Now that you have chosen the perfect location for your fish pond and received approval from any local or national regulating parties, you can safely break ground. Depending on the size of your fish pond, you may want external assistance for this step of building your fish pond. You can also rent a small excavator locally to save on time, and they are more straightforward to use than you might think.
As you dig, be careful that you don’t break off any parts of the wall, as you will want these to be as stiff and solid as possible for when you add your liner. For this reason, you may want to start slightly smaller than your ideal size and make it larger as you go in case you accidentally collapse part of one of the walls.
Create both deep and shallow areas in your pond. This allows you to put in a variety of plants and different kinds of fish that may thrive in slightly different environments. For instance, some plants can only be placed in up to 2 feet of water. Make sure to think about the varieties of fish you are going to stock your pond with. Koi typically require a deeper, larger pond than other fish.
Make sure to check for any rocks or roots that may puncture your liner before going onto the next step. You can do an initial check by scraping along the walls and floor of your pond with a shovel and remove anything unwanted. Make sure to dig out any small rocks with a trowel. For an extra-safe check, use your hands to feel around the areas of your pond. Another option is to place a non-woven geotextile pad over any rougher surfaces prior to installing the pond liner.
Building a Dam For Your Fish
Banking or damming your fishing pond is the best way to keep water from leaking into the surrounding areas. Reinforcing the edges of the pond is the easiest way to keep your pond and its inhabitants safe. If your soil is predominantly made of clay, building an earthen dam to keep water in is easy. However, bear in mind that some soils are too porous for the construction of this kind of dam. Your pond consultant should be able to identify the soil around your pond, and whether or not you will need to cart in clay soil for reinforcement.
You are now ready to install your pond liner. BTL Liners can advise you on the proper liner choice for your pond, and provides a free calculator on its website that can help you determine how much liner you will need for your unique project. You can also call to discuss any questions or advice on properly sizing your liner.
