Do-It-Yourself Fishpond

Plan where your fishpond is going to be situated in your garden. Try to locate it close to your property and away from rain runoff, which could contain harmful chemicals. It's a good idea to position your pond so it's at least partially shaded, but avoid placing it directly beneath trees that lose a lot of leaves in the fall or winter. Your pond should be around 2 feet deep if you intend to keep goldfish or 3 feet deep if you intend to keep larger fish, such as carp. If you live in a cold climate, you may want to go down as far as 5 feet to lessen the chance that the pond will freeze over in winter.

Measure the size of your pond and calculate how much liner you'll need. Use rope to mark the perimeter of your pond and then measure the rope's length. That gives you the length and width of the pond. Double the planned depth of the pool and add an extra foot for overlap.

Buy a good-quality sheet of butyl rubber from a garden store to act as your pond's lining. You can also use PVC or a purpose-made flexible pond liner, but these won't be as strong. A pond lined with butyl rubber should last at least 30 years.

Dig your pond to the desired dimensions with a spade. Add levels if you plan to plant pond plants and other water features. If you're adding a waterfall, dig a slight slope where you plan to install it.

Flatten the base of the pond to make sure that there is nothing that could rip or damage the lining. Lay some old carpet to add further protection.

Unfold the liner in the middle of the pond and stretch it out to cover the entire pond. Secure the overlap around the perimeter with bricks and slowly add water with the hose. The pond lining may slip slightly as the pressure of the water pulls it in.

Remove the bricks and cover the overlapping lining with topsoil and decorative sand or stones. You can also add plants.

Prepare the water for your fish. The method for doing so will vary depending upon the type of fish you plan to keep in your pond;. The water will need to be left to acclimatize for a least a week and may need to be treated before certain breeds of fish can released. Consult your fish supplier for advice on how to acclimatize your stock.