Project: Indoor Pond

[deleted111]

I can't think of anywhere else on the site to document this, so I'm gonna stick it here.

Basically I'm needing help with removing a pond liner that's almost suctioned into the ground (if that makes sense?). Whacking a spade under it and lifting is proving to do nothing, and it is emptied as much as reasonably possible. Anybody got any ideas as to how I can possibly remove this bloody thing from the earth?

Why? I hear you ask.

Well, you may have noticed in my opening sentence I said 'document'.

It's a project. Being a cheapskate with too much time on my hands, I have decided to convert an outdoor dilapidated pond into (possibly, yet to decide for sure) a heated indoor pond for tropicals. Back in 2002/2003 the old man and I dug a pond into the back garden for his fish. Fish were slaughtered by a Heron (or neighbours cats, who knows?) in '04 and the pond has since been left to decline. I have tasked myself with removing the prefabricated liner from the ground and building it into a supportive wooden frame, and therefore having a freestanding pond, in a corner of the garage, or dining room if I can make it look even nicer.

Whilst I'm aware we're all here for bikes, I've noticed a few of you have interest in water monsters, so I thought it may make for an interesting read, although it more than likely won't!

If at any point during this project I come to an abrupt standstill or give up, atleast I can say I've tried.

Any suggestions on getting it the hell out would be appreciated greatly, and I will update with pics as soon as possible.

Cheers,

Steve.

[Suntan Sid]

What is the ground made up of under the liner?
If it soil or sand, try waterlogging it and floating the liner off!

[deleted111]

Cheers for the suggestion Sid,

It's like, a hard packed soily earth substance, not quite sure what it is but will go out now with the hosepipe and see if I can 'float' it off!


Cheers,

Steve

[ian789]

C4

[angryjonny]

Managed to get mine out by levering it with a spade. No use if you want to keep it though as it cracked it quite badly. The only plans I had for mine involved a power-saw though, so I wasn't fussed.

[DrDonnyBrago]

Dig around the circumference and soak water down into the gap between the earth and liner, dig some more, soak some more, dig a bit, soak a bit and hopefully you wont need to dig the whole thing out before you can lift it without cracking it.

[pinkyfloyd]

[deleted111]

Spot on guys cheers for the help!

I've managed to get the bloody thing out and I'm surprised at how well it's managed to survive with 6 years of neglect.

Will get the pics up in a sec.

Garden resembles the BP oil spill somewhat.



Cheers,
Steve.

[deleted111]

Right here's the progress so far!

This is the mess I had to start with:
https://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/19sherman92/Pond/PIC_0132.jpg
https://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/19sherman92/Pond/PIC_0141.jpg
Barely even noticeable that there's a pond in there!

Time to get to work!
https://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/19sherman92/Pond/PIC_0140.jpg

Whilst my little helper kept an eye out for frogs, (I hate frogs)...
https://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/19sherman92/Tinker/PIC_0146.jpg

Oh, and made sure I didn't overfill the bucket
https://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/19sherman92/Tinker/PIC_0136.jpg

The hosepipe didn't quite reach, hence the use of a bucket. And after filling the ground under the liner with water, I buried the hatchet (well, spade!) and finally made some progress...
https://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/19sherman92/Pond/PIC_0142.jpg

After a lot of swearing and running away from frogs, it came out, bringing the gulf of Mexico with it!
https://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/19sherman92/Pond/PIC_0149.jpg

I then refilled it to check it's integrity, and realised it holds it's shape perfectly well up until about 3/4 full, when it starts to bow out. This will help me decide how strong the supportive frame needs to be, I guess.
https://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/19sherman92/Pond/PIC_0144.jpg
https://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/19sherman92/Pond/PIC_0145.jpg

So next job is to clean it thoroughly, and set to work building some form of a frame to house it in, any suggestions?

Cheers,
Steve.

[TQ]

An indoor pond is a wicked idea! You must have a fairly large house to be able to fit that in your dining room though!

Only problem I could foresee is that it has been designed to be supported on all sides with soil if you've only going to support the top edge and the very bottom you might find it bulges to the point of weakening it. Maybe fill the frame with expanding foam or something to support it properly?
____________________
First Bike :Gilera DNA 50 | Second: Imported 1989 NSR125
Third: 1998 Yamaha XJ600N | Currently: 1999 Yamaha FZS600

[deleted111]

Aye that's a fair point TQ!

House isn't that big actually and the pond's a hell of a lot bigger than I remember

I've got it sat infront of the garage now and I'm pondering what to do with it. It has a fairly flat surface at the bottom and stands upright quite well, which may be helpful. You've definitely got a point about it needing to be supported on all sides. I've just filled it to the top pretty much, and it bows out a little bit but only by about 6 inches at the furthest point. I'm thinking if I build a big wooden frame, and support the inside of it with bricks and stones, it'll sure weigh a lot, but it may just do the trick and prevent it from bowing excessively.

I now need to think where the bloody hell I'm going to put it though, 'cos it's more than likely going to be a 'build it where you want it' job.

Cheers,

Steve.

[TQ]

It'll weigh a ton filled with water anyway so a bit of extra weight won't be a problem.

I'd definitely consider making space to mount a pump/filter inside the frame so it's nice and hidden, maybe even change the wireing to use a three pin PC style power connector and flush mount a female one on the side of the frame.

I'd love to see how much space it takes up in the dining room any chance of sticking it in there and taking a photo or two (empty of course).
____________________
First Bike :Gilera DNA 50 | Second: Imported 1989 NSR125
Third: 1998 Yamaha XJ600N | Currently: 1999 Yamaha FZS600

[deleted111]

I actually have a spare female 3 pin sat right infront of me at the minute! Genius idea, will see what I can muster up!

I'll see if I can dry it off and bring it in mate yeah, but failing that, picture a dining room with a pond taking up half the room, as I seriously think it's pretty huge I've plenty enough room for it in my bedroom come to think of it, plenty, but I've a horrible feeling the floor won't take it!

I definitely want to find an indoor spot for it though, I'm not keen on the idea of having a pretty snazzy pond sat in the garage where it'll get minimal natural light. It's definitely an option though.

And once I've figured out what to support it with, I'll have to think what to put in it.

Due to it's size it's not quite suited as a Koi pond, it's nowhere near big enough as Koi require a good metre or so in depth to exercise properly.

Which means my options are:

- Goldfish, which are boring.
- Heated, tropical pond. Allsorts of tropical fish.
- Cichlids, perhaps?

Liking the idea of tropical, with a big plec and a load of loaches etc. But also quite like the idea of it remaining coldwater and having a big sturgeon and a few comets or something. Choices, choices


Cheers,

Steve

[TQ]

Can you keep tench?

I'm not sure how much depth they need (probably similar to a carp actually) but they're very nice looking fish.

On the weight front I doubt it would weigh much more than a filled bath with a person in it and there's no extra bracing/support underneath baths is there?

Just to go a bit mad for a minute how about under the floor with strengthened glass on top of it? That would be amazing.

I want an indoor pond so much now!
____________________
First Bike :Gilera DNA 50 | Second: Imported 1989 NSR125
Third: 1998 Yamaha XJ600N | Currently: 1999 Yamaha FZS600

[defblade]

You're going to need fish that look good from above... just to keep in mind. I'd say ghost koi (you don't need the depth so much if it's not going to get cold) but they will probably out-grow it.
____________________
Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[Suntan Sid]

Turn it upside down, buy some of "Hetzers" models and create the worlds largest diarama of "Hamburger Hill", job done!

[deleted111]

[deleted111]

I've just moved all my pictures to albums in my PhotoBucket.

Is it safe to assume I've balls'd up?

Will sort it out asap

Cheers,
Steve.

[growler]

I would build it on to the pallet so if you need to move it you can hire or borrow a pallet truck and as said use expanding foan to fill the cavity between liner and frame then you don't need to worry about it leaking or greatly increasing the weight of the whole thing
____________________
DILLIGAF

[deleted111]

[truslack]

[ZRX61]

Wow, thats takes a special kind of chaviness to a whole new level, a garage pond FFS..

[c_dug]

Beats paying for a bunch of fish just to have the eaten, again.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[DrDonnyBrago]

HAHA I like it .

TBH, you might get away with ratchet straps around the middle (vertical parts) to pull everything in and resist the pressure of the water with lots of support i.e. a frame under the horizontal bits.

Coupled with expanding foam for 'fun' value of course .

[Ol]