Buadhai Builds A Pond

[buad hai]

I sincerely hope that this thread doesn't go on as long as the house construction thread. But, it may....

While waiting for the new fridge to arrive yesterday I decided to get to work on the pond. The plants we've put in pretty much define where the pond will go and we'd discussed many times what we want. There will be two connected ponds. One long narrow pond that will look like a flowing stream and another roughly circular pond. The stream will be in the shade and will be surrounded with shade loving plants. The pond will be in the sun and will be planted with lotus and lily.

This will be a lined pond. Around the rim of the pond will be a poured concrete beam that will secure the edge of the pond and prevent collapse from people walking around it.

The first step is to level the area where the pond will be. Since I want the pond to be about 15 cm lower than the stream I had to dig out and level an area slightly larger than the pond.


The stream will come from the vicinity of the large Plumeria tree in the background, flow about where the yellow spirit level is and into the pond.


I used a long, semi-straight 2X4 and the spirit level. It doesn't have to be exact, just roughly level.


The actual pond will be about 15 cm smaller than the excavated area. I've drawn a line in the dirt to define where the trench for the beam will be.


Yes, the old geezer is really doing this all by himself.

Not sure when I'll get to digging the trench and pouring the beam, but I'm hoping it will be this week. They started building a house next to ours so I should have a close-by supply of water "real soon now".

[Marmite the Dog]

Did you get dirt on the camera or did Mrs BH take all the piccies?

[AntRobertson]

This should be good, quite keen on putting one in myself so will be interesting to follow your progress - and learn from any mistakes

[sabang]

I look forward to this one too.

[buad hai]

Did you get dirt on the camera or did Mrs BH take all the piccies?

Now, now. I'm a very clean worker....

[buad hai]

As I mentioned this is a lined pond. Here's what the cross section of the finished pond is supposed to look like:



After pouring the concrete beam around the perimeter you dig out the pond. Mine will be about 60-70 meters with one bit a little deeper than that.

Next step is to put some sort of underlayment. This protects the liner from puncture from roots or sharp objects remaining in the soil. In the US you can buy specially made woven stuff that is quite strong and lasts forever. I haven't seen it here. In the past, I have used cardboard and newspaper. Buried newspaper lasts almost forever. As it gets wet underground it forms a sort of gel that is actually waterproof. So, if the liner gets punctured the newspaper gel can actually slow the leak.

The liner goes on next. You need to use a piece that is wide enough to cover the bottom and sides and then come up a few cm higher than the proposed water level. You can slowly fill the pond as you fit the liner into the corners and up the sides of the pond.

I plan to use PVC liner. I can be repaired with ordinary PVC glue and a hunk of the liner. And, it is flexible enough to fit easily into the odd shapes of the pond sides. UV resistant PVC liner is available locally.

Next step is to mortar rocks or pavers to anchor the liner and provide an edging for the pond. Along the "stream" I plan to use granite rocks. Around the pond I will use some brick (if I can find it) or laterite pavers so people can stand on the edge and look into the pond.

Once the mortar is set you can fill the pond up to the desired level. It's a good idea to create some sort of overflow outlet so that if the pond gets over full from rain (or whatever) you can direct the flow of the excess.

[Marmite the Dog]

Mine will be about 60-70 meters with one bit a little deeper than that.

Fuck! That's deep!

[AntRobertson]

Mine will be about 60-70 meters with one bit a little deeper than that.

What are you doing, planning on going diving!? You'll have to watch out for the bends at those depths, don't forget to equalise!

[buad hai]

Uh, er, that's centimeters....

This metric stuff is so confusing!

[Thetyim]

It's an escape plan.
Any TD members appear he can leap into his bathascope and dive out of contact

[buad hai]

Ah, thread post count climbing nicely....

[AntRobertson]

Uh, er, that's centimeters.... This metric stuff is so confusing!

Oh right, just as well we cleared that up then. Yup, you'll be needing a lot deeper than that for your dive pond.

[buad hai]

[Marmite the Dog]

Will you hire a digger or just use a spade?

[The_Dude]

This diagram shows no room for fish to turn around. And if a fat visitor will fall in they may get wedged in.

[Thetyim]

If you see this man in the bar don't speak to him

[buad hai]

Will you hire a digger or just use a spade?

The same tiny Lao woman who digs the tunnels under the streets here.

This diagram shows no room for fish to turn around. And if a fat visitor will fall in they may get wedged in.

Better not cross post this on Thai Visa then.

Mods? Can this thread be moved to the "Jokes and Funny Stories" forum then?

[Thetyim]

You must end up with over cubic metre of earth.
Where will it go ?

[AntRobertson]

Mods? Can this thread be moved to the "Jokes and Funny Stories" forum then?

Apologies, keep it up. I'll keep my lame jokes to myself

Genuinely interested to see how you get on. Definately interested in doing something similar at my place when we've finished our current renovations.

[buad hai]

Apologies, keep it up. I'll keep my lame jokes to myself

No, no. It's good fun. I've been laughing so loud I've lost track of the movie I was trying to watch....

You must end up with over cubic metre of earth.
Where will it go ?

Places like this:



I used the soil from the first excavation to vary the terrain between the pond and the carport. I didn't want it to be perfectly flat, so that was a good spot for it.

I've yet to buy a wheelbarrow. I will before I dig the main hole and then put some of the dirt in slumps as in the photo above and the rest will be used to raise the grade level around the stream.

[AntRobertson]

You must end up with over cubic metre of earth. Where will it go ?

I had a problem with that when they dug the base for my driveway. Unfortunately I wasn't there at the time so when I got how there where filthy great sods of turf lined all the way around my fence line

[buad hai]

Started raining last night here in Korat and has continued to drizzle all day and looks to continue. Unfortunately, that puts an end to the pond work for now. I don't mind digging, but I won't dig in the mud.

Ms. B's off tomorrow. Maybe I can persuade her how much we need a wheelbarrow.

Updates when work continues.

[jizzybloke]

Good stuff bh i thoroughly enjoy your threads!

[buad hai]

^Thanks bloke.

Just got back from the house and it's almost as if it never rained there. No mud. So, if I can convince Ms. B to buy some cement, gravel and sand tomorrow I'll be pouring the perimeter beam this week.

[buad hai]

Who knows what these are for?