I'd like to build an in-ground pond in my backyard, 400-600 Gallons.
Unfortunately, I don't have access to many materials that pond builders in the west seem to have (EPDM Liners, etc.)
I've been seeing these cement pond builds online recently and it got me curious. Just laying bricks, slathering of cement over it and it's (supposedly) watertight.
I don't know how real these builds are though, and if they'd work in-ground.
I've never worked with brick or cement before, so assume I don't know any specifics.
The area I'm building it in is pure sand, no other soil. I'm worried about ground-shifting and cracks forming in the cement.
If anyone has any cement-specific tips or concerns I'd appreciate any pointers
Tyler Ley on youtube is a phd in cement and he can tell you what to do. How to mimimize cracks, for instance. How to cure the concrete. How to reinforce it. How much water sand and stone to mix, etc.
fricking love this guy lol. cement version of bob odenkirk
Animal water tanks are an option. I used picrel as a Koi pond.
Cheaper, easier, faster.
Lovely idea, any tips for maintaining the koi ecosystem?
You'll want it almost fully enclosed. Neighbour kept getting their pond fish raided by birds and racoons.
This is the main thing keeping me from ever doing some kind of fish pond. I'd basically be setting out a buffet if I don't invest 2x the cost of the pond in barrier work.
It shouldn't be difficult or expensive. Bird netting supported in the middle with a stick or if the pond is small enough, wire mesh fence or chicken wire laid across the top.
Going deep with the pond works too. 4ft deep at least will give the fish a place to hide safe from racoon and birds.
Another super important factor for Koi, and most fish in general is some form of aeration of the water, this also helps with algae. Just a recirculating pump into some kind of waterfall works great. You can use an inline filter with this pump to help keep the water healthier as well.
My pond was about 25ft long, 10 wide and 4-5ft deep, and I just used a plastic liner. Water was pulled from the pond by an underwater pump through a 55 gallon drum I filled with pea gravel to act as a filter, and then on to a waterfall.
I still had to vacuum out all the fish shit that accumulated in the bottom of the pond once a year, but it's great fertilizer. Had about 40-50 koi at any given time. It's still going strong, but I sold that property a few years ago.
Shade will keep the algae under control and discourage birds.
The only treatment I used was salt.
I had well water so I didn't need to worry about chlorine.
I lived in the country and never had problems with birds and raccoons.
Ponds at ground level are riskier.
They do that here as well. plastic barrels are free from the local dairy.
stick tanks huh?
It's a neat idea, they're pretty expensive though. Most people here use split barrels for their cattle
Koi is an undertaking, look it up and stocking capacities before buying.
If you can't build a pool I recommend keeping Goldfish; hardier, cheaper, smaller max size and you can keep way more in a small pond than 2-3 Koi
hydraulic lime
they will crack and leak
The bricklayer needs to be fired
Thoughts on building ponds out of an IBC tote? I've seen these hydroponics guys do it and it looks interesting
I was planning on building a duck pond with a solids and a "Skippy filter" that a lot of backyard duck owners seem to have decent luck with
>Skippy filter
ducks shit too much for an ibc tote + filter
Depends on the cement, if it doesn’t have added silica fine / sodium metasilicate / Microsilica it will be more porous. But sodium metasilicate should be available as an admixture everywhere in the world, and will make it less porous and more waterproof.
If there are no polymer liners available where you live, there should at least be rubber or bitumen based sealants tho, which will give you real waterproofing and better cold resistance
slather on a layer of flex seal after it dries and you'll be good to go.
post pics of it when you're done
Would the rubber sealant itself not crack from the cement flexing/cracking?