How to Install Small Inground Fish Pools

When designing a pond, try to pick a size a bit larger than what you think you'll need. More water gives you a larger margin for mistakes with water chemistry and additional fish. Use dechlorinated water when filling the pond. Locate a source for established pond muck to seed your new pond with beneficial bacteria. This addition will speed up the pond cycling process.

Shovel
Level
2-by-4 board
Sand
Carpet liner
Live plants
Decorative items
Fish

Instructions

- 1
  Site the area. Partial to full sun locations are best when building a pond. Many plants, such as waterlilies, require several hours of sunlight to bloom.
- 2
  Dig your hole. Dig it slightly larger than the pond liner so you can backfill the area with soil later. If using a pliable pond liner, dig the hole a bit smaller than the liner. This keeps the liner from slipping after installation.
- 3
  Clean the hole. Remove all debris likes stones, sticks and roots.
- 4
  Level the area. Use a straight board placed across the pond to get an accurate reading on levelness. Place the level on the board to get your reading. Build up and pack soil in low areas.
- 5
  Add 2 inches of sand or an old carpet liner to the bottom and sides of the hole. Carpet liner works well on the sides where sand will not stick. This protects the liner from sticks, rocks and other debris.
- 6
  Place the pond liner. After placement, use your level to make sure everything is level.
- 7
  Add or remove soil as needed. Backfill the hole and pack the soil around the liner tightly, using your hands or anything else useful for this purpose.
- 8
  Fill the pond with water. If using a pliable liner, keep pulling it taut so it doesn't bunch up. You will need to tuck certain areas for a tidy appearance. Adjust the liner as the pond fills; waiting until it's full will make it impossible to manipulate the liner. Neat folds are easy to disguise with rocks, logs and plants.
- 9
  Allow the pond to sit for a week or two. Check daily for leaks. You can get a general idea of where a leak is by seeing where the water level stops dropping and checking around the waterline. If the pond loses a lot of water quickly until it's empty, you have at least one hole in the bottom. Use an appropriate pond liner repair kit to fix the holes.
- 10
  Landscape the pond with your choice of plants, logs and other decorations. Make sure to provide turned-over flowerpots, logs or rock caves to provide a safe place for fish to rest.
- 11
  Add fish slowly, over weeks, so the pond has time to adjust to the new biological load.

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