Hawkley pond restoration: “The curvy pond” part #2 completion

[@channelsix6005]

These videos are getting beter and beter mate! You will defo be building my forever pond

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thank you sir and thanks for always watching! 🤘

[@davidmonk6139]

Magical transformation Ed. Thank you for always taking the time to teach us as you go. The owners of the garden must be so pleased and proud of the result.

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thank you and you’re very welcome! The positive feedback from you all is well worth the efforts😁

[@Geezerball1]

Great job… The pond is almost the size of my garden 😂 but seeing the process is definitely adding to my ideas…

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks for your kind words- Don’t be put off by the size of some of my projects- the general idea and template for most of my ponds is the same big or small and they can be easily scaled down! Good luck! Best, Ed

[@kevingallagher4673]

Well done Ed and Dave a great team

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks Kevin!

[@MsrAlaindeFerrier]

Ed another superb job That looks so natural and thats been there for decades Brilliant!

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks Alan, I’m looking forward to watching this one establish! Best, Ed

[@steviekehoe]

Both episodes in one weekend, Its a good weekend!

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

💪thanks Stevie!

[@iryan4811]

I adore watching your highly informative videos, and this one was no exception…the pond and its setting is absolutely sublime, and you’ve created yet another masterpiece…you should be extremely proud of all your hard work Ed!

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thank you so much for such an awesome comment! Am very flattered! 🥰

[@bobbinsew]

😂you two need suspenders (braces) for your trousers, I’ve lost count of how many times you both stop, pull up and tuck 🤣 Love your work , my Dad and Brother built a pond 40 years ago, that Micheal, my brother, stocked with Koi he bought on buying trip to Japan. His intention was to breed, show and sell. My Brother died in 1988 and my Dad was persuaded to show Micheal’s fish in a national show, they took out major prizes including best in show. Watching these pond builds brings back many memories of watching the two of them doing exactly the same things for their pond. Keep up the good work ! 🎉

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Hi Bob, I think you’re onto something there- I notice in the videos i’m always tugging at the back of my trousers so maybe suspenders is the answer!! If you see me wearing any in a future video you know who’s to blame…!! Thanks for sharing your lovely story and am pleased watching some of my videos brings back some fond memories for you. Best, Ed

[@mikef6474]

Another job well done

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks Mike!

[@jamesb1264]

Amazing natural looking creation!

[@Eriktheviking66]

Lovely pond

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thank you!

[@bandolero5068]

Great work.

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thank you!

[@abkoi]

This is looking the absolute dogs danglies mate! Will look amazing when plants come in/more established. Well done to the both of you.

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Cheers Alex-was very pleased with this one! Thanks as ever for watching🤘😁

[@LampWaters]

Nice work

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thank you!

[@helenazzopardi1713]

ohh how i wish you could do that in my back yard, excellent workmanship

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Ha! Thanks for saying so! Best, Ed

[@Tetters100]

Fantastic pond, absolutely want something like this when I rebuild my pond!

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks very much! Very attainable and simple to do!

[@battleguybarry5973]

Great job

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thank you!

[@RC-Flight]

Thanks for posting this great video! The pond looks great! 🇨🇦

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks very much for your kind words! Best, Ed

[@tonivince589]

Beautiful pond enhanced by Dave. Oh, and you Ed. 😉

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Ha ha! Thanks Toni. Best, Ed

[@neilcarne7382]

Great job, looks stunning.

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks for your kind words!

[@carlthorpe4059]

Stunning work, a truly beautiful pond

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks for your lovely comment!

[@randy8897]

great work well done and more please

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks for your kind words- more to come! Best Ed

[@randy8897]

@@CrystalClearAquatics always worth seeing

[@rimirimi32]

Love watching your videos, always informative & love watching the transformations, I’m only a postie, but I’ve enjoyed nature and ponds, water & making them (on a much smaller scale) since childhood as a hobby, (there all so unique) so it’s really nice to see your skill, professionalism & enthusiasm, I look forward to seeing many more videos & watching through some older ones, your living my living dream 😂

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thank you so much for such a nice positive comment! I’m very lucky too be able to make a living out of my interests and passions. I was never an academic- a dreamer at school etc and not really any qualifications to speak of but just always stuck at what I know and enjoy best. Someone once said to me it doesn’t matter what you do just as long as you do it to the best of your abilities and thats always stuck with me. Of course I have my crap days- generally weather related (it gets a tad cold standing in ponds in winter!!) but hearing people say they wish they had my job reinforces how grateful and lucky I am to do what I do. Thank you! Best, Ed

[@davecooke914]

Pond looks amazing really enjoyed watching videos keep up great work you do 👍

[@joansmith3492]

Very nice pond. Not too rocky. Many ponds look like a pile of rubble around water IMO.

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks Joan, agreed- sometimes less is more. It’s so easy to make a pile of rock look like, well a pile of rocks! I always like to reiterate that any stonework edging a pond is the skeleton or structure of the pond and then needs to be dressed and softened with planting. Thank you for watching! Best, Ed

[@ThePebbleLand]

Hi Ed, any ide on when do you post your next video ? I'm looking forward to watching it ! 😍

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Hi Antoine, thanks for your message and your interest in my next video! I’m imminently going to be posting one on my own pond- a week or two I guess-and am in the throes of a current construction project; a pond and cascade built from scratch, which I’m filming and will be posting at the end of the month-ish. Thanks for your patience! Best, Ed

[@stevesmith6022]

Absolutely stunning ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks for your kind words Steve! Best, Ed

[@mcwharam]

Absolutely stunning pond - thanks for the video.

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks for your kind words! You don’t happen to be a certain Mark from Lindsey Clark’s by any chance do you?!...😉

[@mcwharam]

@@CrystalClearAquatics hello Sir, not me, I'm Martin from Leeds👍

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

@@mcwharam apologies Martin from Leeds!! Thought I was being clever as I recognised your initials!! Oops! Best, Ed

[@mcwharam]

Not a problem at all, usually people confuse me for George Clooney (I wish).

[@sidwallace6053]

Thanks for sharing mate,I’m in the process of installing a water rill in my garden,not sure if you’ve done anything like that yourself any tips or videos would be greatly appreciated love and peace from Ireland

[@seanmurphy5768]

The last video inspired me to do something with my pond it was fairly low but that could be as i havent topped it up in months but more likely its my dog that keeps jumping into it and i had to replace the liner like 4 times already because of leakingand her puncturing the liner

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks for your comment-always touching when someone says they’re inspired by one of these videos-makes it all worthwhile!

[@michaeldegroot7550]

Why not using ready to go cement. It is made in the factory so they added all kinds of substances to make it very strong and durable. A self made mix is much less strong and durable.

[@paulmanning5276]

Been watching and enjoying your you tube videos, I will be looking to get some of that foam fix from Oase you recommend, can you let me know what you use to clean the gun after use as I do not want to poison any wildlife when I use the gun again. Thanks

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Hi there-great question! Once you’ve finished using the foam simply remove the canister and screw into the gun a can of generic foam gun cleaner-purchased readily from most diy stores. Blast a bit of this though the gun to clear it out and then preferable store the gun with a full/partially used canister of foam attached. This ensures the gun is usable the next time you wish to use it! Best, Ed

[@peterdeeth5996]

Why do you add rockfix to the outside of the planting bays, wouldn't sealing be better on the inside? I see in another marginal zone you have used copious amounts of sealer on the inside. What is best practice please?

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Hi there, thanks for viewing and for your comment-I’m not sure I fully understand your query?… However rock fix ( or mortar) is simply used to fix the rockwork into place and to prevent it from moving. In the case of the marginal zones the rock fix was used to ensure the rock retaining wall holding back the gravel for the marginal plants was held together well. Hope this helps but if not please feel free to ask any further questions! Best, Ed

[@bearcatkoi]

was there any filtration used in this pond build?

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

No filtration in this build-a ‘natural’ pond with aeration from the pump/cascade only. Best, Ed

[@seanmurphy5768]

Hi there great video as usual. Ive started to tidy up my pond for the first time in months as i had it partially completed,with just the decorative rocks to place but then i broke my leg so nothing has happened for months but now im redoing it and im not sure to continue with the current liner because im suspicious that there might be a tiny leak in it as it has dropped around 1cm today or else its just evaporating because its in diresct sunlight has no plants in the water and has very few rocks surrounding it and to add on the day I measured this it was very hot out.Thanks I would love to get your opinion on this as im stuck and dont want to buy an unnecessary pond liner or start to develop a pond that leaks ,Thanks

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Hi there- sorry to hear of your concerns. If I may ask- in what way were you gauging/measuring the water loss? If it was simply a visual check and based on what appears to be a high/low tide mark n the pond liner (slight dark/wet patch around the pond that appears slightly higher then mean water level and looks to indicate water levels have dropped) then I wouldn’t worry too much. Tide marks around the pond liner are frequently as a result of wind very subtly moving the surface of the pond up and down slightly. There’s also a certain amount of wicking (for want of a better word) and very quickly after filling a pond I’ll notice these ‘tide’ marks’. Finally evaporation on a hot (and especially hot and windy) day can be noticeable- most ponds I work on require a weekly top up of perhaps two or three inches a week if we’ve not has any rain- that’ll equate to approx 10mm per day so what you’re experiencing is most likely simply natural evaporation. Finally do you have any reason (apart from this small drop) to doubt the liners integrity? Liners (unless they’re extremely old) don’t just suddenly devolope leaks and it tends to be physical damage that is the main culprit- rocks falling in, careless use of tools (such as rakes) to remove blanket weed- annoying children with bamboo canes (thats a common one!!) etc etc. Hope this helps and let me know your thoughts. Best, Ed

[@seanmurphy5768]

@@CrystalClearAquatics thanks for the tips and information. I’ve became much more knowledgable on ponds since watching your videos and yes it turned out i had a leak or even a couple pin hole sized holes curtesy of my dog that keeps jumping into my pond and i am currently in the middle of repairing them but also im tearing my hair out between continuing to repair holes or get a new liner

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

@@seanmurphy5768 assuming you are able to source all of the leaks then repairing is in general a simple affair and repairs are long lasting. However-is your pond liner a top quality rubber liner (preferably a heavier duty 1mm variant) or do you have a cheaper and thinner grade rubber or pvc liner? If what you’re trying to repair can be improved upon then if you can afford to do so replacing the liner with a higher quality, thicker and more puncture resistant one would be the ideal choice-if you have any doubt once you’ve done the rock-work you’ll always have concerns and to replace it now is much easier then once you have completed your pond! However liner is expensive-if you can’t afford it then repair and just ensure you make it a good repair! Going forward try to discourage your pooch from getting in-not always easy though!! Best, Ed

[@seanmurphy5768]

@@CrystalClearAquatics Thanks Ed for all the advice and knowledge you have shared with me in the comments. I was using a hevish pvc liner that was quite rigid and I believe I replaced that liner at least twice before but thanks to you now enough is enough and im going to purchase a heavy duty rubber liner in hopes that it will last much longer.Thanks for your time and helpful comments

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

@@seanmurphy5768 hi Sean-I think replacing and upgrading to a more durable and puncture resistant rubber liner would be a worthwhile investment. For maximum dog proofing I’d opt for a 1mm Firestone rubber. If you can’t source this then a 1mm green seal would be my close second choice. Good luck and all the best! Ed

[@artistic_spaz3724]

What do you mean by sharp and soft sand?

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Hi there! This is referencing the type of sand used for the mortar mix. Soft sand is the typical yellow/orange fine building sand used, for example, in brick laying and sharp sand is a much grittier sand. Both aggregates are used in the mortar mix with portland cement. Best, Ed

[@artistic_spaz3724]

Ooooh. I have never heard anyone refer to that before. I will have to investigate (maybe it's different here in Canada?) And I have been binge watching your videos and getting a lot of great ideas! Your work is unbelievable!!

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

@@artistic_spaz3724 thanks very much! I suspect you’re right- just a different name given to a very ordinary and common building material! Best, Ed