Looking at building a pond but....

You could build the pond now, and then retrofit a skimmer later. It's not
mandatory like aerator/filter.

daryl wilde wrote:

The area I am wanting to use is off the back patio and is partially covered
by a Oak tree- yes I know not the best spot for a pond, and I am concerned
with this but this is where we want it so we can be close and enjoy. This is
why I am looking for skimmer and waterfall box plans - $400 is just too much
mula.

Check out:
http://www.austinpondsociety.org/aps.htm
You have a great local resource.

Water Garden Gems is just northeast of San
Antonio (and a few miles from my house), so
only about an hour from the southside of
Austin:
http://www.watergardengems.com/

"daryl wilde" wrote in message
...
We are located in Texas too - right outside of Austin so
freezing water is
not too big a concern maybe once every 5-10 years. This
is why I am going
to have a deep part ~24 ins or so....

The area I am wanting to use is off the back patio and is
partially covered
by a Oak tree- yes I know not the best spot for a pond,
and I am concerned
with this but this is where we want it so we can be close
and enjoy.

There are things you can do to catch leaves, like
netting. I don't do that but others do and can
help with information.

This is
why I am looking for skimmer and waterfall box plans -
$400 is just too much
mula.

Would like to put some plants and small goldfish or koi so
there is some
movement and interest...

Goldfish and shubunkin are wonderful pond
fish and while they can get large, not nearly
as large as koi. Not to mention not nearly
as expensive...

The usual space recommendation for koi is
1000 gallons for the first koi, 200 gallons for
each additional fish. Goldfish, by contrast,
require about 20 gallons each.

With the size pond you're planning, I'd
recommend one hardy water lily, and then
a variety of common oxygenators like
anacharis, hornwort, and maybe some
marginals. Lowes carries some water
garden plants, as well as the specialty stores.
(I'm sure there are some in Austin.)

You can always start small and do what a lot of
other people do and expand later. Just Me "Koi"
is absolutely right about that. If I were
younger I'd already have moved up to a much
larger pond, but I have all I can handle now!

Gail

"Just Me "Koi"" wrote in message
...
excellent and more complete response! I have Koi in my
brain so I think
everyone else will keep Koi!

Yeah, but your warning was a good one!
A lot of people do upgrade before the first
pond has barely settled in. I would have upgraded
to a larger pond by now but have enough to keep
up with in the garden, so I'm content with my
mini-ponds.

Gail

Thanks for the pointers.

Will let you know how it turns out.

Daryl

"Gail Futoran" wrote in message
...
Check out:
http://www.austinpondsociety.org/aps.htm
You have a great local resource.

Water Garden Gems is just northeast of San
Antonio (and a few miles from my house), so
only about an hour from the southside of
Austin:
http://www.watergardengems.com/

"daryl wilde" wrote in message
...
We are located in Texas too - right outside of Austin so
freezing water is
not too big a concern maybe once every 5-10 years. This
is why I am going
to have a deep part ~24 ins or so....

The area I am wanting to use is off the back patio and is
partially covered
by a Oak tree- yes I know not the best spot for a pond,
and I am concerned
with this but this is where we want it so we can be close
and enjoy.

There are things you can do to catch leaves, like
netting. I don't do that but others do and can
help with information.

This is
why I am looking for skimmer and waterfall box plans -
$400 is just too much
mula.

Would like to put some plants and small goldfish or koi so
there is some
movement and interest...

Goldfish and shubunkin are wonderful pond
fish and while they can get large, not nearly
as large as koi. Not to mention not nearly
as expensive...

The usual space recommendation for koi is
1000 gallons for the first koi, 200 gallons for
each additional fish. Goldfish, by contrast,
require about 20 gallons each.

With the size pond you're planning, I'd
recommend one hardy water lily, and then
a variety of common oxygenators like
anacharis, hornwort, and maybe some
marginals. Lowes carries some water
garden plants, as well as the specialty stores.
(I'm sure there are some in Austin.)

You can always start small and do what a lot of
other people do and expand later. Just Me "Koi"
is absolutely right about that. If I were
younger I'd already have moved up to a much
larger pond, but I have all I can handle now!

Gail

Due to how it is being placed in the yard it is better to accomidate it now.

"Sean Dinh" wrote in message
...
You could build the pond now, and then retrofit a skimmer later. It's not
mandatory like aerator/filter.

daryl wilde wrote:

The area I am wanting to use is off the back patio and is partially
covered
by a Oak tree- yes I know not the best spot for a pond, and I am
concerned
with this but this is where we want it so we can be close and enjoy.
This is
why I am looking for skimmer and waterfall box plans - $400 is just too
much
mula.

Do you have more information on this weir?

Daryl

"RichToyBox" wrote in message
news:wYSrc.7416$hi6.806533@attbi_s53...
Making the skimmer box is not a problem, and the use of the marine plywood
would probably work well. The problem is that you want a weir that is
floating or spring loaded so that it is pushed over by the water trying to
get into the box, making a very thin layer of water be skimmed. As the
water level in the pond fluctuates, the weir needs to be able to move with
the water level. A thick layer of water entering the skimmer will not
produce the desired skimming action.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html
"daryl wilde" wrote in message
...
The cost of the skimmer and filter box are expensive ~$500 or more. Has
anyone seen plans to build one? Any special concerns??

Thinking of using either external quality (CDX) or marine grade plywood
and
then covering with liner......comments. Expect the pond to be 6 ft x 8
ft
or so and 18-24in deep.

Thanks Daryl

The weir in my skimmer appears to be some form of liner wrapped around a
piece of styrofoam. The liner material is flexible enough to allow the weir
to lean into the skimmer as much as needed, and yet float so only a small
amount of water comes over the top. They also built by folds, some form of
accordian type sides to force all water over the top. This allows the weir
to act as a door, closing the skimmer box off for cleanings.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html
"daryl wilde" wrote in message
...
Do you have more information on this weir?

Daryl

"RichToyBox" wrote in message
news:wYSrc.7416$hi6.806533@attbi_s53...
Making the skimmer box is not a problem, and the use of the marine
plywood
would probably work well. The problem is that you want a weir that is
floating or spring loaded so that it is pushed over by the water trying
to
get into the box, making a very thin layer of water be skimmed. As the
water level in the pond fluctuates, the weir needs to be able to move
with
the water level. A thick layer of water entering the skimmer will not
produce the desired skimming action.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html
"daryl wilde" wrote in message
...
The cost of the skimmer and filter box are expensive ~$500 or more.
Has
anyone seen plans to build one? Any special concerns??

Thinking of using either external quality (CDX) or marine grade
plywood
and
then covering with liner......comments. Expect the pond to be 6 ft x
8
ft
or so and 18-24in deep.

Thanks Daryl