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Build a 3 cubic meters garden pond

Build a 3 cubic meters garden pond

Build a 3 cubic meters garden pond in 7 days (nominal). Total duration 35 - 45 days (allow a few days / weeks for the concrete and mortar to mature while you recover your strength.

Features:

  • 2.9 CM (760 gallons), overflow, automatic level control, drip, from borehole.
  • Solar ready. 12V lights 20A power source / pump 50W, 60 L min - 1000 Gal hour, 4m head
  • Water fall 1m above pond, sprinkler and glass window
  • Home made 20L bucket solids filtration, cyclone with bottom drain.
  • Aquaponics ready. Bath tub hydroponics flooding with cascade horizontal tubing expansion.
  • Timer powering the motor, lights and a home made actuator valve for draining solids + tubing to flower beds.
  • All around underground rain water drain pipes

Labor: 2 cents

Materials: R3610 ($280)

Tools: Pick, Shovel, Trowel, Brush, Paint Containers, Hammer, Hacksaw, Screwdrivers, Gloves

Materials:

  • Cement 7 bags 45 MPA R480 ($37)
  • Stone 20-30 mm 0.25 CM R180 ($14)
  • River sand: 0.3 CM and brickforce R180 ($14)
  • Plaster sand 0.2 CM R180 ($14)
  • Bricks 1200 units R1320 ($102)
  • Waterproofing Coprox Sikalite etc 2Kg powder R190 ($9). 1 Kg used as additive for concrete, mortar and plaster and 1 Kg used to paint the inside wall, 2 layers.
  •  10mm Toughened glass (2m x 0.9) Left over from a broken shower otherwise you pay R1100
  • Granite slab. The top from a bathroom cabinet you pay R800
  • Rocks. Drive around and collect from building sites. They'll gladly get rid of rocks and top soil.
  • Lights. 10 x 3w angel eye lights R100 ($8). Don't pay $30 for 1 underwater light when you can buy 10 x LED AE for $8
  • 10mm x 3m pvs or poly conduit for pipes R50 ($4)
  • Wire LED lights 10m R25 ($2)
  • Wire underground 4mm x 12m (left over). Connection from 12V power source or solar system to the pond
  • 12V 1000 gallons pump (60 L / min). R300 ($23)
  • 2 x 6m x 110 mm PVC drain pipe, drainage rain water around the pond and evacuation from pond overflow R300 ($23)
  • 1 x 6m 50 mm PVC pipe R60 ($5). Pond water circulation.
  • 1 x 1700mm x 400 mm acrylic bath tub. Trim off the top edge. (Left over)
  • 2 x silicone marine tubes R120 ($10)
  • PVC liner 5 SQM R180 ($14)

Nominal work:

Day 1: Dig. This pond is 25% below ground and 75% above. Total height 1.2 m, volume 2.9 cubic meters (about 760 gallons). The concrete slab is 18 cm thick reinforced with 2mm brick force.

Day 2: Plumbing and concrete slab.

Day 3: Brick works, glass installation and lights

Day 4: Plaster internal, external walls

Day 5: Waterproof paint inside & outside, water fall earth works, liner, install bath tub

Day 6: 12V cables, electrical connections to pond

Day 7: Collect rocks and build the water fall, drop in some plants and test.

Day 8+: Run the pump and create a bio system