good books out there on constructing ponds and water gardens. Lowes and Home Depot sell them along, of course, with all the materials you need for construction.

[mb911]

bought those already. just looking for good source for materials..

[id10t]

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

There is a pond section as well as a DIY section.

[charleskieffner]

(1) breeding pair of MO-SKEETERS(mosquitos), with west nile virus, and your days on this planet are numbered. good excuse to save bucks, avoid project and dump it in your p-car. if hell bent on this, water must be moving constantly non stop 24/7 at least 6 months out of the year(breeding season). add plenty of bleach which will of course kill pretty lil koi fish.

huge fine to allow any standing water here in arizona that can go stagnant.

[id10t]

Or just load it up with some gambusia, killiefish, bluegills, or anything else that will eat mosquito larvae - including tetras!

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by charleskieffner
(1) breeding pair of MO-SKEETERS(mosquitos), with west nile virus, and your days on this planet are numbered. good excuse to save bucks, avoid project and dump it in your p-car. if hell bent on this, water must be moving constantly non stop 24/7 at least 6 months out of the year(breeding season). add plenty of bleach which will of course kill pretty lil koi fish.
huge fine to allow any standing water here in arizona that can go stagnant.

Charles how did you become such an expert on everything? Oh, by not reading the original post. It is a pond with PUMPS that circulate the water. With FILTERS. Not a mosquito breeding ground. Now regale us with tales of how big the water pumps are on your OFF ROAD BAJA RACING VEHICLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That if you hope to survive in the DESERT YOU WILL USE BECAUSE I KNOW SOMEONE THAT USES THEM AND HAS WON A RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mb911]

any more help?????????/

[Rot 911]

Ben seriously go get one of the Sunset books on ponds and water gardens. I have a pond with waterfall larger than what you describe and also a fountain that holds another 100 gallons or so. The pumps really are not that expensive (larger one $150, small one $70), but you are right, the liner is what will cost you. I also went with a mechanical filter which is cheaper than the biological filter. The book will help you figure out how many gallons is in your pond which determines the thickness of liner and size of pumps and filters.

[Keith Perry]

Check with your local swimming pool guy and see if he's got a couple of dead vinyl pool liners you can have. Not often I suppose. More likely, 12 ft. round ones free at yard sales (incl. pump).

[porsche930dude]

dont use rubber roofing to make the liner it kills the fish for some reason

[cstreit]

Ben, what are you going to do with her fish in the winter?

[mb911]

Originally posted by cstreit
Ben, what are you going to do with her fish in the winter?

dig it below the frost line. our neighbors did that and it worked well for 2 years now