Creating Your Own Preformed Water Garden Pond

There are various preformed pond liner that is made out of rugged high-density polyethlene. They come in rectangular and free-form shapes with various widths, lengths, multiple built-in ledges and zones for placing your aquatic plants. I used 59" x 39"x 18" preformed pond which holds about 60 gallons of water. From my family room I have a focal view point so I decided to put the pond above ground instead of in the ground.

Getting Started

• Step One

  Make sure the ground where you going to install your pond is level. I placed it on a concrete foundation that was previously used for a jacuzzi. Here is a website where you can checkout the preformed liners.

• Step Two

  I took tan bricks and placed it four layers high around the pond to hide the pond liner; to support the pond and gave it a nice zigzap design pattern.

• Step Three

  Place the submersible water pump and filter in the middle of the pond. I filled the pond with water, turned on the pump to circulate the water. Prior to adding the fishes to the pond. Add chlorine and choloramine to remove the chemicals from the water accordingly to the instructions for a 60 gallon pond.

• Step Four

  The next day I started to plant aquatic plants (for further information click on aquatic plants). I took 9" x 9" x 5" round plastic container (especially used for ponds) and place in the container the unwoven spun-bound fabric (I use this material because it holds the soil in place and the soil will not leak into the pond) pour about a 1/2" of soil with a fertilizer tablet, then continue to fill the container with soil. Use your finger and dig a hole in the soil and place your aquatic plant. (in this case I planted a tropical water lily) Place gravel (the type is used in aquarium)on top of the soil around the the plant (make sure to keep the gravel away from the plant). Take the plant container and lower it into the pond. In addition to having three water lilies, I included water hyacinth and lettuce that floats on the surface of the pond.

• Step Five

  The finishing touch is when the gold fish are released into the water adding color to the pond. Since I had additional space, I added garden plants in pots around the pond.

• Caring For Your Pond

  In due time during the spring and summer months, you will notice algae growth. The easiest way of controlling the algae is by adding oxygenating plants. They need to have the right combination of plants and animals. For further information for caring for your pond click on this link.

On a weekly basis I also check the water level due to the evaporation and add more water as needed. I use a small fish net to clean out debrise that has fallen into the pond.

Here Are Pictures Of My Pond

Materials and Tools

• Preformed pond liner
• Water pump and filter
• Tubing (1/2")
• Plastic plant pots
• Soil mix for aquatic plants
• Gravel
• Bricks
• Fish net
• Fish

Cost of Materials

                                         Quantity          Unit Cost           Price
Preformed pond liner                        1               $39.00            $39.00
Water pump and filter                       1               $89.49            $89.49
Bricks                                     40                $1.44            $50.49
Chorine & Chloramine remover                1                $5.74             $5.74
Pond Clarifier                              1                $9.97             $9.97
Tubing                                      6 ft.             $.25             $1.50
Gravel                                      1                $2.50             $2.50
Plants - water lilies                       3               $20.00            $60.00
Plants - water hyacinth & lettuce           6                $1.75            $10.50
Round plastic plant pots                    3                $3.97            $11.91
Soil mix                                    1                $5.00             $5.00
Fish net                                    1                $6.00             $6.00
Fish                                       10                 $.35             $3.50