Hi I am planning on having a pond in by new garden and wondered if anyone has had the experience of building one?  Shold I get the ready built plastic ones or should I dig one out and put pond liners in?  Would I need a filter or pump etc... I only want a few goldfish in it  Any help would be gratefully appreciated

I would use a liner. That way you can make exactly what you want. As to a pump and filter. I never had one for the first 20 years but it does mean that if the water starts to get a bit oxygen starved on a hot day you will need to get the hose pipe out to carry oxygen into the water. A pump feeding a waterfall looks great and takes care of all that for you.

Best wishes, John

Depends on cost. And what size etc you want. 
Have you dug down to see how easy your ground is to dig????
Ponds should techinically be 2 1/2' deep.
You need a pump, otherwise the pond will stagnate.
The last pond I buil;t for a customer, about 2' + deep, about 6'x4'  the liner alone cost about £70. You can get it cheaper, but there is no point in scrimping on the cost when, if it leaks, you loose the fish!!!!!!!!
Think about oxigenating plants. Marginal plants.
Rocks to hold the liner back.
Sand to line the hole, other wise, any stones might puncture the liner!!!!!!!
HTH
Lea :)

Hi Lea

Do you wana build mine lol

LMAO, Last time I do admit, I did cheat. I hired a mini digger!!! Tho most sweat I got wwas getting in and out of it when I had filled the barrows to fast for my work mates to shift em, So I had to do it LMAO
Lea :)
P.S. Seriously, any more questions, just shout.

lol I aint got the room for a digger so will have to all be hard work lol.  Are the pumps expensive?  Does this clean the water or just move the water around?  Total beginner at this can you tell lol :-D

bougtht a pump for about £40. Best to go to a pond place to get advice once you have dug the hole!!!!!!!!!
Plants will help keep the water clear, Make sure you get plants stocked up before you get the fish. but if not,m you should get a filter.(depends on size of pond, location, how many plants etc etc)
Lea :)

Hi there, :-)

I've recently completed my second pond as I love water in the garden and have done well with my goldfish (all won on the fair) in my first pond which I built raised as I had small children at the time (8 years ago).  Now that they are older and more sensible I have built a larger base pond using a liner purchased from Big W - I paid 20 pounds for it and it has a 10 year guarantee.  It was big enough to build my pond to 7ft x 4ft and is 2 1/2 ft at its deepest.  Although I have a pump in the raised pond to feed a small waterfall I have not installed one in the base pond as I wanted to grow water lillies and other marginal plants which don't particularly like moving water.  The pump did not keep the smaller pond clean enough even though it is for a bigger size pond, I had to clean the pond at least once a year. 

The way I keep the water clear and fresh now is to use 'Fairy Moss' which is quite invasive but really worth it, I bought some off Ebay mid summer last year and the small amount which I recieved I threw into the raised pond.  It covered about a foot square but within 2 months the pond was covered (approx 10sq foot) by which time I had completed the base pond so added some to this too.  Same again, multiplied and covered the pond. The water is so clear and my fish, old and new are thriving, it helps the ponds eco system and gives cover for plenty of wildlife too.  It is also helping my pond plants thrive through winter as its protecting them from frosts and both ponds aren't freezing over too much.  :-D

Its worth logging onto Ebays Gardening section as they have plenty of pond plants and equipment - pumps, liners etc, you might pick up some bargains, I have - infact my garden isn't EDEN its EBAY!!! 

One thing to consider is a mesh or netting cover incase of herons or cats - I haven't had a problem myself but I know quite a few people who have lost all their fish to both these predators.  :-P

Truely.  

Hi guys

It depends on whether you can keep your dogs OUT of the water.  We have 2 small interconnecting ponds which were lovely until we got Kester as a puppy.  He loves water and jumps in at every opportunity to 'play ' with the large stones at the bottom of the pond. Unfortunately, he also likes to dig and we have now found that he has ripped a large tear in the bottom of one of them.  So this Spring, we'll have to start all over again-probably with a pre-formed plastic one.
Ali :)

<<<<<<<<One thing to consider is a mesh or netting cover incase of herons or cats - I haven't had a problem myself but I know quite a few people who have lost all their fish to both these predators.>>>>>>
But just be careful, as there have been incidents of people falling onto the netting, It encompassing them, and they cant get out, hence drowning. This has happened to adults as well as kids :(
Lea :)

If it were me I'd get Mr.Titchmarsh in with Charlie to do the grafting :D but as I have a dislike of frogs and toads ( childhood fear of them I still can't shake off ) I would never have a pond

Oh well started the pond today marked it all out 5ft by 6 foot.  Started to dig and Im shattered and only dug down four inchs lol its gona be a big job lol and wish I could get a JCB round the back of the house but I cant lol :-)

Eddie, How about a micro digger???????? Less than 900cm width.(goes thru doorways)
Costs about £120ish(thats about average price if not in the trade around here) but well worth it, to save back breaking!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can pile everything up, and move it at leisure afterwards???????
Lea :)

can anyone drive these or do you need a special licence?  The trouble is is it would not fit down the side of our house there is a foot gap between the houses thats it

I picked it up within an hour or so. Now I use them regularily with landscaping jobs. I am 99% sure you dont have to have a licence, so yepo, you can use them
If there is anyway to get one in, it is well worth it. Take a fance panel out??????????
The micro diggers are designed to go thru doorways, into houses, so if you can get it thru a garage, or somethinmg like that??????????????
Lea :)

It would have to come through the house as our houses are detached but only a foot between the houses so dont have a fence to take down lol   I will have to try and see if there is a hire company round bishop auckland (durham) which has them in thanks lea.  If anyone out there knows of any companys in this area could you let me know please?  cheers

Does 'A-Plant' go that far up???????? If so, they have them. Or try builders merchants.
Lea :)

Thanks lea I will have a look for them and also check the local builders merchants :-D

So a digger is worth the money then...I have a couple of lawns I want to take up and dirt/soil I want moved to make a raised bed or too. Are they reasonably easy to handle then?
Karen

Hi Kaz

I have just phoned around.  I have one comming on saturday and its only 120 for the day and that includes the driver all I have to do is be there to tell him what I want doing.  I am so please and cant wait.... its a bargin :-D

That's interesting. I may enquire about that as I want a fair bit of work just digging up the grass never mind what I want to do after so that would be good value. I assume thats for 8 hours?

Karen

Thats great Eddie :D Deffinatly saves your back!!!!!!
I presume you will have the barrow at the ready to move the soil, or there is an area where he can swing round to to dump it :D
Lea :)

All sorted... invited my nephews to stay the weekend... I dont do manual work lol :-D

Hi Lea

well the pond is dug out yeah....  I have got some pond liner and have filled the pond with sand and put the liner over the top.  My question is now... what would you recommend to go around the edge of the pond... big stones pation stones etc?  The problem is with pation stones is the shape of the pond is really  wavey.  I am doing small pea gravel then closer to the pond doing larger beach pebbles but stuck as to what I can put on the edge to stop the pebbles falling in?  any suggestings?  Thanks

We normally use big rocks!!!!!!!! And then, as you said beach pebbles and gravel.
Dads pond is actually turfed right up to the edge!!!!!!!!!!!!
Make sure you use 'hard' rock. otherwise the frost will get into the rocks and the will break up.
DOnt buy them from garden centers or DIY stores. You will pay way over the odds!"!!!!!!!!!!!! Go to a builders merchant. And if your good at haggling, you may even be able to get a discount as you will need quite a few!!!!!!!!!!!
Pleased you got it dug out wiuthout back breaking work!!!!!!!!!
HTH
Lea :)

thanks lea...would you recommed cementing them together of just leaving them loose?  Just realised as well that the JCB man has dog a square hold straight down (no side bits for plants)  Can you get plants that go on the bottom that will grow?  I really appreciate your help

What plants would you recomend until I get a pond pump.  I seen some frog-bit in a local pet shop today and was not sure it that would be suitable.  I read somewhere that fairy moss sould not be added to a large pond.  What would you recommend?  I would also like to add some colour.

'frog bit'???? never heard of it.
Lea :)

Leave them loose, If they are big anough, they wont fall in, and that way, you can move them if you wish!!!!!!!!
Is there anyway you can dig out a bit more to make a step??????? Otherwise, it things fall in, Ie hedgehogs, cats even Frogs, they wont be able to0 get back out.  If not you are going to have to construct something to enable wildlife to get out.
Things like Lillys and 'soilders' grow from the bottom. But you would be better off with a ledge, otherwise you will be stuck with just deep water plants. I am no expert, and dont know names of pond plants, we construct them, but leave the customer to plant them up!!!!!!!!! Best thing to do is to go to a pond place, either a specific place, or a garden center with ponds.
Lea :)

thanks lea.... so im off to do some research on plants now lol

Well, dont want you to get bored Eddie!!!!!!!
Lea :)