This is the second of two articles dedicated to information about ponds. In the previous article, I listed some considerations you should have when deciding to set up a pond aquarium. The first article also contained a list of the main components to pond aquariums and their specific functions. In this article I will try and outline the steps to setting up a pond. Please read the first article before this one since it contains some important points you should consider before setting up a pond aquarium.
Assuming you have chosen the spot for you pond and have purchased the necessary supplies, the first step is to outline the shape of the pond with a thick garden hose. Next you should dig out the insides of the pond. If you chose a soft liner, rather than a preformed liner, then keep in mind that you will want to also consider if you want several levels in the pond, or a uniform depth. A depth of about 24" is adequate for most ponds that will contain plants, however if you live in a colder climate you may want to increase the depth of the pond to 35 to 40". For the shallow areas in the pond you can safely go down to about 5", but I would recommend no less than 9". Another important note is the sidewalls. It is advisable to make about a 20 degree slope in the sides of the pond. This will decrease the chances of your sidewalls caving in on your pond. You may find it useful to have a level on hand to make sure that the bottom of the pond is flat. Also remove any objects such as rocks that may puncture the liner from the pit.
The next step is to add any type of preliner that you would like. The preliner is something that protects the liner of the pond from sharp objects that may be present in the foundation. You can purchase an "underliner" (preliner) from the local pond shop, or simply place something such as sand, newspaper, or carpet below the liner. After this, place the liner over the hole, using blocks, bricks, or stones to hold the edges of the liner in place at the edge of the pond hole. Making sure that there are no major wrinkles in the liner, the next step is to fill the pond with a hose. Before you do so, measure the time it takes to fill a known volume container. For example, take a 10 gallon jug, and measure the time it takes to fill it using the same water flow rate as you will for filling the pond. Once you have measured this, fill the pond while timing the time it takes to completely fill it. This should allow you to calculate the volume of water in your pond....you just divide the time it took to fill the pond by the time to fill the jug. Then multiply this by the volume of the jug, and the answer is the volume of your pond. You will need to adjust the bricks holding your liner as the liner begins to conform to the pit. If you decided to purchase a rigid liner, then things are a bit more straight forward.
