Spring pond re-line (& the return of Dave!)

Ed & Dave from crystal clear aquatics set to work re-lining a small garden wildlife pond teeming with newts and overrun with water lilies!

[@Dave67836]

Every one needs a Dave 😂😂 good to see him back

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Couldn’t agree more Pam! Best, Ed

[@ImperialKneazle]

Lovely pond - interesting edge choice. Liked the music too ! 🙂

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

😁 thanks for watching and your kind words! Best, Ed

[@krubbenoet4588]

Great video, also love the music u made. ❤

[@plantsmanscorner128]

Thank you for another excellent video……I’ve not been back for a while as I’ve been busy re-establishing my garden and pond. I planted up all my plants in gravel as opposed to aquatic compost last June- July….bare rooted from lilies water gardens. They have been very slow to come into growth this year, which is not surprising as the pond was filled with fresh water so they won’t have had a great deal of nutrition. They are picking up now, though the water lilies only have a 3 or 4 leaves, I am happier now though as the 10 orf and 4 Rudd also put in at the same time survived a Yorkshire dales winter and will (I’m sure) be providing plenty of fertility!…..we’ve had many species of birds, damsel flies in red, blue and yellow….and a couple of obscure darters already….were a lot later than you up here. I am so pleased with the pond….it’s only 7 x 5 yards but as a retired nurseryman it’s giving me so much pleasure….so thank you for all the good advice and information your videos provide…..I followed everything I needed to from your channel and the result is brilliant. Incidentally I grow a very nice white (more cream really) marsh marigold (Caltha palustris Alba)….the double form (plena) is pretty but no use to pollinating insects being a double. Always worth remembering these days when so many of our invertebrates are struggling. Best wishes and thanks again……Malcolm….Plantsmans corner

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Hi Malcolm, thanks for your comment and my apologies for the slow response-what a lovely message, thank you! Def worth a mention re the double variety of flowers and I agree entirely, we should do everything possible to encourage and help out pollinating insects, so a subject I will bring up in a future video. Great to hear your pond is coming on and providing you some enjoyment-mines a constant delight to me and I love seeing the visiting dragon flies and damselflies that now frequent our garden. Something I would never have seen before I added the pond! Every best wish, Ed

[@janescaife7278]

Great to see you both again. Go Ed, Go Dave :)

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks Jane! Best, Ed

[@jamesb1264]

Booked two weeks off this summer to tackle my first project! First pond from scratch...fingers crossed!

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Ah that’s awesome, love comments like this! Good luck and once you’ve finished please send me (email) some pics of the finished results! Best, Ed

[@bandolero5068]

Dave straight back in at the deep end 😊

[@Benignosierra]

Hello Ed, Congratulations on your very efficiently way of explaining things, and on your botanical and zoological knowledge!!! After watching many many of your videos I've decided to build a pond to filter the water of a little 22,000 Lt. pool and turn it into an ecological pool. This in my house in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Supplies here are very scarce and technical information almost non existent. So you are my virtual KZbin teacher. Because of my land topography, the pond will be 2.5 m wide and 12 m long. It will overflow into the pool and then water will be pumped up again into the pond (hopefully with an Air Lift Pump). My big concern and question to you is about the liner... What is the spec of the one you use: What material is it made of? Is it stretchy? how thick is it? I will very much appreciate your help in this matter Best Regards Benigno

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Hi there Benigo, thank you for watching and commenting and for your kind words! You’re very lucky to have such a large pond! Re pond liner; I use only rubber- I would never recommend a cheaper, thinner p.v.c liner-and my liner of choice is either a pondguard 1mm EPDM (formally firestone rubber) or a 1mm greenseal rubber EPDM liner. 1mm is considered a heavier duty liner, which gives me more peace of mind for its durability against potential future punctures. Don’t forget to use a good quality pond fleece beneath the liner- at least one layer, two or more if the ground is particular stony. Again I use a heavier duty 250gsm pond fleece. Hope this helps and good luck!! Best regards, Ed

[@keepingitkoi]

Another great restoration of a pond guys great job 👍😊

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thank you! And as ever thanks for watching!! Best, Ed

[@ianmorgan7534]

Dream Team back together!👍👍👍Ed sorry for putting you on the spot but I'm looking for your opinion on best filter type for my new/first pond. 15ft x 12ft x 3ft (LWD). I've budgeted for this so cost is not really an issue. It's a bit of a minefield out there, cheers Ed

[@MrRhiannon1]

Love the videos, glad to see you back for the new season

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks for your kind words Tammy! Best, Ed

[@seanmurphy5768]

Hi, ED great video as always and im loving these pond design and reline videos but what would you recommend as a very durable liner rubber ,pvc etc as i have 2 dogs that are very passionate about jumping into the pond in hot weather. Any recommendations would be appreciated, thanks Sean.

[@danielalderson1840]

Great video Ed, really informative. I'm currently working back through your other films and this might be covered somewhere, but can you pass on details of your chosen fleece & liner supplier. Thanks in advance

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

HI Daniel, thanks for watching and your kind words! I generally use a company called Gordon Low for all my pond liner and fleece. They generally only supply to trade, however for a larger project I’m sure it would be worth contacting them to see if they could help. Best, Ed

[@danielalderson1840]

@@CrystalClearAquatics Thank you for your reply Ed. I will contact Gordon Low to see if they can help - certainly worth an ask. Kind regards, Dan

[@thomasburras]

Looks amazing!!!

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Thanks Thomas! Best, Ed

[@mandyhassell]

Thanks Edd and Dave 👏🏻

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

And thank you Mandy! Best, Ed

[@bridgetmudd5782]

1. I've been watching recent videos, lately and LOVING the music. I'm not surprised you have other creative talents. 2. I love it when Dave is featured, your interactions absolutely tickle me for some reason. 3. I've been watching other videos by an American company (I'm from the US) and they seem crass and overblown compared to the elegance of your ponds. However, I watch them because they feature a lot of ponds with biofiltration David Pagan Butler style but more built up. Do you have any plans to incorporate biological/bog filtration rather than mechanical, into any future pond builds?

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Good morning Bridget, thanks for your lovely kind words and my apologies for the delay in responding! I’d not heard of David Pages Butler before and have spent a little time checking his work work out- very interesting stuff! In general ease of future maintenance is key for me when incorporating filtration into my pond builds and i’m often under a little pressure to ensure the pond clears and remains clear pretty soon after it’s construction, which is why I use the equipment you see in many of my videos. I love the concept of natural filtration and such systems can work fantastically well in ponds- but often such systems require a long maturation process- sometimes realistically it can take years for a wetland filter for example to mature sufficiently to maintain a clear pond and as such is not something that so far clients have wanted me to include in their builds. However thats not to say I wouldn’t do so- I’m a big fan of trying to be as eco friendly as possible and would love the opportunity to incorporate such ideas into future ponds! Best regards, Ed

[@danielhollett]

Great video but it’s really missing Dan unfortunately. Great to see Dave back doing all the hard work

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

I think a future video featuring both Dave and Dan might be in order….😉

[@MrRhiannon1]

Me again, I have a new miniture lily, my pond is small and not very deep, but deep enough for the lily, when it come it was just the tuber and couple of leaves ,as expected, it has grown new leaves,but they don't seem to grow up,how long will it take to eventually send out leaves that will reach the surface? Thanks for all your answers they are appreciated

[@minion9707]

what would be your best method to fix a crack in a performed pond? Thanks

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Hi there, when you say preformed I assume you’re referring to either a fibre glass or plastic pond? All depends on the damage; very minor holes/cracks can be successfully repaired with simple putties or sealant but if it’s a fibreglass pond the best method to repair would be to use a fibreglassing repair kit and fibreglass over the damaged area. Easier then it sounds but you may have to entirely remove the fibreglass shell to do this effectively… Hope this helps! Best, Ed

[@MrRhiannon1]

Hi, can I ask if in your opinion is creeping phlox a good plant to put around the edges of the pond, to cover some slate on the edges?

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Ground cover and alpines like Phlox are perfect pond side plants-great at softening pond edges as they grow and flop over the side and frogs love to hide amongst it. Not to mention it looks stunning when in flower! I have planted a few patches around my pond-a great addition! Thanks for your comment! Ed

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

How much does a new pair of waders cost ? Maybe we will just have to start a Wader fund !

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Please do….!!! I fear I’m just being lazy however- I get through multiple pairs every year and just like to hang onto them for as long as possible before replacing. Once I feel like I’m just as wet inside my waders as outside them then its time for a new pair!!! Cheers, Ed

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

@@CrystalClearAquatics Hey you have to get your moneys worth out of them ! I think you would have to start the wader fund on your end. Just make a fund and name it and place a link. We viewers can do the rest ! Cheers

[@Hazardpro]

out of interest, do you not find that planting using only shingle will result in the plants growing slower/thinner than those planted in aquatic soil?

[@CrystalClearAquatics]

Hi there, thanks for watching and commenting and my apologies for the slow response- the simple answer is no- I’ve not encountered any noticeable decline in plant growth when using gravel vs aquatic compost. Initially an aquatic compost MAY have some slight differences in increased growth rates as the nutrient content with the soil will be higher then the gravel- although this can be counteracted by using some plant fertiliser tablets in the gravel-however once the plant has established its roots, nutrients will readily be taken from the pond water, particularly so if the pond has livestock. Ultimately the soil or gravel is only a rooting medium used to anchor the plant- all required nutrients are taken from the the water. Hope this helps! Best, Ed