Hi,

I'm ready to start gathering materials to construct an above-ground cement pond for Fancy Goldfish. I live in the Caribbean and I have 5'Lengthx 5'Widthx 2'Deep in mind eualing 374 US gallons. I am thinking of pouring cement into a wooden frame because the concrete would be more or less seemless/ leak proof. It will have a slanted bottom ending at one bowl shaped bottom drain.

I would like to do this with no filtration but use air, perhaps waterfall.

Does anyone know how thick the walls and floor must be?

First of all, it sounds like your off to a great start! Concrete is (in my opinion) one of the best methods for making a pond.

With a pond that size you might want to consider some for of filtration. If you want to make a waterfall as well, a filter wouldn't be that hard to add into it.

I've heard varying opinions on how thick the walls and floors should be. Are you planning on adding anything over the concrete once the pond is finished? Rocks, heavy vegetation?

I have no idea about decorating the inside of the pond yet . . . . and as for around the pond, that shouldn't be to hard because there's bamboo growing here and other beautiful plants that I could just pick out of the bush and add . . . I'm so focused on getting the pond constructed . . . for me it's as complicated as building a house!

Just as I was starting to comprehend pouring the cement, I know learn about iron reinforcements. I'm really going to need my husband's help on this one.

If you have a drain in the bottom it is an excellent outlet for pulling water from as well as all the gunk that can be on the bottom of the pond. Unless you only plan on just a very few fish I agree that you will want to consider filtration.

Yes using cement is not for the unexperienced! You will need to have what we call re-bar in a grid to reinforce the cement.

Cement is not inexpensive. Cement block can be used with a good sealer (which I would suggest for the cement too). Black rubber liner is easy as well and most anyone can install that. Other options that I don't know if you have...here in the US we can get blocks for building retaining walls that just stack on one another. They will also work with a rubber liner to build a small above ground pond.

Hi,

I was reading about those iron bars for reinforcemet . . . then I read about this Gen 3 cement that has plastic fibres that makes the cement even more durable than being reinforced with steel bars, I'm going to see if I can get that cement here.