ChemBob Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 Started the build of a set of raised garden beds where I am incorporating a 100 gallon mini pond. My wife and I have been planning it for a few months now, and we finally pulled the trigger a couple of weeks ago by ordering the wood and pavers from Lowes. We are merging my hobby of fish keeping with her hobby of gardening. We demoed out a set of 4 raised beds we had before to make way for the new, larger beds. We are increasing planting are by about 50 to 75%, and going from 6 inch deep beds to 22 inch deep beds (4 1x6 boards stacked). If you could the pond area, we are close to doubling the planting area. There will be 3 raised beds. The beds are made out of 1x6 and 2x4 cedar, using deck screws to hold them together. The one in the center will have the mini pond. I am hoping the dirt around it in the bed will help insulate the pond so the fish can live outside year round. We are in Louisiana, so we rarely get below freezing and typically get at least into the 50s Fahrenheit during the day. The other 2 beds are L shaped around the pond bed making a big rectangle. So far, we've built the pond bed and one of the L shaped beds minus one board. We've also laid most of the pavers. Lowes owes us about 1/3 of the wood, so we are at a holding point until they bring the rest. I am stocking the pond with rainbow shiners, so based on my climate I think they'll be fine outside year round. I'm further south than a large portion of their range. I'll probably pull a few inside for the first winter or two to be safe. I am also going to have some kind of pond plants, but haven't figured out which ones yet. Suggestions are welcome! I am going to do a gravel and some river / pond stones as the substrate. Gravel for some aquatic plants and the stones in a few piles hoping the eggs and fry can find some hiding spots. Anyway, as the build progresses, I'll update with pictures and more info. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions! 11 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Struggle Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 I’m really liking this and look forward to your updates! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanTruth Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 That is quite a project you are working on. It looks like you're doing a wonderful job. It's not even completed, but you can already tell it's going to be beautiful. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted February 6, 2021 Author Share Posted February 6, 2021 Put paving stones at the bottom of where the pond will be going to provide a level surface. May add a layer of play sand between the stones and pond, but haven't decided. Also trenches where the 3rd bed will be going. As the rest of the wood should be here Monday or Tuesday. Don't mind the upside down pictures... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAC Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 Awesome project. A great episode from the aquarist podcast with Ted Colette with alot on ponds. https://youtu.be/mX7GrlCpgq4 We ended up getting his book, it has lots of good info and a big section on plants. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted February 7, 2021 Author Share Posted February 7, 2021 (edited) 20 hours ago, MAC said: Awesome project. A great episode from the aquarist podcast with Ted Colette with alot on ponds. https://youtu.be/mX7GrlCpgq4 We ended up getting his book, it has lots of good info and a big section on plants. Where did you get his book? I searched his name on Amazon and didn't find it. Found it, link was in the podcast description. Edited February 7, 2021 by ChemBob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted February 21, 2021 Author Share Posted February 21, 2021 Got Ted Coletti's book and read it last weekend. It was a good read! Built the 3rd garden bed this afternoon. Progress continues! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanTruth Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 Very nice! Super clean design and it looks really well built. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garren Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 Looking really good. Excited to see the end result! Thank you for posting! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nana Finopolis Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 I'm so jealous! I'd love to do something like that. The raised beds make gardening so much easier on the old back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted March 6, 2021 Author Share Posted March 6, 2021 Set the pond in place and put down pea gravel as the primary substrate. I also added a few piles of larger river stone to provide cover for eggs and fry (more cover will be added in additionto the stones). I drilled a 1/8in hole about 2 to 3 inches below the top to keep rain from overfilling the pond. Dirt has been added, and the pond has been filled. I ordered a solar fountain for water movement which should arrive on Monday. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 Filling the beds continues. Doing a 50/50 mix of generic top soil and compost/manure. I will also be adding in a bit of peat moss in the upper layer. The pond is also starting to clear up. We've gotten 170 cuft of soil so far. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20CultureLabs Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Very, very clean design and execution. I am excited it planted over the coming weeks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanTruth Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Spring is coming! Looks great. It’s going to be a wonderland when it is all planted and grown in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDoc Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 I want all of this. If you just want to go ahead and pick up this whole section of your backyard and transport it to my house, that'd be great. Thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy's Fish Den Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Looks good. I do have a pond tub like what you have there that I am planning to use this summer, but I have been trying to think how to dress it up and blend in, something like this might just be the answer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 Got the solar fountain in this afternoon. This is my only plan for mechanical aeration / filtration. I will seed with the sponge filter from the QT Tank that is currently holding the shiners. Likely I'll just dump the whole contents of the 10 gallon tub into the pond, I think there is room. The main filtration will be plants. I also finished filling the beds today, at least for the time being. A total of 182 cu ft of top soil and compost/manure plus about 3 cuft of peat moss mixed into the top layer of soil. I'm sure we'll need to top off as the dirt settles, but only time will tell. Now to wait for the pond to warm up... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cmike15 Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 I really like seeing your pictures, i went to school taking landscaping classes and I am inspired to do something like your project. I planned garden beds but if I tweak them to be taller this year or next I could see myself doing something similar. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 Went to the nursery today and got some plants for in and around the pond. We also got in our bench and arch/trellis. My wife has also started several vegetables inside to go in the outer beds. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Struggle Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Looking good! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted April 9, 2021 Author Share Posted April 9, 2021 The dwarf lilies came in today! I also got a water hawthorn and an iris. Unfortunately, I'll be working 12 hour shifts for the next week or so, so into the aquariums go the lilies and hawthorn. The iris is in a pot of water on the patio until I can deal with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted April 11, 2021 Author Share Posted April 11, 2021 Ended up with an unexpected day off today, so I got the waterlilies and iris planted! Can't wait for them to grow out! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted May 1, 2021 Author Share Posted May 1, 2021 A few updates. Water has cleared, and the fish appear to be doing very well. No idea of any fry are in there or not. Thinking about getting some windelov java fern for fry cover, or maybe moving some water wisteria from my 40 gallon for that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted May 8, 2021 Author Share Posted May 8, 2021 Updated plant pictures. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbit Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 Beautiful! I love the statue of Mary. What fish are you keeping in the pond? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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