My pond was installed about 3 months ago, and I'm starting to have problems with the border rocks coming loose. A few wiggle, but several have broken completely free and don't want to stay put now. I assume that I need to secure them with waterfall foam again (I can see the residue of the foam when they fell out). My question is how do I do it? Do I need to lower the water level in the pond so that the rocks are dry? If so, how long do I wait to raise the water level? Is there a better way to secure these rocks? They are on the edge and get leaned on when reaching into the pond to feed the fish or to remove dead lily leaves.
Connie
Hey Connie,
Of course, the only way to have absolute solid edges on your pond is to set them in mortar. We prefer to NOT use motar in our edge treatments. Aside from increased installation time and expense, pond edges set in mortar are typically much harder to naturalize.
On heavy traffic areas next to pond perimeters we will use quite a bit of black waterfall foam to lock in our dry stack rock work. Most pond contractors don't even bother to take the time to use foam in around the edges of the ponds top shelf.
We have done home shows and other short term events where we put up a pond display and then take it down with in a day or two. It is amazing how well the waterfall foam locks the rock work! It's often times a real pain pulling the rocks apart after the waterfall foam sets up!
As far as how to fix the pond.........
First off, did we install your pond? If so, I will have someone out to touch things up. We pride ourselves on our perimeters. Our crew works real hard on edge treatment around our installations. Three months is a little early for you to worry about loose edges.
If we didn't install your pond then, yes I would recommend, you use black waterfall foam to lock in your pond edges. Do you have to lower the water level? Sometimes but, not always! If you have a low profile pond edge treatment, with a high and tight water level then you may need to have the water level lowered in your pond during this process.
I will look forward to your reply.
Have a great weekend,
The Pond Digger
Yes, you did install my pond and it would be great if your guys could fix it. I'll be sure to watch carefully so I'll be prepared for any future loose rocks.
Thanks,
Connie
Hey Connie,
To help expidite your work order,
PLEASE CALL OUR HEADQUARTERS and explain your problem even if it is after hours, just leave a message on our answering machine. A work order will be processed in a timely fashion and we will have a tech out to your property in just a few days.
We have many Connie's in our data base and this forum does not let me have access to exactly which Connie you are.
Have a great weekend!
Respectfully,
The Pond Digger
I have a similar problem with a pond that was installed about 4 months ago. I have some loose rocks, but the dirt around the edge of the pond has now compacted and the water is coming up from behind the rocks about 8 to 12 inches into the gravel. To compound the problem my autofill constantly drips keeping the pond overflowing into the gravel. Another problem I have is the back of my water fall area, which was built up about 2 to 3 foot for a stream. Behind the waterfall biofilter is only dirt so the water runs off and creates a mud puddle at the bottom. Do you normally finish the backs of waterfalls with rock or do you just leave them dirt? I would greatly appreciate you thoughts on this.
I had some of those "sink holes" as I called them open up around the edges too. I filled them with small stones and then gravel. I also purchased a couple of flat, small (8" - 10") river rocks from our local supplier and simply covered a larger hole. My waterfall is in a corner of a wall, so there is no back. The top and sides are dirt, but I quickly covered them with plants, bark mulch and then gravel closer to the edge of the pond. We also installed a drip irrigation system for all of the plants around the pond. The plants grew like crazy after we installed the water system, and I don't get any run-off at all (so no mud puddles). The ground should all be covered by the time we get rain (if we ever do here in California!), so I'm hoping that run-off isn't an issue.
Connie
What size is your pond and what kind of pump, filter and skimmer do you have?
It's 10' x 14', approximately 850 gallons. I have a 2700 EZ Pro Pump, with a 1500 Flowranger Biological Filter & EZ Pro Mini Skimmer. I love it, I use beneficial bacteria (liquid & dry) weekly and my water stays crystal clear.
Connie
What brand of beneficial bacteria do you use?
I use Pond Diggers brand of bacteria. They installed my pond and left a startup kit. I still have plenty of the powdered (I only use a teaspoon a week), but have since purchased more liquid bacteria and even switched to Pond Digger brand of food because it is pro-biotic fortified (has beneficial bacteria inside).
Connie