Pond-Doctor-Dave's Real
World Question and Answer Series!
by:
David Crimmins
1. Your Question:
Help Dave, I've googled for days and
finally found you. I have a hard bottom, metal
sided, formerly lined pool which has fallen
into disrepair due to college bills. I would
like to convert it to a garden pond/swimming
pond, whatever. I am intrigued by the idea of
going natural. The pool is rectangular, 18x36
with wide steps at the shallow end. The
decking is reinforced concrete. We really miss
the pool which got lots of use when the kids
were young. We might be happy to fill in part
of it to plant in and leave part for a misty
fountain or koi pond. I wish however that we
could still take a dip. My husband and I are
older and not so active, but our "kids" are
still not out of the house and would enjoy
some water in the summer. Can you advise us?
My attempts to get a pool guy to help have not
been satisfactory, although for a million
dollars one can get anything one wants, and
unfortunately we are retired school
teachers(ie not millionaires) who are still
paying tuition. DIY sites? Suggestions? e.mail
advice? Help would really help. We can afford
a reasonable amount of money and the present
condition is making our house look lousy.
My Reply:
Hi there Karen.
It sounds like you've got a project on your
hands, but a potentially exciting one. A
naturally filtered pool is definetely the way
to go.
Is there a way to build a retaining wall in
the pool basin to add a 'regenerative zone' or
planted gravel bed? See my 'swimming pond'
page for a diagram. If so you will need to
redirct plumbing to percolate up through the
gravel with oxygen, see 'easy pond aerator'.
If not how about a conversion style filter as
seen on my 'pool conversion' page?
Be sure to research everything I have to
offer on
Pond-Doctor-Dave.com it should fill in
alot of the blank spots in your design ideas.
If you want fish you more than likely will
need to be okay swimming with them. It is
difficult to seperate them from where you want
to swim.
Best I can say is go for it! Nothing is set
in stone if you have any problems they can be
worked out. There is an answer to every
problem.
Be sure to keep me updated and I will
gladly answer any questions you have as you
move along.
2. Your Question:
Pressure Reqiured To Pump Water Straight Up
8"I.D X 40ft
My Reply:
Hi there Mike.
You're going to need at least 40' of head
pressure, plus the depth of the pond, in
combination with the GPM you desire. See:
http://www.pond-doctor-dave.com/waterfall-pump.html
3. Your Question:
Hi Dave, I have a natural rock face as my
backyard fence, at the bottom of the rock at
the end of my patio is an area in which I
would like to build up to make a pond and have
the water running into down the rock face, how
do you suggest I do this kind? regards Lynne
My Reply:
Hi there Lynne.
If you can dig out below the rock face to
install a liner, cement and seal the lip of
the liner at the base of the rock. Otherwise
don't use any more concrete than you need. Use
natural stone to pile on the other edges to
secure the liner and for the 'look'.
You will need to devise a way to run flex
pipe up and around your rock face and hide it
somehow.
See:
http://www.pond-doctor-dave.com/waterfall-pump.html
and be sure to research pond-doctor-dave
thouroughly to get the whole picture before
you proceed.
It sound like a great project keep me
updated.
About The Author
David Crimmins is a speaker, webmaster, designer, builder of all types
of water features including natural
swimming pools. Pond-Doctor-Dave is a
complete resource for all garden waterfall
and backyard pond enthusiasts. For more
information see:
http://www.pond-doctor-dave.com
Copyright (c) 2005, David Crimmins |
