| Would you be surprised if I told you that within | | | | place, you can add the rubber pond liner. Place it in |
| one day you could build the goldfish pond you've | | | | the hole, position it, and smooth out as many |
| always wanted in your backyard? Call a couple of | | | | folds as you can. If a few folds remain, you can |
| friends, provide the cold drinks, and it's a project | | | | correct that later. |
| which can be done. In order to prepare in | | | | Now on to the Good Stuff |
| advance, you'll need shovels, a pond underlayment | | | | Once the liner is all in to your satisfaction and up |
| and liner, coping stones, decorative items, plants, a | | | | against the pond filter, it's time to get creative. |
| pump, a filter system, a dechlorinator, and a | | | | You get to add waterfalls and streams. Design |
| package of bacteria. Yes, you heard me right - | | | | them so that they will flow directly into the pond. |
| bacteria! | | | | Wherever you want a waterfall, use mortar or |
| Where Should You Locate Your Pond? | | | | expandable foam to secure a rock there. When |
| The first step in your goldfish pond project will be | | | | the water comes on, it will flow over the rock, |
| to find the best location for it. In order to do so, | | | | and you'll have an instant waterfall. |
| here is a list of things to keep in mind: | | | | The final steps in the basic installation will be to |
| * You will need a power supply, so pick a site | | | | hook the liner to the skimmer and install all of the |
| which is near one. | | | | pipes. Use the instructions provided, and you will |
| * Don't put it at the bottom of a slope where | | | | be finished before you know it. |
| chemicals from the yard and garden can be | | | | A Pond that is a Reflection of You |
| washed down into it. | | | | Now we come to the decoration. You will want to |
| * Keep away from shaded areas. Your garden | | | | create an environment around your pond to |
| needs at least 4 hours of sunlight each day. | | | | make it look natural. For an edging, you can lay |
| * It might seem nice to build your pond nestled | | | | coping stones. They should be slightly higher than |
| near a lovely tree, but don't do it. Leaves and | | | | the edge of the water when you lay out an |
| debris falling from the tree will be messy and | | | | outline. While you're laying the rock, make sure to |
| cause you a lot more maintenance work. | | | | tuck in all ends of the liner so that it won't show. |
| Grab a Shovel and Dig In | | | | Use your own judgment on whether you think |
| Once you've found the site where you want to | | | | the rocks will stay in place on their own or if you |
| build your goldfish pond, it's time to think about its | | | | need to add a little mortar for more stability. |
| size and shape. Make sure you plan a large | | | | In your decorating, try to make everything as |
| enough pond so that your goldfish have plenty of | | | | much like nature as possible. Add a little shrubbery |
| room to swim. You'll also want different depths in | | | | around the edges, but make sure you don't get |
| your pool making some parts deeper and others | | | | carried away. You don't want your shrubbery to |
| shallower, just as a pond would be in the wild. | | | | grow up to overwhelm your pond or block the |
| The minimum depth for your pond should be at | | | | view. You can even create a small beach for your |
| least two feet, and then only if you live in a mild | | | | pond with using cobblestone and gravel. |
| to moderate climate zone. Otherwise, your pond | | | | The End of the Road |
| will need to be deeper. In cold climates, you have | | | | Now's the time to fill your pond with water. Make |
| to allow at least 12-16" of water that lies below | | | | any adjustments that need to be made, and |
| the depth of the surface water that will freeze | | | | continue filling until the water is within a few inches |
| during winter | | | | of the top. You can add or remove wrinkles in |
| The hardest part of the job is going to be the | | | | order to make things fit well. A dechlorinator |
| digging, but that's why you invited friends. After | | | | should also be installed which will eliminate |
| laying out the shape you want, and telling your | | | | unwanted chlorine from the tap water. |
| helpers exactly what it is you want, you can all | | | | Line the bottom of the pond with gravel, and |
| start digging. Keep in mind that your goldfish pond | | | | immediately add water plants. Anacharis, a plant |
| needs to have a ledge running around all sides. | | | | that fights algae and filters the water, is a good |
| This ledge should be 1' wide and 1' deep. In | | | | one to add in abundance. You'll also find that |
| addition, you need to dig a sloping area towards | | | | water lilies provide shade for fish on hot, sunny |
| one end so that you'll have a place to install your | | | | days. And, lastly, you're going to add a package |
| waterfall. | | | | of bacteria to the pond and filter in order to start |
| Before you finish your digging, you need to | | | | the bacteria cultures your ecosystem is going to |
| position your external pond filter and pond | | | | need. |
| skimmers. First they need to be placed and | | | | After you've added everything but the fish, you |
| leveled. Then you need to dig two ditches: one | | | | need to wait a few weeks for everything to |
| from the external pond pump to the skimmer, | | | | balance out, for bacteria to grow, and for |
| and one from the pump to the waterfall. | | | | nutrients the fish will need to develop. In other |
| Get in Line! | | | | words, you want your pool to be just like a |
| After preparing the hole, the first thing you're | | | | woodland environment before putting fish in their |
| going to put into it is the pond underlayment. This | | | | new home. After the waiting period, bring on the |
| is a lining material that keeps the pond liner from | | | | fish. You'll be able to spend hours enjoying your |
| moving. The underlayment can be cut to size and | | | | new goldfish pond. |
| pieced together with tape if need be. Once it's in | | | | |