Any cheap but effective pond ideas?

[RoyalHillsLLC]

I am debating what sort of manmade pond might be possible, as I enjoy ducks and geese in addition to my chickens.
I purposely got muscovies since they don't require a pond, and geese since they like grazing in fields, but still would like to build a small pond if I thought it was possible to keep it somewhat clean. Any thoughts? they are so messy and poop so much, I just wonder if it is possible to keep a small pond clean.
I was thinking something with a liner since our soil is so sandy.

 

[dixygirl]

They sell a 10x12 foot liner at Home Depot for about $59.00

If you dig down a foot and a half you could make a pond about 6x8 or less with that.

Or you could just get the jumbo kiddie pool from Walmart and dig a hole in the ground for it. Put field stones and tall grasses around the perimeter. That pool is around $25 if i am not mistaken.

 

[sara]

When we bought this property it was all grown up with trees, so my husband brought a tracloader home from work and pushed them out. When he did the one tree it filled up with water where the roots were. We discovered there were springs there, so my little noggin decided I needed a pond. He dug it for me. my ducks make it look disgusting, so who knows if you can keep a little one clean

This pond is bigger than it looks, it larger than your typical above ground swimming pool

This is the clean water the first day they went on the pond:

And how gross it is now:

He is going to bring a trachoe home and make it bigger yet, but who knows if it will ever look clear again.

 

[RoyalHillsLLC]

That is exactly my concern with a small pool or pool liner. I need some ideas from people with experience trying to keep them clean. Is it possible?

 

[dixygirl]

One alternative is to dig a hole and put a 1 inch layer of sodium bentonite in there and blend it in with the soil. It looks like beautiful white sand but is supposed to act like a pond liner itself! Called BENTONITE for short. (Seals a pond instead of using a pond liner)

http://www.texassodiumbentonite.com/

or try http://sodiumbentonite.net/
I think you can get it from any well company in your area and avoid paying shipping. Each fifty pound bag treats 8 square feet. Also the walls of your pond have to be sloped and not straight up and down so it wont run off.

I understand one form of bentonite also helps to clean the water if you sprinkle it in. Calcium bentonite i believe ( just to clean the water)


Also to keep it clean just get a heavy duty pond pump with filter. ( Try Home Depot) The pump sucks the water through a spongy filter and sprays the filtered water out like a fountain or waterfall. You will just have to hose off the spongy filter frequently when it is used often or it will stop up.

 

[White Elk]

Does anyone know of any critters that can be imported to a pond to help keep things clean? Like bottom feeding fish, or fresh water crabs etc? I know the ducks will hunt them but perhaps a small separate fish hatchery will keep the population sustainable? And how about plants and algae? It would be nice if nature could do some of the work, and at the same time enrich the lives of the ducks.

 

[SamG347]

Carp are pretty good at keeping the water clean!

 

[dacjohns]

Quote:
Get with your local Soil and Water Conservation District.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/

 

[Dodgegal79]

I went a bought a kids turtle sand box from Toys R us. Its small and plastic, that way they can have a bath when they want and you can just dump it out and move it when it gets to muddy around it.

 

[White Elk]

If I wasn't planning on constructing a permanent pond later, I'd be debating between a cheap kiddie pool or spending double and getting a small pond liner. A liner form is durable and one wouldn't have to worry so much about crimping or cracking it during the constant cleanings. It might be worth spending double for more than double the life span?? I've never done this, just guessing.

And for the mud... I think digging a french drain under the pool (after digging a pool depression) and then surronding the sides first with rough gravel, and then a layer on top with the more expensive smooth pea gravel may do the trick. THen you can top that layer off with rocks if you want. That way the water runs through the gravels and down under the pit into the french drain pit and has some time to naturally drain through the soil. You will have to build some sort of wire housing to prevent your gravel from spilling into your hole when taking out the pool for cleaning. And then line the sides with landscaping fabric to stop the dirt. These materials will be easy enough to find at most hardware/feed stores. And any store clerk worth their weight will be able to understand your concept and help you choose the materials.

A french drain is just a round hole dug into the ground and filled with gravel. It will fill up with water and then the water will slowly drain through it into the ground. It buys you time between washings. You can line the outside of the french drain with drain cloth or even left over landscaping cloth to prolong the life of the drain. Its simple and effective. And any time you have rain water collect in a low spot... you can try a french drain to solve it. Its worked for me many times.