A Man, A Plan, Snak Builds A Pond - modem burner with a couple lame watches

[mrsnak]

Finished my project last week. Snak's design amateur cement work working well and fish have never had water so clean.
The story: Built a pond a few years back in my yard, but never like the way I finished it.
This was just before tearing out the flagstone, but after clearing the area.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/Pond-the%20story/pond.jpg

Bought a new waterfall filter, a UV filter, a larger pump and a couple tons of Montana Bluff rock.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/Pond-the%20story/filter.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/Pond-the%20story/rocks.jpg

The plan and filter in place.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/Pond-the%20story/pond-03.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/Pond-the%20story/Pond-01.jpg

Waterfall starts to take shape

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/Pond-the%20story/pond-04.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/Pond-the%20story/pond-05.jpg

had to take a few breaks

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/happyhour.jpg

Only wear the best doing concrete work

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/tech%20stuff/mortar-forker.jpg

Did have a few accidents with the rocks

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/tech%20stuff/hand.jpg

Almost done, all rock mortared in. 20 year-old Fauxlex none the worse for wear.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/tech%20stuff/pond-8-3-08.jpg

Finished! Now just to add plantings to the area and let it get very natural.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/Pond-the%20story/pond-10.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/Pond-the%20story/pond-11.jpg

[kiwidj]

Fantastic job there! Great and fun pics too. Thanks for sharing! :-!

[AAH]

Awesome Job!!!! If I attempted something like that I would have to hire someone to fix what I messed up...........

[Joe K.]

Nice work ! I have an idea :think:..... Looking at the "What do you use as a safe" thread you could have the most original safe using that pond.... Simply keep your watches in a bag at the bottom and stock the pond with piranhas :-!

But seriously now.... that pond could make the ideal background for some pictures of your Watcho |>

[RogerE]

Great job, Snak! Glad they were able to reattach your hand.

[mrsnak]

Nice work ! I have an idea :think:..... Looking at the "What do you use as a safe" thread you could have the most original safe using that pond.... Simply keep your watches in a bag at the bottom and stock the pond with piranhas :-!

But seriously now.... that pond could make the ideal background for some pictures of your Watcho |>

The old pond was, but you couldn't really tell. Am planning a whole tableau of all my divers in the water, next :-)
This will be like Snak's backlot.

Shot my Rockwatch on it this week.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/rockwatch.jpg

[Joe K.]

Or, more importantly, recover the watch.....:-d

Great job, Snak! Glad they were able to reattach your hand.

[hiro1963]

Great job! Well done! :-! - Hiro

[DMB]

Looks good man. Amazing what you can accomplish yourself after you look at the estimate from professionals. - David

[jimmoose]

The old pond was, but you couldn't really tell. Am planning a whole tableau of all my divers in the water, next :-)
This will be like Snak's backlot.

Shot my Rockwatch on it this week.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/rockwatch.jpg

I love to see a plan come together. Nice stone work done with tender loving care. The bluff stone looks so much more natural than the flagstone
and the waterfall with filter looks great. Nice design and great execution.
Looks like a pro deal all the way. If I didn't know better, I would swear
that there had to be at least one conservative in that mix somewhere.
Congrats Snak on a job well done.:-!
jim

[mrsnak]

Looks good man. Amazing what you can accomplish yourself after you look at the estimate from professionals. - David

That's practically the inspiration to do it myself! :-d

Actually, better to get your hands dirty and have fun making things.

I'm doing a low fence around the front yard now. We have a large corner lot, so almost bit off more than I could chew area-wise. Then realized I had to dig up and reconfigure the sprinkler pipe around where the posts will go (I cut away a couple feet at the post sites, and made V-shaped PVC sections that were glued in to go around the the posts). This was all day yesterday. Ah, fresh air! Am having a buddy build all the fencing, then we will install in a couple weeks.

Another location to hang watches from for photos.

[Francois Boucher]

Did you complete all that in only one day? Will you have fish living in there?

It's very nice! Relaxing noise...

[RogerE]

That's practically the inspiration to do it myself! :-d

Actually, better to get your hands dirty and have fun making things.

I'm doing a low fence around the front yard now. We have a large corner lot, so almost bit off more than I could chew area-wise. Then realized I had to dig up and reconfigure the sprinkler pipe around where the posts will go (I cut away a couple feet at the post sites, and made V-shaped PVC sections that were glued in to go around the the posts). This was all day yesterday. Ah, fresh air! Am having a buddy build all the fencing, then we will install in a couple weeks.

Another location to hang watches from for photos.A house along the 5th fairway of a golf course I've played at has JUST gravel in the backyard! The dude obviously isn't married.

[Trojan]

Looks pretty darned good, Snak! John

[Hewybaby]

Looks great Snak . . .

Sam

[mrsnak]

Did you complete all that in only one day? Will you have fish living in there?

It's very nice! Relaxing noise...

Thanks! My fish have been there all through the construction. Have about 15 large goldfish (a couple close to 12") and a ton of Mosquitofish.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/Pond-the%20story/fish.jpg

The sound is fantastic. You can hear it from our bedroom window.

[mrsnak]

I love to see a plan come together. Nice stone work done with tender loving care. The bluff stone looks so much more natural than the flagstone
and the waterfall with filter looks great. Nice design and great execution.
Looks like a pro deal all the way. If I didn't know better, I would swear
that there had to be at least one conservative in that mix somewhere.
Congrats Snak on a job well done.:-!
jim

Thanks, Jim - you knew that I needed the nod of approval from an expert.

Once I get some plants in there, the filter will be covered completely. Only wish I'd had the room to have placed it from the side, so you didn't see the mouth of the falls.

I'm afraid the conservative is in the cement mix. Was pushed in. Don't know who did it.

[bradleyb]

Finished my project last week. Snak's design amateur cement work working well and fish have never had water so clean.
The story: Built a pond a few years back in my yard, but never like the way I finished it.
Hey, thanks for the photos, Snak. Nice project and nice work!

I've long contemplated a pond project--with water deep enough for the fishies to emerge from the depths, take shape and color, and then disappear again in the murk, like inspirations from the unconscious. Alas, the missus responds to all things frog in exactly the cliche of the mouse. Instinctive, unthinking. More than once she has tried to climb up over me at the movement of toadies at our feet. So, no pond until I can convince her that there is such a thing as a pond that will not attract frogs. :-d

Anyway, your work is inspiring. Thanks.

Brad

[DMB]

A house along the 5th fairway of a golf course I've played at has JUST gravel in the backyard!

Priorities for a Man-Yard ....

1. Shaded porch w/ comfortable chairs
2. BBQ Pit
3. Outdoor TV
4. Refrigerator full of beer
5. Grass

;-) - David

[mrsnak]

Hey, thanks for the photos, Snak. Nice project and nice work!

I've long contemplated a pond project--with water deep enough for the fishies to emerge from the depths, take shape and color, and then disappear again in the murk, like inspirations from the unconscious. Alas, the missus responds to all things frog in exactly the cliche of the mouse. Instinctive, unthinking. More than once she has tried to climb up over me at the movement of toadies at our feet. So, no pond until I can convince her that there is such a thing as a pond that will not attract frogs. :-d

Anyway, your work is inspiring. Thanks.

Brad

No frogs here unless you import them. Too low on the food chain.
Ponds are pretty easy, just dig a hole and line it with that butyl rubber lining. Get the eco system going and it practically takes care of itself.

[goheel]

nice work. If I have a pond, I would love to have some koi in there.

[quatre_temps]

That is a job WELL DONE, mate :-! I especially like the fish....my girls would be amazed at them :-)

[spogehead]

Good job Snak, if I attempted to do that I would either drown, or injure myself in some severe way! :-(

[Fatpants]

Excellent work Kurt, hope your hand is OK after being crushed by Montana stone:-d

[john wilson]

The snak Is creative!!

[Neil(UK)]

That's good work Snakster.

A pond with fish certainly makes a garden.

No trouble with the water freezing where are you are I suppose?

[mrsnak]

That's good work Snakster.

A pond with fish certainly makes a garden.

No trouble with the water freezing where are you are I suppose?

Not here. Water goes to about 55ºF in Winter, never any colder. The county wants ponds to have mosquito fish to prevent larvae from growing. The goldfish don't eat mosquito larvae. We have a problem around here with West Nile Virus, a mosquito-borne disease.
My goldfish are 12-for-a-dollar feeder fish I got from the local petstore.
They're over 3 years old now. Koi would have gotten too big.

[Fergie]

Looks good man. Amazing what you can accomplish yourself after you look at the estimate from professionals. - David

Aint that the truth. Got a quote to till the garden, build a deck, turf a new lawn and pave around the house for £950. DIY cost, so far £200 and possible expenditure is a further £100.

The Snak has done a nice job on the pond by the way :-!