false creek water feature?

[rf134a]

Does anyone have or know how to make a creek that leads to a pond? The pond is relatively simple since pond kits are sold everywhere but there's hardly any info on making a false creek. Would a double or quaduple layer of vapor barrier be a good enough substitute for EPDM underlay?

[CSK'sMom]

OK, where to begin... I have 2 ponds and a stream. The water gets pumped from the bottom pond to the top pond which has an overflow edge. From there the water follows about a 30 foot stream which emptys back into the lower pond. You can use either a pond to feed the stream or what is called a waterfall weir, which is basically a square box with an overflow edge on one side.

You need a large pump to do this. You have to take into consideration the overall lift that is required (the height difference between the pump location and upper pond or weir). I have close to 5 feet of lift and run a 2142 US gallon per hour pump. You loose GPH with the more lift you have. My stream is relatively fast moving, not a trickle and not white-water.

You really need to use EPDM for the stream bed. Vapour barrier isn't thick enough to withstand the sun, rocks, etc. Our stream bed is EPDM and covered in a combination of pea gravel and river rock which acts as a biological filter. To save a few dollars you can seam EPDM with the proper seaming tape. It's not the easiest thing to do but when done properly it works well. We also have eddys built into our stream where it changes directions. Basically it's a deeper section which allows places to plant, etc. They also provide a place to catch any larger debris.

[sunnybono]

OK, where to begin... I have 2 ponds and a stream. The water gets pumped from the bottom pond to the top pond which has an overflow edge. From there the water follows about a 30 foot stream which emptys back into the lower pond. You can use either a pond to feed the stream or what is called a waterfall weir, which is basically a square box with an overflow edge on one side.

You need a large pump to do this. You have to take into consideration the overall lift that is required (the height difference between the pump location and upper pond or weir). I have close to 5 feet of lift and run a 2142 US gallon per hour pump. You loose GPH with the more lift you have. My stream is relatively fast moving, not a trickle and not white-water.

You really need to use EPDM for the stream bed. Vapour barrier isn't thick enough to withstand the sun, rocks, etc. Our stream bed is EPDM and covered in a combination of pea gravel and river rock which acts as a biological filter. To save a few dollars you can seam EPDM with the proper seaming tape. It's not the easiest thing to do but when done properly it works well. We also have eddys built into our stream where it changes directions. Basically it's a deeper section which allows places to plant, etc. They also provide a place to catch any larger debris.


Hey CSK'sMom, post some pictures. I would love to see what you have done!!!

sk

[CSK'sMom]

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/4993/yard1ux3.jpg

Here ya go sunny. :D

[sunnybono]

VERY NICE!!!!!! Did you do that on your own??? Just out of curiosity what that would cost like???

sk

[CSK'sMom]

Yep, we did it all ourselves. When we moved into this house there was absolutely nothing in the backyard but a pool, a hill and gravel. We figure we have spent about $5k for all the hardscape and landscape so far. The ponds we figure we've spent about $1,000 to $1,500 for everything. We did get all out larger rock for free though which helped keep the cost down. We're hoping to finish it this year. We need to finish the decking up the one side of the pool and sod the side yard. Hubby hopes to fire up the rototiller in the next couple of weeks!

[rf134a]

Wow, that's really nice! I'm looking to do something like that but without the koi.

Where do you get EPDM liner from? The usual hardware stores only sell the pre-formed stuff.

[CSK'sMom]

There are no koi in our setup rf134a. Koi need very specific setups to thrive and survive. Someday,where our pool sits will be a 5 foot deep koi pond. We keep goldfish in our lower pond (year round). EPDM is pretty easy to get. Places like Home Depot and Canadian Tire sell it off the roll. Many garden centers also sell it as well as an pet type store that that has pond supplies...

[BobW]

EPDM is pretty easy to get. Places like Home Depot and Canadian Tire sell it off the roll. Many garden centers also sell it as well as an pet type store that that has pond supplies...

A lot of irrigation wholesalers carry epdm as well as all the pond parts (irrigation and ponds = water). And many wholesalers will sell to individuals... you might get a better deal, or better equipment for the same money as home improvement store...

BTW... very nice waterfall.. hard to believe that you only have 5' of drop in that

[don242]

OK, where to begin... I have 2 ponds and a stream. The water gets pumped from the bottom pond to the top pond which has an overflow edge. From there the water follows about a 30 foot stream which emptys back into the lower pond. You can use either a pond to feed the stream or what is called a waterfall weir, which is basically a square box with an overflow edge on one side.



Looks great. I think soon we may consider something like this when the kids are old enough to be safe.

I have not looked into these things as at all yet so I know little about them. Just wondering do you have any idea what the ongoing costs are for your setup such as electricity use, filters, chemicals, etc.?

I know goldfish hibernate in the winter but you can leave them in a pond that shallow year round? I knew they are fine in larger ponds but never knew you could leave them in a smaller pond as well.

[CSK'sMom]

Thanks Bob. We were pleasantly surprised when we measured how much lift we had between both ponds. I think it may be deceiving due to the highway sound barrier wall. I've also tried to play with perspectives with the plantings.

Don, I won't lie. I choose our pump specifically wth hydro consumption in mind. Our pump draws 27 watts. Many pumps are hydro hogs so it' something you definitely want to check out. We're also running a pool so we definitely see a difference on the hydro bills in the summer. A well built an balanced pond won't need any chemicals. I change out my filters maybe twice a year tops, you want them to be full of biological matter which helps to keep the water parameters in line.

Fish don't hibernate, that's a wives tale. Fish can be overwintered outside if some basic requirements are met. Obviously, the pond cannot freeze solid. It either needs a bubbler running all winter to keep a hole open in the ice for gas exchange or it needs a heater of some sort. We happen to use a floating cattle trough de-icer. It keeps the water right around 40 degrees all winter. We also cover the pond in the winter when the de-icer is going with basically a frame covered in plastic.

[don242]

Don, I won't lie. I choose our pump specifically wth hydro consumption in mind. Our pump draws 27 watts. Many pumps are hydro hogs so it' something you definitely want to check out. We're also running a pool so we definitely see a difference on the hydro bills in the summer. A well built an balanced pond won't need any chemicals. I change out my filters maybe twice a year tops, you want them to be full of biological matter which helps to keep the water parameters in line.

Fish don't hibernate, that's a wives tale. Fish can be overwintered outside if some basic requirements are met. Obviously, the pond cannot freeze solid. It either needs a bubbler running all winter to keep a hole open in the ice for gas exchange or it needs a heater of some sort. We happen to use a floating cattle trough de-icer. It keeps the water right around 40 degrees all winter. We also cover the pond in the winter when the de-icer is going with basically a frame covered in plastic.

Thanks for the info, I guess hibernate was a little too strong a word but thanks for the clarification. Maybe someday we will consider adding the pond to our backyard plan. Right now are backyard is just that, a plan. Hopefully some of it will begin to take shape this year.

[rc51]

Thanks Bob. We were pleasantly surprised when we measured how much lift we had between both ponds. I think it may be deceiving due to the highway sound barrier wall. I've also tried to play with perspectives with the plantings.

Don, I won't lie. I choose our pump specifically wth hydro consumption in mind. Our pump draws 27 watts. Many pumps are hydro hogs so it' something you definitely want to check out. We're also running a pool so we definitely see a difference on the hydro bills in the summer. A well built an balanced pond won't need any chemicals. I change out my filters maybe twice a year tops, you want them to be full of biological matter which helps to keep the water parameters in line.

Fish don't hibernate, that's a wives tale. Fish can be overwintered outside if some basic requirements are met. Obviously, the pond cannot freeze solid. It either needs a bubbler running all winter to keep a hole open in the ice for gas exchange or it needs a heater of some sort. We happen to use a floating cattle trough de-icer. It keeps the water right around 40 degrees all winter. We also cover the pond in the winter when the de-icer is going with basically a frame covered in plastic.

Curious to know what the coldest temps you get where you are in the winter and how deep your pond is.

We're in the process of doing something to our plain backyard..and thinking about incorporating a pond..but in Calgary, I'll need something deep enough to survive the winter temps..not sure if a heater is feasible out here.

[CSK'sMom]

Niagara Falls is considered in zone 6B. We get the polar air masses in the winter and can see -20's or lower with additional windchill values. The lower pond that is home to our fish is 36 inches deep. If you want to overwinter fish it's achievable one of 2 ways. A trough or pond floating de-icer or a bubbler. Both basically achieve the same thing which is to keep a hole open in the ice. That's the key, it's needed for gas exchange. During polar air masses we do get ice on the pond but the de-icer never allows it to totally cover the surface of the pond. We also cover the pond with a frame covered in plastic which acts as a mini greenhouse....

[rc51]

Niagara Falls is considered in zone 6B. We get the polar air masses in the winter and can see -20's or lower with additional windchill values. The lower pond that is home to our fish is 36 inches deep. If you want to overwinter fish it's achievable one of 2 ways. A trough or pond floating de-icer or a bubbler. Both basically achieve the same thing which is to keep a hole open in the ice. That's the key, it's needed for gas exchange. During polar air masses we do get ice on the pond but the de-icer never allows it to totally cover the surface of the pond. We also cover the pond with a frame covered in plastic which acts as a mini greenhouse....

Thanks for the info....6B over there is quite a bit different from Calgary which is I think 3A. I will have to do more research in what's involved with some of the local places that do this kind of work.

Everyone it seemed was pushing ponds during the home show..some with some very elaborate designs.