Built a small dam for my ducks

[Mark]

any new progress? has the water settled? any new plants?

To be honest it looks awful! But the ducks are still loving it...

Because of the hot weather and such little rain the dam is slowly drying up again and the water is looking murky but I'm confident once the wet season hits it'll all flush out. The only thing I'm not sure about is how the dam walls will go once it overflows - I'm hoping it will just run over the top and not cut a path through the wall but it should be fine.

 

[armysnail]

I want to build a duck pond but basically I live on sand at the top of my property. I found you can purchase liners a lot cheaper from specialist suppliers than the local hardware, landscape supply yard. I was quoted on two types, .5 mm LLDPE and .75 mm LLDPE. The thicker one is a bit stiffer to work with but lasts a bit longer. I am waiting for clarification but the liners last from 10 to 30 years so at least ten years. The .5 mm in 15 m long by 11 m wide which should give a 10 m x 6 m by 1.2 m deep pond is $708 plus GST plus freight. The .75 mm with the same dimensions is $995 plus GST plus freight. The companies name is fabric solutionsand they are at Yatala so I am going to see if I can visit to look at the products and get more info.

 

[Mark]

I just got another 4 ducks today so I'm really glad I have a dam now.

When I was researching my dam I read some positive stuff about those large pond liners. Compared to the chemical they use to plug holes for dam sealing your prices for liners seem like a better option to me. Don't think dam sealers would work too well on sandy bases anyway. A pond liner seems like a more sure way to build a dam on sand based soil.

Should be an interesting project - keep us posted on how you go and what you end up doing.

 

[stevo]

should give a 10 m x 6 m by 1.2 m deep pond is $708 plus GST plus freight

10m x 6m x 1.2m deep? wow eh, that's huge! bbq and swimming at armysnails house! (before the ducks poo in it)

 

[armysnail]

I plan to build one pond for ducks and another as a natural swimming pool with fish etc. I want to use it for aquaponics and swim in it as well. Fingers crossed.

 

[Mark]

I plan to build one pond for ducks and another as a natural swimming pool with fish etc. I want to use it for aquaponics and swim in it as well. Fingers crossed.

That's different.. But I like it

 

[stevo]

Did you get any water in the dam yesterday?

 

[Mark]

Did you get any water in the dam yesterday?

Yeah she's starting to look much better now at about half full. The ducks were very excited

 

[Mark]

Since you asked me @stevo I went down the back just now to check on the dam and in the last few hours my man made creek has started running and the dam is almost full! Bloody hell that was fast!!!

This was taken today (about 20 mins ago)

This was same time yesterday

​

 

[stevo]

It should be full by now with that rain over night? The ducks are going to go nuts today when they see it

 

[Mark]

Here's how it looks today and yes the ducks are having a GREAT time!

 

[stevo]

Nice clear shot there Mark. They'd have to be happy with that dam, what a life eh. You should sitting in there with a beer, just for the classic photo

 

[Steve]

That dam looks awesome now.
And what a great photo of the duck. Nicely captured Mark.

 

[Mark]

Thanks Steve the dam has been a great success although I did have to "teach" my pekin ducks to swim in it...crazy I know.

One small concern I have is the water seeping through the dam wall. When the dam is full above ground level I've noticed the water level falls over a few weeks back down to below ground level and then stabilises. I'm sure the water is seeping through the wall and not evaporation but I am not sure what to do about it...

 

[Johnm64]

Great looking setup Mark.
maybe after it gets more silt (duck poop) it may hold water longer

 

[Mark]

Great looking setup Mark.
maybe after it gets more silt (duck poop) it may hold water longer

Thanks John.

Silt... Do you think so? I never thought of that John... But, it might save me some money and a lot of work if the holes did silt up naturally.

I was considering waiting for the water level to drop and then putting my waders on and digging out some clay from the base of the dam to use as a liner for the walls, however, I have no idea if that would work at all and even I think it sounds a little cooky

 

[Johnm64]

Nothing is too kooky if its fun, and lets be honest us big kids never stop playing in muddy puddles.

regards john

 

[Mark]

OK then, I'll give both a try... silt and playing in the mud

 

[Mark]

I found a fix for the leak!

Details are here (I thought it would be best if I made a separate discussion thread about the product I used).

 

[stevo]

dam update photos? It should be full again?