DIY raised wooden pond?

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Euge

Euge

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jun 26, 2005
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Hong Kong
Hi,

I would like some feedback on an idea i have. I'd like to build a pond that will be placed on my open air roof. However i'd like this pond to be made out of wood. I'm thinkin about making a box ia 60x24x24 inches. And cover the inside of it with a pond liner. The reason i want to make it out of wood, is because i'm renting this place and the landlord wont let me build a permanent pond. So this will be kind of like a temporary pond. My concerns are the wood no being able to support the weight of the water and break.

Any feedback would be great. I just thought of this today so i apologise if its not in great detail.

Thx
 
that looks really complicated.. Is there a easier way to do it? thanks for the info tho. i'l lread through that pdf file
 
I would use 2x4's and "strap" the outside of the whole thing if you put them so that the 4" side is pointing outward you will get more strength from each of the planks. Maybe even double up on them. I would do one closer to the top and maybe 2 bands around the middle.
 
I am in the process of building an 8x4' elevated stingray pond.. I will try to post pictures on my progress. The key to the support is having cross beams on both the bottom and the top, to not allow the sides to bow out. I made mine 8x4' so that I can use sheets of playwoods as the bottom frame and the top frame, and then just 'jig' out the doors I want. Similiar to the construction of an acrylic tank, it will be very strong..
 
I have used 2x6, 2x8, 2x10, and 2x12s reenforced with 4x4 or 4x6 with success, to about 30" deep at least it is fine.
 
thanks for the info everyone.. Thankfully I'm not carrying out this project till summer. So i have the next few months to read and plan this pond out..

Miles if you could post pictures that would be amazing.. Cheers
 
Heres a few pics of the stand.. the actual pond building process is simple.

I will be using a sheet of 3/8" Plywood for the base.

I will then use 2x12" as the outter perimeter, creating a 12" high wall..

I plan on using a sheet of styrofoam around the perimeter and and underneath the pond liner, for insulation.. However, if it takes out too much space I might remove that idea..

Once I have this 'frame' in place, I will attach the pond liner.. The frame will be alot like a waterbed frame.. After I install the pond liner, I will cut off any excess liner that would potentially hang over the side.

I then will use a nice sheet of 1/2" Plywood for the top. This will give it structural support so it is not bowing, and cover up the excess pond liner. I will then 'jig' out 2 square doors with rounded corners. They will each by 3x2" doors, with hinges, so they can be opened and shut with no problems. The connection between the doors will act kind of like a center brace, not allowing the 2x12"s to bow at all..

Hopefully you can get a mental image of what is to be accomplished here.. Once all this is done and the tank is deemed a success, I will take some thin paneling and create a 'shell' around the entire pond, so that nothing can be seen.. I might stain it or use a textured paint, but the 'Shell' will put the nice finishing touch I am looking for and hide any imperfections..

Hope that helps!

Miles

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Oh yeah, and I designed everything so that it will come apart easily.. in 2 peices, and can be removed from any doorway or stairwell.. :)
 
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