A backyard pond can be a beautiful addition to your home, and provide hours of relaxation. Water features can add permanent value to your home when well built and properly maintained. Building a backyard pond is hard work, but the work is worth it when your beautiful DIY backyard pond transforms your landscape. Most can build a DIY backyard pond in a weekend with a few simple steps. Learn how to build a backyard pond below.
Step 1 Plan Your Pond’s Shape and Size
First you need to decide on the shape and size of your DIY backyard pond. Of course this will depend on the size of your yard. Ideally the pond should always be a feature that works aesthetically with the landscaping so make sure the size you want is in relation to the size of your yard. If you’re in the small backyard category then a shallow pond will be best.
Even though shallow ponds are the best for small backyards, they can be more difficult to keep up and expensive. They are more prone to bacterial or algae infection and force your fish to swim in higher concentrations of toxins. Also, fish tend to grow in relation to the size of the environment, that being said, your fish will be smaller.
So maybe you have an extravagant backyard that can fit a large pond. A larger DIY backyard pond will allow your fish to reach maximum potential in growth, health and breeding cycles, and also make ongoing maintenance less expensive. However, a larger pond requires more digging and a lot more materials, and let’s not forget, time consuming maintenance.
Step 2 Digging A Hole
Now that you’ve selected a size for your DIY backyard pond, you can start digging: using a garden hose, rope, or electric cord you can layout your chosen shape, and size of pond. Most people can dig an average pond themselves, or invite some friends over for the cost of a few pizzas. If these are not options expect to pay $50 an hour to have a contractor dig your pond.
Step 3 Choosing A Liner
“So I dug my hole, let’s get some water.” If this is running through your head you’re sure to have a muddy nightmare that the little 
ones will love in the morning. To make your “pond” a pond you need to add a liner. Concrete spray is the best option if the goal is to make a pond that will last. This concrete spray is more likely to last decades with very little maintenance but it is expensive. Prices will vary but a medium size pond will run you around $5000 for the initial treatment.
Many pond owners use rubber liners which is a much more inexpensive route. Rubber liners are strips of tough rubber that lay across the bottom of the pond. They are sealed together tightly to reduce leaks, however, they can be corrupted by burrowing animals and will wear over time. Lining the hole with full concrete bags then watering carefully before installing rubber liners can help prevent rodent invaders. This option is much cheaper ranging from a low $800 to $1500 for most ponds.
Another option would be a pre-made plastic tub, which is the easiest to install. Plastic tubs are unlikely to be ruined by animals and will last a long time but they do have their limitations. They are limited in size and shape and also, tubs are precast and will not grow with the environment. This is also a cheap option at around $800 or more.
Step 4 Adding Filtration
Now that our “pond” is in fact a pond, it’s time for the filtration system and we might as well get the landscaping done too. It is very 
important that your pond is filtered and has moving water so algae and fish waste do not build up inside the pond. Aeration is extremely vital for a vibrant community of aquatic animals. Your local pool and pond supplier will have pumps and filtration systems waiting for you. The instructions are usually easy to follow and installation is generally quick.
Step 5 Add Landscaping
Now your DIY backyard pond is functioning, all you have to do now is make it look beautiful. Add your landscaping as you please to create the extravagant looking pond you want. Be sure that the landscaping does not interfere with the functions of the pond. Fish love to wallow in shadows under objects so consider a well-placed bridge or structure work as a captivating piece.
Step 6 Add Plants and Fish
Plants keep a pond healthy. Water gardens use three kinds:
- Floating plants such as water lilies shade the water, keep it cool, and take up the nutrients algae would otherwise feed on.
- Submerged plants grow under the surface, add oxygen, and give fish a place to hide. Avoid invasive species.
- Edge plants such as iris and cattails grow on the shelves around the basin, up to about 10 inches below the water surface.
Most aquatic plants prefer water less than 24 inches deep, which is why many ponds have a shallow plant shelf and a deeper center. Use soil made for aquatic plants and slow-release aquatic plant food so extra nutrients do not feed algae.
Wait until the filter is running and the water has settled before you add fish. Koi, comet goldfish, and sarasa goldfish are common choices. A good rule is about 1 small fish per 3 square feet of water surface, and about 10 square feet per koi. Fish also help control mosquito larvae. If you build the pond from concrete, seal it before you add fish. A leak in a pond with fish can drain it overnight.
Choosing the Right Spot
Put the pond where it gets 5 to 6 hours of sun a day with some shade. Sun helps water plants bloom, and shade helps hold back algae. Keep it away from large trees and shrubs so falling leaves and twigs do not foul the water. Plan for power: the pump should run on a GFI (ground fault) outlet, which shuts off power if something goes wrong with the circuit. Decide early on extras such as a waterfall or fish, because each one changes how you dig and plumb the pond.
Adding a Waterfall, Lights, or a Duck Pond
A waterfall adds sound and moves water, which helps aerate the pond. It also adds work: you will skim leaves, watch the water balance, and deal with visitors such as birds, frogs, and raccoons. If you have small children, an open pool at the base of a waterfall is a drowning hazard, so plan a barrier or a shallow design.
Pond lights let you enjoy the pond after dark. Sketch a layout first, then pick fully waterproof LED lights, which last far longer than conventional bulbs. Deeper ponds need brighter lights for the glow to reach the surface. Mount each light securely against the concrete or brick so it stays put, and cover the housing with wire mesh to protect it.
A backyard duck pond gives ducks a seasonal habitat and can serve as a watering hole for other animals. One common way to build one is with a concrete form, since concrete is durable and holds its shape. The key is keeping it full, so waterproof the concrete before you fill it.
Seasonal Pond Care
- Spring: Remove netting, put the pump back in, and clear out dead plant debris. Start feeding fish again, and scoop out any food that is not eaten within about 10 minutes.
- Summer: Thin and divide overgrown plants, clean the pump filter often, and top off the water as it evaporates. If fish gasp at the surface, add a fountain or aerator to put more oxygen in the water.
- Fall: Skim leaves often or cover the pond with netting. In cold climates, remove the pump near the end of fall and add a pond heater or de-icer.
- Winter: Keep a hole open in the ice so gases can escape, using a heater or a floating ball. Do not break the ice by force, which can shock fish.
Common Pond Problems and Fixes
- Green water or too much algae: Add more floating and submerged plants to shade the water and use up nutrients.
- Cloudy or brown water: Clean the filter and check that the pump is moving all the water through the filter about once an hour.
- Fish dying or gasping: Low oxygen or too many fish. Add aeration and submerged plants, and thin the fish population.
- Chlorine from tap water: Test the water with a pond test kit and treat it before adding fish.
- Water level keeps dropping: Small drops in hot weather are evaporation. Larger drops mean a leak. Drain the pond and repair the cracks. See how to waterproof a pond or water feature.
The Sani-Tred Solution
Permanently repair and waterproof your ponds, fountains, and other water features. Permanently bonds to most substrates and is harmless for your Plants, Fish, Reef & Fry. Call 1-866-784-3308 or visit the SANI-TRED fountain and pond sealing system to learn more.
- Read the step by step guide to sealing a pond
- See the advantages of SANI-TRED concrete pond sealer over liners
- Compare products in choosing the best pond sealer
