Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations what to expect with pond

Will be building a pond in 2 years and I want to do it right. Location is limited to directly behind a future house, basically will be building it into the side of a hill. It will be approximatly a 1/2 acre in size, with it being 10ft deep on the far side, average depth of about 5-6 feet. 60 feet wide, 180 feet long. Sort of dog-leg shaped.

What would you stock it with?

Add some structure like old trees, stumps, pallets, pvc and tires?

What could I expect this pond to turn into?
Could I catch a few blue gill, bass and channels?

May I ask what region you're from, portable ladder?

Indiana.

Another important question, P-L.

Where does your water come from and how predictable will it be?

Runoff? (If so, how big is the watershed?)

Well? (If so, what's your maximum flow you can afford to provide?)

Heat pump? (If not, why not, with a new house going in?)

Rain? (What percent can you expect?)

We get about 35 inches of precip. rain/snow a year. The run-off isn't much, 2 acres. The house will be on a well, so it is free-water, not sure how much I'll get though. Heat Pump, you think I should consider heating the water in the winter?
I wish I could, but I am on a budget.

From what I understand, some people with whom I am acquainted, who are "in the know" tell me that the cost of a ground source heat pump, if factored in to your mortgage, saves more energy costs, than what the mortgage hit is. In other words, a guy might add 100 bucks monthly to his mortgage, but save 125 in heating cooling costs. Actually you wouldn't be heating the water in the winter, you'd be cooling it, and heating the house with the extracted energy, then the water discharge bleeds into your pond. Just a thought.

To start you need to ascertain from your dirt guy how compactable the soils are, and if you can expect a seal that will allow you to discharge water into the pond faster than what you are losing to evaporation + seepage - rainfall. You're probably OK, but make sure.

Then if you are certain you will maintain a full pond for the most part, the derivation of your water will dictate the numbers and types of fish you can expect to thrive in your pond. Water that can be replaced periodically through rainfall and well discharge will support more fish than a stagnant pond. Well water discharge, if you can provide a particular gpm, may allow you to "play" a little more with cool water species.

This is exciting, and your pond is absolutely big enough to do some really cool things, but I think it would help to go through this step by step.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce,

I'll keep viewing this message board, there is alot of good tips and info on here. I will check into that Heat Pump, it does seem to be the way to go, I have been hearing alot about them, especially with rising natural gas costs. I'll be sure to post pics when I'm done. I anticipate construction of the pond in November of 2007, with the house construction in May of 2008.

Excited? you bet!

PL,
you absolutely want to investigate geothermal heating and cooling thru a heat pump. Don't forget to include super de-heaters for hot water heating. Contact your electric provider to get input on the available rebate programs and incentives. geothermal link
you can search "geothermal" and pick up a few other thread links

I have a few pointers for you....
It is good that you are doing your research before digging the pond. Most pond owners don't! To start off with, I would see if you can dig a more circular or oval pond in shape than a dog-leg one. Reason being down the road you will have a harder time aerating it. If you are looking at some good info, Purdue and Ohio State University have done some good research on ponds.
I guess my best advice would be, contact a professional and they can get you going. Us guys in the fish business aren't in it for the money, we enjoy helping people like you.