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Recently, the wife and I were forced to move back in with my mother-in-law due to loosing our jobs. That wasn't too terribly bad...but the MIL hates having three large aquariums in her living room, and they all give off a little bit of a smell that she seems very sensitive to (I don't even notice it). After a long discussion, I suggested building a pond in the backyard: it would bring up her property value AND provide a much better place for our turtles.

Could anyone give advice regarding building a pond from scratch? I want to do a custom pond, with a liner...I just started soaking the ground and removing the top layer of grass (that's a pain in the cloaca). I have never done anything like this before...I have done a little research and talked to the guys at Lowes, so I think I know the basics...but if anyone else has built one, I could use advice on the pitfalls to avoid. I am shooting for something mid-sized so as not to overpower the backyard...say, 9 feet by 7 feet, rounded edges, shallow on one side with a little turtle beach type area for sand play. I live in deep south texas, with no real winter to speak of. Temperatures average around 90-100 during the day for 9 months out of the year, dropping down to about 70-80 at night. There are two dogs (only one big enough to pose any real threat, and she is scared of the turtles).

We have three turtles (although I may only put one or two in):
1. Thomas: Female RES, 6 years old, about 9 inches in shell length
2. Lily: Male RES, 1.5 years old, 5 inches in shell length
3. Dax: Male YBS, 1.5 years old, 5.5 inches in shell length

Most of the people on this forum with outdoor ponds have them above ground, you will get more specific responses on other turtle forums.

A couple of recent posts that come to mind are:
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15509
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18584

I would make sure that it's deep, about 4 feet, that the edges are elevated to prevent runoff and a way to protect against predators like raccoons. A sandy beach area is good, though I would also have more of a dirt area nearby for potential nesting.

I got some good ideas from that...I am doing more of an in-ground pond that most people....I like to dig. Doing pretty good so far...dug about 6X7 and it's 3 feet deep. Going to be buying the pond liner tomorrow.

Almost done with the digging. This is all a very new experience for me. Thought I would post a picture. Will post more as progress continues.



This is the hole...almost completely finished digging. Haven't put the liner in yet. On the right, I am going to try to do a waterfall. That's what I'm really going to struggle with....no idea how to do that well.

That looks like it is off to a good start! I'm wondering if you can use cinder blocks to build a base for the water fall.

Thanks for the thought, Steve...that's what I'm doing, actually. Bought some river rocks as well...I guess I am just having trouble with the execution!

Pond with liner in, almost filled with water.



The yard filled with approximately 1800 lbs of stone to go towards the pond itself.


My start on the waterfall...really not turning out quite the way I wanted it to. How do I keep all that black from showing through?

I think most of the time people just keep piling on the rocks until the liner and container are hidden. Are you going to cement the rocks together?

You could put planters with brushy plants along the sides of the waterfall that will help conceal the structure. You can hide a multitude of sins with plants.

Had to tear the waterfall down...I built it up pretty well, even used sealant on it...and it still leaked. Half the pond came out in about 2 hours...so I gave up on that and am going to try something else. But just to show you guys, I let my turtle take a little dip in it...man, she LOVED it.



I am a decent ways into this...need to put more rock around the edges and secure the basking area a little better. This isn't the permanent location of the waterfall...just easiest place at the moment. Have noticed a lot of sand at the bottom...what's the easiest way to get that out?

BTW, I noticed that today (very hot day) the temperature of the pond was 84, according to the floating thermometer. Do you think this is too hot? Should I have made the pond deeper? Or is it going to be cooler down below? My measurements of the pond were a little off...or a lot of dirt got blown back in with the wind....it's about 22-24 inches deep.

Heh ok, I doubt anyone cares but the pond is just about done! Just have to put in a couple of plants and figure out shade and we should be all set. I tried putting Thomas in there...took her all of 5 minutes to figure out how to get out. Bought some fencing as well that I am going to place around it.

Redesigned waterfall and stone surroundings. Wanted it to look different than some of the other stuff I have seen.


Thomas decided she likes it and wants to bask (at night!).


She conquered the basking platform!


The fencing I bought when she climbed out and made a b-line for the hole in the gate.

wow cool pond

Thanks! It has been hell, especially since it is like 90-100 every day here, and doesn't get below like 80 at night (that's when the mosquito swarms come out). Will be worth it though!

I think it looks great! I really like your waterfall. Any problems or helpful hints with the liner that I should know about? Thanks for sharing it with us.

Really cool waterfall. Looks like a successful pond.

MaLisa wrote:I think it looks great! I really like your waterfall. Any problems or helpful hints with the liner that I should know about? Thanks for sharing it with us.

Thanks! I am probably the wrong person to ask...mine is all wrinkled. My main advice is take into account the DEPTH of your liner and get the thickest one possible...but basic pond setup stuff is easy to find at places like Lowe's or Home Depot (better prices).