How to Install a Koi Fish Tunnel & set Rock as Walls in your Pond

[@ThePondDigger]

Arteolike you are officially our most frequent commenter on youtube and for that I thank you! You have further confirmed we are achieving our goal to educate, inform and inspire! Rock On, The Pond Digger

[@ThePondDigger]

We do have a good time building. Building ponds is a very rewarding career!

[@ThePondDigger]

You are absolutely correct. I'll have to call this one Koi Cave since it dead ends. Tunnels are great. We are installing a couple tunnels on a large koi pond project we are installing this month in San Bernardino.

[@TheJWolfProductions]

Thank you for taking the time to respond. Being an older Geek, I have to pace myself, did some digging yesterday, it is starting to take shape, Having problems running into some roots from trees, have to work around that issue. Thank you again for responding. Nice work on the videos.

[@jessicabagge8915]

I built my own pond and loved figuring this out on my own. But I made a lot of mistakes along the way. Your videos are awesome and I am grateful for all the helpful tips and trade secrets you share. I have been inspired to re-do my pond and fix my DIY mistakes. I should have used underlayment and could have excavated better to take full advantage of using rock to line the inside of the pond. I understand the comments given about taking up too much space with the rock. I had the same concerns. BUT in hind site I would recommend digging a bigger hole, buying a larger liner, and buying the stone. It looks a 100 times better. take the extra time and spend the extra money you'll be glad you did. Your videos are among the best! Super grateful.

[@ThePondDigger]

Jessica Bagge Thank you for the feedback! Glad to hear you are enlarging your pond!

[@ThePondDigger]

Hey Gumper! I love your passion. Don't stop! The Pond Digger

[@ThePondDigger]

Looks like we've done our job with you. Inspiration! We are poised to help you at what ever level you need. Just say the word!

[@ansiaaa]

I don't know if I'll ever build a pond in my garden (I'm thinking about it) but I wanted to tell you that I found this video great in every aspect. Thank you for sharing with us your knowledge, experience and tips&tricks. I really admire people with skills that share them with others.

[@ThePondDigger]

I hope we have INSPIRED you enough that you will have to build a garden pond one of these days!

[@theturtleguru167]

ThePondDigger amazing job guys plz upload some new videos of watergardens u r frnd from *india* ☺

[@ThePondDigger]

Deeper is always better. You won't regret it! The Pond Digger

[@ThePondDigger]

I would agree. Glad to see you applying some of our tips to your pond's construction. The Pond Digger

[@ThePondDigger]

Thanks Marc for the tip for all the Austin Pond Builders!

[@gumper5242]

I have watched all of your videos (some twice) and I love them all ! Great work ! The last one I watched , I watched in High Quality. I am now watching all of them again in HQ because the detail in the Rocks and the colour is sooooo much better . I would recomend that everyone watch them in HQ.

[@socalpondpros]

Yo dude This is some bad ass stuff it doesn't get better then you and and your crew Eric , unbelievable. I am still humbled by the man you are. Run for president . seriously Eric. Thanks for your camaraderie through the years . no other company or seo comes close to your integrity. You are right there with Ronald Reagan. you have the gift to make a huge impact on this world and beyond. look past your blinders. you gace a higher calling... no bullshit!

[@92mx3]

You are awesome, I found you just in time as I am building a 2000 gallon pond. :) Thanks.

[@ThePondDigger]

Thanks socalpondpros! You're to kind! Let's keep rocking!

[@ThePondDigger]

The liner is very easy to patch so you would not need to replace the entire piece of liner. There is a procedure you need to follow to find the leak. Sounds like a great video!!

[@TheChapin241281]

hi . i am wondering what would be a price to do such amazing pond?

[@ThePondDigger]

Looking forward to seeing your pond on video.

[@Arteolike]

Ture! But just think of it maybe some one dint know how to build a pond and wanted to hire a pro, Now these videoed are so informative people feel like one them self's! Excellent, Excellent videos i must agree!

[@TheGodParticle]

The cave is a great idea, i'm going to put that in my pond now, big thanks

[@MsOldguard]

Thanks you are life saver...now I can finish my small pond.

[@ThePondDigger]

Everybody wants a pond, some people just don't know it yet! ;) The Pond Digger

[@dustyflair]

man, you guys are pond building MONSTERS!!! Keep up the good work!

[@ThePondDigger]

I can hardly wait myself! Seriously! The Pond Digger

[@Methos713]

10+stars for badass awesomeness video on koi pond setup. I would never of thought of using foam to secure the rocks/boulders. Subscribing to your videos for tips on my future koi pond build.

[@Arteolike]

Ok keep it rocking and rolling, ThePondDigger ROCKS!

[@ThePondDigger]

Rocks RULE! The Pond Digger

[@artistlacy]

I have been thinking about building a pond.... U gave a idea! Thanks!!!

[@ThePondDigger]

Thank you for the feedback. Koi can be kept outdoors during the winter months. We have ponds in Big Bear California where we get plenty of snow! Our outdoor koi do just fine with provisions to protect the pond from freezing over on the top.

[@ThePondDigger]

We have used expanding foam in ponds for over 15 years without incident. After a few years the foam will loosen up a bit but can be touched up seasonally during spring pond care.

[@WoosterLAXMom]

I am using the info I have learned watching your vids to enlarge my pretty good sized pond I built 4 years ago before I really knew much. My friends grandpa has several hundred acres of wooded land used mainly for hunting, and I am asking if I can go rock gathering. WIntering my fish indoors this year so I can work through winter and early spring to enlarge the pond. Our winters have been mostly mild lately so I think we can safely work and then come spring my fish will have a nice big home!

[@ThePondDigger]

Many contractors using concrete end up using liner below the pond as a water proofing. Concrete will not hold water unless you paint on a sealant or plaster on top of the concrete. The paint on sealant needs to be redone every few years. The advantage of using liner is you have a faster and less expensive installation.

[@50JumpChump82]

When I win the lottery I'm gonna bring you guys to Virginia!!!

[@ThePondDigger]

Thanks for chiming in and clarifying what happened with your account! Rock On!

[@ThePondDigger]

No college here. Just the school of hard knocks. Show up with passion and you will find a path to succeed.

[@ThePondDigger]

Jeff is super rad!!!

[@MortalBane]

Would love to see this pond finished!

[@joshponce12]

I love how you guys do all of this I would love to work with guys one day

[@edwardlocke874]

Awesome!!! Thanks for the great tips and vid !

[@ThePondDigger]

Thanks for the sub and the great feedback. We're here to educate, inform and INSPIRE!

[@ThePondDigger]

Thanks for pitching in....

[@ThePondDigger]

Keep in mind koi get 24 to 30 inches in length. A conservative rule of thumb when raising koi is one fish per 250 gallons of water. Serious koi keepers will house one koi per 500 or even 1000 gallons of water! 450 gallons is a bit small for koi considering how big they grow. You could certainly raise baby koi for a year or so before needing a larger set up. Koi actually grow very quickly and can out grow your 450 gallons in only 12 months. Happy Pondering.

[@ThePondDigger]

The foam applicator is used to direct water in a waterfall and often times we will use it while stacking vertical walls to secure the stonework. There is probably 8 to 10 grand in pond equipment and stone in this water feature. It's been a long time since we installed this one so I'm going off a memory...

[@Haines957]

I like the cave idea.

[@ThePondDigger]

The caves have saved many a koi over the years! Life is Short, Enjoy Koi!

[@nicksmith1123]

man i would love to work for you guys this looks fun and also when finished you have a beautiful masterpiece

[@ThePondDigger]

We use 45 mil rubber liner. It's incredibly durable. 20 yr manufacture's warranty and a 50 yr life expectancy. Easy to patch and repair if needed.

[@ThePondDigger]

@HospitalWaste I definitely wouldn't use the steel culvert in the pond. You can use large flagstone to create Koi Caves or tunnels too.

[@ThePondDigger]

You should be able to find the foam if you look up Black Waterfall Foam. We have it listed in our online store so you should find dozens of places that offer it for sale

[@FlowingDepths]

Nice and informative :) you mentioned things I didn't even take time to think about! Thanks, def. wanna try this later! :D

[@ThePondDigger]

Thank you! Maybe one day we can build a pond together, you never know!

[@ThePondDigger]

@shootingbuddys Check out our How To Build A Waterfall Pt. 2 to see footage of this pond complete. Thanks for watching!

[@ThePondDigger]

I'm not sure I really understand your question. We are bringing an element of nature into the backyards of the people. Helping the world Reconnecting with nature is quite possibly the most rewarding job I can think of. It is a great pleasure for our organization to do this day after day.

[@swivelgate]

Nice job ,thanks for the video learned alot

[@ThePondDigger]

@vivathebart We use a silicone or polyurethane for sealing liner to skimmer and waterfall filter while we use the black waterfall foam to lock rock work when needed unless mortar is called for.

[@ThePondDigger]

Thank you for your concern.

[@goodlifegreenscapeslandsca4425]

youre a hero. i'd love to work for you if i lived anywhere near your territory.

[@ThePondDigger]

THank you so much!!! If you ever get an opportunity to build a pond with your business don't be afraid to hit me up! I'll hold your hand through the process and have you building ponds "Like A Boss!" be sure to follow me on Instagram and SnapChat! @theponddigger

[@goodlifegreenscapeslandsca4425]

You're the man! I'll be looking forward to the first water feature request come spring!

[@Moroboi]

great video. Very insightful.

[@ThePondDigger]

The liner we use for professional installation is currently running about a buck a square foot. We do have a great deal of people moving towards Aquaponics and use the pond liner as a resource to make tanks both in ground and above ground.

[@1habicher]

Sonnies oh You are so good. I am at the last month of winter but will not tell where and am in the middle of a much smaller job to join 2 Ponds with the same liner and not as good Rocks than you have. Like to watch You a lot the Glue Gun I do not have but am 80y old. The Youngsters are not in your class and my pay needs effort. That they do not have!

[@ThePondDigger]

Great! Get down to it.

[@ThePondDigger]

Thank you for that feedback.

[@xcgeek]

Great. Thanks so much. I had bought one can of foam to do my waterfall, but never realized it would work to rock-in the whole pond as well - something I hadn't originally intended to do. Perhaps now I will. How many cans of foam will you use to rock-in that pond?

[@MarcHarmonTx]

Great tip about the tunnel- I don't know if they exist ecerywhere, but in Austin we have a Habitat for Humanity store that sells construction/remodeling salvage and they sell pieces like you used for very little. Just in case you can't find a free one when you need it. Thanks for the very helpful videos!

[@ThePondDigger]

Interesting. I'll have to look into that voice comparison. Thanks for the feedback!

[@ThePondDigger]

@BerkeleyBuilt Yes you can use a five gallon bucket however the bucket is a bit flimsy so stacking larger boulders on and around the bucket is a challenge. Good Luck!

[@ThePondDigger]

Thanks for the feedback. The stone we are using in this pond is a standard GRANITE. Depending on where you purchase it you will pay anywhere from 75.00 dollars a ton to 150.00 dollars a ton. If you purchase the stone on a pallet it will usually run you on the higher end of the price range because the rock yard has more labor involved. If you can buy it in BULK you will pay on the lower end. ROCK ON! Touching Peoples Lives with Water! The Pond Digger

[@ThePondDigger]

Yes by all means, Jump in and get wet! No suntan lotion or oils please. If you have a quality rubber liner you should have no issues walking around in the pond even if you have gravel in the bottom of the pond. Touching People's Lives With Water, The Pond Digger

[@ThePondDigger]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[@ThePondDigger]

Yes safe for fish. We have used this foam for 15 years without incident.

[@dlealchicago]

great idea with pvc tunnel/cave

[@Misfermmm]

i want to make this typs of fish tunnel,it is really good how many tun rocks are used for this work it is so good plan thank you so much

[@cliffordsouthorn2447]

Hi. Started rocking my pond and I have slightly sloping sides about 2_3 foot high On Liner. Using cambrian Boulders 100-200mm. Having difficulty getting them to stabilise! Should I lay 1st course on concrete then use w/foam? Or cement all way up like in your koi ponds. What about leaching line. I will of course try to get where I can with g4 sealant. Need your help my friend. Love your detailed videos. Cliff. U. K.

[@ThePondDigger]

Thanks!

[@taylorbrizee]

now i want a koi pond in my backyard

[@Metal8Lover]

no problem by the way can i use a thicker tarp for the pond liner?

[@ThePondDigger]

Your welcome!

[@ThePondDigger]

@frogmanar15 The 5 gallon bucket is not as strong as the culvert. We have tried the bucket route before and was not satisfied with it.

[@garlanddavidson6845]

I would love to see Finished product on this one☝️

[@ThePondDigger]

@vitof250 Thanks for the compliment! Did you finish your pond yet? Let's see some video!!!

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Hi Eric, if you dig out a section for a fish cave, why do you need that large pipe? Couldn't you just a put a piece of slate over the top and secure it with boulders?

[@ThePondDigger]

@HospitalWaste Yes it's okay to use mortar instead of foam! Some people prefer plain liner and some prefer ornamental smooth gravel.

[@Arteolike]

Well.. I just love your video's and cant wait till the next one! You said a week it's been a month any good estimate when will the next one be uploaded?

[@ThePondDigger]

@TheGreatBritishAlex The boulders & stone we typically use runs approximately 120.00 dollars per ton. This pond used at least 10 tons of boulders.

[@ThePondDigger]

Great!

[@ThePondDigger]

Back in the day before we had the waterfall foam designed for pond builders we used Great Stuff from the bigbox hardware stores. It expands more than we would like and is an ugly yellow that is difficult to conceal. Google The Pond Digger to find our website and type in waterfall foam in the search bar of the upper right corner. It's affordable and easy to ship. The geotextile underlayment is a strong fabric that serves as a protective layer under the liner protecting from roots and sharp rocks.

[@ThePondDigger]

@Tetragagaca Ya this one cracks me up. We typically use UP as Three. The strongest guy on the team just starts with two and skips one. I have to constantly remind him that he is stronger and faster than all of us. One, two , UP!

[@ThePondDigger]

Yes it is absolutely possible!

[@ThePondDigger]

@XXXStraightEdgerXXX That is expanding Black Waterfall Foam. You should be able to find it at a Pond Specialty Store near you. Or you can find it in our online store.

[@ThePondDigger]

We're ready when you're ready! Let's Rock!

[@Arteolike]

When is the next video's going to be posted i was waiting for 3 weeks! I LOVE your video's cant wait till the other ones!

[@ThePondDigger]

@WoosterLAXMom Thanks for the reply! Keeping your fish indoors over the winter so you can finish your pond is DEDICATION! Good for you. Post a video when you're done!

[@ThePondDigger]

We don't have a bottom drain installation video on the board at this time. We do have a couple cool videos on the editing table. We will shoot a BD video at our soonest opportunity. The jobs we have on the board are often the focus of our videos as I'm sure you have figured out. At this time we have several Eco-System Ponds on the board that do not have bottom drains in the plans. Hang Tight.

[@ThePondDigger]

The stone and boulders we use come from our local rock quarry. This stone (in our area) is typically 65 dollars a ton up to 120 dollars a ton depending on where you buy it and how much you buy. ROCK ON! The Pond Digger

[@maximito2007]

Master !!!!! Gurú !!!!! Thanks alot !!!!

[@JakobHerrmann]

You guys are the best and I learned a ton from you guys building my pond. I also just purchased The Pond Digger Liquid Beneficial Bacteria, All-Season Beneficial Pond Bacteria, and Liquid Barley Straw Extract. I'm excited to give those products a go. Question: That tunnel appears to be pretty small. Would a tunnel like that hold up to 10 medium sized koi fish?

[@ThePondDigger]

Yes we filled in the smaller voids between the granite boulders with smaller rock and cobble. The Pond Digger

[@9011anik]

I've watched all your videos and found them to be incredible useful/informational/entertaining. Thank you for sharing your passion! How will seasons effect your ponds? I'm concerned about ice and temperature changes; I know depth plays a major role, but I doubt any koi would survive in an outside feature.

[@ThePondDigger]

The black cloth (underlayment) is a protective cloth. We use it under the fish tunnel because sometimes the edge of the tunnel puts pressure on the liner when we use large stones to create the cave. It's just a precautionary measure we like to take. We also use the underlayment under large stones on top of the liner so we can slide the stone around without compromising the liner. The Pond Digger

[@ThePondDigger]

Man cannot live on Beer and BBQ alone. :)

[@ThePondDigger]

Thank you!

[@ThePondDigger]

Thanks for the push Arteolike! Believe me we are pushing forward on video. We just finished moving my Videographer into his new home. We painted, roofed, waited for internet, carpet, fixed broken tiles, installed sky lights and more. Good news is have been shooting video in between all these other tasks as time allotted. Editing is the hold up as my good friend prepares his studio. We should have more tips and tricks posted here in Sept. Koi Pond Design Video Coming Soon! The Pond Digger