I wasn't planning on building a pond, but I lucked out and was able to snag a FREE preformed pond liner from the classifieds section of my local aquarium club!!!

It's 150 gallons, and I'm SO excited! My fishies are gonna move outside for the summer!!!

I'm picking up the liner this week, but the pond wont' be going in until May, when the weather is warm enough.

I picked up the pump/filter yesterday (200GPH), and I got a REALLY cute goldfish fountain spitter I'm not going to have a waterfall, but I will have the spitter and a fountain head.

I'm going to get a water lily and some floating plants, and plant flowers all around the outside... it's gonna be so awesome! (any tips on pond plants? I'm a zone 5a...)

I've never had a pond, but I've been doing some reading and I have a few concerns.

First is temperature. My tiny yard gets more or less full sun all day. I'm going to make sure to include a lot of plant cover for the fish, but with such a small body of water, will temps be a problem?

My other concern is predators. We do have cats and dogs in the neighborhood, etc. I have a wood fence, but you never know... my plan is to provide lots of plant cover, clay pots on the bottom of the pond for hiding places for the fish, and to cover the pond at night with a piece of wooden lattice. Also, I have considered only burying the pond halfway in, so that the water's surface is about a foot above ground level.

Finally, my third concern is rain. I assume rain water will alter the pH and hardness of the pond. Will regular water changes be OK, or will I have to add baking soda? Will the fish adjust? I'm also worried about runoff from the ground, but if I raise the pond like I mentioned above, that shouldn't be a problem.

Woohoo, come on SPRING!!!

Sounds like your all organised and have given this a lof of thought. My pond/tub is under cover and screened in so I'm not experienced in your areas of concern. One thought is that it should be easy to find a pond net to fit a 150g and this should help with the predators.

These folks have good advice, and they have "Plant Packages" that are good for beginners.
http://www.watergarden.org/?sc=2&category=59

I used one of their plant packages after a couple of personal choices didn't do well. All the plants are still going 2 years later.

Funny you mention rain and PH. It rained quite a bit last week and this is the first time my little pond is under 8.

My lilys are starting to put up floating leaves and the bog plants are filling in quickly now that spring is here.

The lilies and pots should give your fish hiding places from the bad cats, hopefully. Nets look horrible and the only time that you'll need to worry about the cats is at night. As you know your fish slow down at night and that is when the cats strike. So if you want to feel safe put the net over the pond at night, take it off in the morning.

A small pond most likely will experience dramatic temp changes. Not sure how bad with a small pond in the ground, the ground should help with cooling? Plus with plants shading the water this will also help. I only have experience with small above ground ponds and I know that the water temps change drastically from night to day.

Yes rain will effect your ph. And with a smaller pond I would assume you need to really watch that. I am sure that there is something that you can use as a buffer (like crushed coral) that should put your mind at ease. My water is off the charts on ph, never below 9. BUT once when we got so much water that my pond kept over flowing it did get down to an 8.

Good luck and bring pictures when you get it set up!

Scott

I picked up my pond plants last night! It's still too cool out at night to put them outside, so I have them in a tub in my living room.

The lily is a "Tina Blue" tropical, and the other plant is and elephant ear.



Here's a view of the yard where the pond will go!



I pick up the liner on the 14th, and it will go in the ground shortly after that!

Sounds like it will be wonderful. Can't wait to see pics once you are done. !

You must be so excited to get it going!

You picked out some good plants, I've had both in my pond and liked them. You'll most likely get more blooms on your lily than I did on mine because I have so much water to warm up and I live in a cold climate. Tropicals might get three blooms in the summer here.

Looks like a good spot as well. Can't wait to see what it looks like when your finished.

Scott

Houston, we have a liner!

I picked it up on Sunday. It was nowhere NEAR able to fit in my car... so I had to tie it to the roof! Too funny!

I wanted to start digging this weekend, but it's been rainy and cool since last week... and it's supposed to stay that way until this weekend! Geez!

I also need to buy a shovel...

YAY! Get that shovel, girl! Cant wait to see more pics!

When I was a kid we used to have elephant ears growing in our front garden, they grow like wild things. It looks like the same plant as you have, does anyone know if it is? ie. can elephant ears grown in the garden and in the pond?

Yup, I think it's the same thing... Taro. It comes in different forms.

It's in!!!!

I dug the hole this morning, and by about 1:00 this afternoon it was FULL!

Now the weather just needs to warm up a BIT more so I can put the fish and plants in!! I bought some Water Hyacinth and some salivinia. I can't to put them in, I want that tub out of my living room!

I'm going to be planting flowers all around the perimeter of the pond later this week, too. It's gonna be so great!!!

Here's a pic of it filling...



and here's another with the fountain installed!!!



The water's a bit murky, but it'll clear up soon (I hope)...

Whoo hoo, that looks great!! Dont you just love those preforms? LOL about how you had to tie it to your car. I would be in the same situation! My hubby and I both have small cars. When I got my last tank I had to have my friend bring it by with his truck.

I think the elephant ears are considered marginals, so they can grow partly in water or stay moist on land. They look really nice.

Cant wait to see more pics, its looking great so far. Sorry if you already said it but how many gallons is it?

150 gallons. Going to be home to 3 of my goldies. The other 4 will stay inside. Hopefully I'll see some growth spurts this summer!

Hey Squeeker, looking good! what plants are you putting round the perimeter? it's coming together quickly for you!! keep posting the pics!

The plants around the pond are in!

I planted a whole ton of stuff today. Impatiens, marigolds, Cosmos, a spike plant, and others I can't remember the name for. The stuff at the back should grow up taller than the stuff at the front, so I think ti's gonna look really nice once it grows in!



I also picked up a new marginal. It's "marsilea drummondii", and I really like it! I put it in the pond for now, but it'll have to come out tonight so it doesn't die.

Oh, that is going to be beautiful when its all filled in!

I think I have seen that marginal before. I bet it will be really nice. Are you going to section it off from the fish at all or just leave it? I have never had luck with fish and plants coexisting!!

Naw, I don't think I'm going to section any of the plants off. If they get eaten, they get eaten. I dont' think they will,though... my goldies coexist with plants quite well in the tank... unless it's duckweed!

WOOO! The plants and fish are in!! Everything seems to be doing well. My salivinia is multiplying, the lily is putting up leaves, and birds are bathing in the fountain

The fish were quiet when I first put them in, but are now swimming and exploring all over. I think they're gonna love it!

Figures, you can't see the fish in the pics I'll have to take more later.



This picture is taken from the upstairs window.