MicraPond Professional Pond Kit
Step One - Planning
Measure the dimensions of your space. Create a water garden plan, based on these dimensions. Sketch out what you would like your completed pond to look like.
After you have agreed on your water garden plan, the real work begins. Mark the pond area with garden hose. When you're satisfied with the shape of the pond, use powdered limestone or flour to mark the final shape. Lay the pressurized filter, UV clarifier, skimmer, and plumbing in place.
Step Two - Excavation
Hired help will make this laborious task easier. You may need to rent a backhoe to excavate the site.
Dig out the coping shelf area (approximately 2 to 4 inches deep and 15 inches wide). The purpose of the coping shelf is to support the stone veneer to hide the pond liner.
Optionally, you can also dig a bog shelf for plants. Most ponds are designed with shelves 9" to 12" below the water surface.
Excavate the main pool of the pond to about two feet deep. The deep area should slope in approximately 20 degrees from the vertical. Attach string lines running the length and width of the pond, and check the level of all shelves in all directions.
Carve out a 4"-deep basin just above the main pool, toward the waterfall area, as an interior level to create a cascading effect. Also dig out two 16"-deep holes at opposite ends of the pond to hold the skimmer box and BioWaterfall unit. Finally, dig out a few shallow plant pockets in the pond floor for setting aquatic plants in later.
Step Three – Skimmer and Bio Waterfall Filter Installation
Set the skimmer box into the hole at the end of the pond, with the drainage hole facing out toward the pond. The skimmer should be set so that the top of its mouth is no less than 3/4 inch above your intended water level. Make sure that the skimmer is level and secure. The MaxFlo pump will be installed inside the skimmer later.
The Bio Waterfall Filter should be set into the hole at the opposite end of the pond than the skimmer.
Step Four – Laying out liner for pond
Before laying the pond liner, cover the pond area, extending over the pond shelf, with underlayment and tuck it into pleats to conform to the shape of the pond. Cover the fabric with the heavy-duty (45-mil-thick) pond liner. Use caution, because even a small tear can result in a leak. You can use stones to weigh down the pond liner in the center of the pond.
Try to minimize the folding and pleating of the liner, because folds have the potential to trap dirt and debris. If you are worried about debris collecting in the folds, you have the option of sealing the folds with seaming tape. To do this, form each fold as a large triangle, and secure it with double-sided seaming tape. Sealing the fold makes it less obvious, keeps debris out, and prevents small fish from being trapped.
Cut a rectangular hole in the pond liner with sides that are 1" shorter than the rectangular opening of the skimmer. Connect the hole in the pond liner to the skimmer, using PVC tape.
Step Five – Positioning of Pumps, Underwater lights
Using tubing and clamps, connect the output of the MaxFlo pump to the input of the Bio Waterfall Filter. The output of the Bio Waterfall Filter will be returned back to the pond.
Position the underwater lighting at the bottom of your main pond.
Step Six – Backfill topsoil
Use excess soil to backfill around the edges of the pond and the watercourse channel. Expanding foam can be also used in the watercourse channel to ensure that water does not leak.
Excess soil should also be used to partially bury the UV clarifier and the pressurized filter, to conceal them both from view.
Step Seven – Build retaining wall (if required)
If your installation site has uneven elevation, you may require a retaining wall. A retaining wall is built simply by stacking stones around the pond.
Step Eight - Fill the pond
Start filling the pond with water. Smooth out wrinkles in the liner as they occur. Cut off any excess liner, but make sure that enough material is left to allow the liner to extend over the coping shelf, and underneath whatever edging is planned. Anchor the liner with boulders or long nails around the edge.
Step Nine - Add edging materials
Add edging materials to weigh the liner down. Edging materials may include sod, and any rocks or boulders that you may have available. Edging materials also help to hide the liner to produce a natural look.