Pond Construction Example

1. Pond excavation and preparation
for installation of Skimmers
and BioFalls

3. Construction of waterfall berm
between upper and
lower ponds.

5. One of two Bio-Falls, before
plants and fish are added.

7. Right after installation
of aquatic plants and fish.

When Southern California coastal residents, the Culbertson’s, turned to Van Ness Water Gardens to construct a pond for them, they already had a good idea what they wanted as they’d had a pond in their previous residence. Beautiful, moving water and easy to maintain they said. The results delivered on all counts.

Over 5,000 gallons in size, the pond is actually two ponds. A smaller upper pond cascades over a berm into a larger pond. A single EPDM butyl rubber liner was installed, along with two Skimmers on the near side of the lower pond, and two BioFalls. A pair of 4,000 gallons-per-hour pumps move the water from the skimmers in the lower pond to the Bio-Falls.

The upper pond was planted with a mixture of plants valued for their ability to consume nitrogen and phosphates—Parrot’s Feather, Pennywort, Azure Pickerel, Cattail and Water Iris—which prevents the build-up of the nutrients which would feed algae growth.

Oxygenating grasses are placed throughout both ponds. Water Hyacinths are floating atop each BioFall—their long, dangling roots are an effective natural filter.

The biological filters and skimmers complete the job of keeping the pond looking natural and maintenance to an absolute minimum.

2. EPDM butyl rupper liner in
place: in-pond and perimeter
rocks being positioned.

4. Water in pond: ready for
aquatic plants, fish
and landscaping

6. Bio-Fall, with Water Hyancinths
added to aid the natural
filtering process.

8. One month later - what a
beautiful result!