Here's Sue's schematic for her "dream pond". Let's see if we can inspire her to continue the journey.

Okay, well here's a suggestion that will probably earn me a black eye. Sue, have you considered going a bit more shallow, or even above ground? Your project sounds like a major endeavor. Maybe a simpler project that can be completed quickly by one person will give you the enjoyment of a pond now, and the experience to tackle a larger, more complicated project like the one you have planned. My little pond doesn't accommodate all the creatures in my care or fit the lilies and lotuses I lust for, but it's my haven and my daily escape, and I love it. Starting small and expanding over time seems to be a common theme among pond people.

Anyway, my best wishes will be with you.

This idea also may not be popular but a solution that I think may work for Sue. In my searches and endeavors I have seen "retrofitting" BDs. They seem to sit in the bottom of the pond on top of the liner. I'm not sure how well they work or efficient they are but they are for those who want a BD on their existing pond without redoing their whole pond (of course you already have everything for your BD ).

One more idea in regarding the water that keeps seeping and Sue needing it dry to pour the concrete. Fans. I would bring all the fans you have out of the closet, run extension cords to a power strip and start drying the dirt and clay as much as possible. Another idea is renting a big fan or portable heater and stick down in the pond to get that area dried out. You really only need the area around the BD dry to pour the concrete so a focused effort by fans would help out (I think ). I'd even keep in running after you pour your concrete in the whole area until it rains again.

Don't know if any of that was helpful or not.

Okay Sue,

Here is your support team. We don't want to see you give up!

This is your very own construction thread where we want all your questions, complaints, venting, aspirations, inspirations and/or exacerbations. I'm So Koi has a very logical idea, for once , that you may consider. Before passing your threshold of sanity consider the size and complexity of your project and adjusting it to fit your physical capabilities.

Raising the pond above grade is a great idea and very doable if you think it will help your situation.

Where you are at on this project, not emotionally, you need to complete the french drain and install the sump pump first thing. Then we can focus on the bottom drain. Let's do this in baby steps together.

Sincerely in Ponds,

The Pond Digger

hey I'm so koi,...thanx for your suggestion,...no black eye..just a big ...maybe going shallower.....thinking... ....but I don't think going above ground would make anything easier at this point....I would have to fill in half of the hole which is 20 ' x 12 ' and 4 ' deepest all by hand,....that's allot of shoveling to do.....thinking more....I understand what your saying.......my major issue is the high water table we have here....so now I'm thinking our property is not suited for a koi pond !!!....I really thought I could nip this in the but and conquer it,...heres a pic of this a.m. 6" of water again........
thanx so much for being here for me,...I really appreciate it.......just depressed and really frusterated now.....

Hey jeter2,...thanx ....I'll do somemore researching on b.drains ...I have'nt purchased the plumbing parts and bits I will need as of yet to hook it all up...just have the pipes for now...Fans maybe if I can park a helicopter over the pond with it's rotar blade going lol.. :grouphug...good idea but i think i need more heat at this time,....I guess it's my fault for not having this done in Aug when it was 90 - 101 degrees up here,.....(the heat makes me ill ) in fact I just might try that today and see ?.. I'll let you know what happens....just really depressed over this and can't seem to shake it....my emotions are all over the map..!thanx again
Sincerley Sue....

Sue,

Just try to drop the pump section of the french drain deep enough and start pumping water out. Once you get this part working it will be much better.

It looks like you only need to go down a foot or so with the big bluegreen pipe.

The french drain should slope a bit to the pump part. If you cannot dig out anymore because of the water you could always go shallower... make the 4" pipe with holes in it slope to the pump section, raising the pipe and putting gravel around it as needed to accomplish this.

PD's schematic


Then the pump should be connected to a float valve and deep enough so it can come on (the float will engage) when the water is up to ...I dunno... 1/2 way up the pipe (just guessing).
This requires the bottom of the pump to be sitting a foot or so lower than the end of the pipe feeding water to it.

You should be able to start pumping out alot of the water that will collect here... it may take a week or more to get everything drier... but it wont get any better till you have the pump at the lowest point and actually turned on.

You shouldn't be seeing the french drain or water above it at this point. It should be covered with gravel. The water will be draining down the pipe to the lower pump section. and then be removed as it collects.

Until you have the drain in and working it will just be a natural pond

All you need to do is get that right side lower to really make some progress. Just a foot or so, you're well over 75% there, I am rooting for you!!!

I'm sorry Sue -- I was throwing out ideas without being specific. When I mentioned going above grade. I was wondering whether you would enjoy having a pond now? Someone with your high motivation level could probably build an elegant above-ground box and get it set up with pump, filter, plants, and koi in no time. That way you could have something beautiful now to carry you through while you take your time with the big pond project.

Sue, my little pond helps anchor me, especially when things get really crazy, and I'd love to see you experience that same sense of peace.

Anyway, just a thought, but here's a picture. Step-by-step instructions are available as well, and I'm sure the PondDigger could put together and ship out the liner and mechanical components. Everything else should be easy to find at your local Home Depot.

Best wishes, Sue.

Hey Aaronsworld,.....thank you for your explanation and time,...I'm getting a better grip on this now,....understanding the fundamentals more,....I will try to slope the pipe more towards my verticle 12 " pipe ( the big blue/green pipe )........this really helps me right now ,...how big should my sump pump be ....I phoned the people and they recommended a 1/4 horse power one ?????? .....they have a couple of options for me to choose from,......both with floats on them ....how big should the rigid pvc pipe be that goes up from the sump pump be ????? ..... will 2 " be good enough ???......then I will get a quick connect piece that goes at the top .....
thanx sooo much you guys !!!!
Sincerley Sue

also......my verticle pipe is just sitting on the edge of where my settlement tank is .....I just have to dig the edge about 2 " or so ....so the pipe will slid down to the bottom