11/07/2017
Pond Construction Tips Cont...
Specific design considerations
1. Water sources used for fishponds
• Water sources can be spring water, seepage water, rainwater or run-off, tidewater (marine ponds), water from bore holes (wells),or water pumped or diverted from a river, lake, or reservoir.
Quantity of water needed
• Make a decision on the type of fish to be cultured and the size of ponds, so as to determine the amount of water required.
• Consider the climatic condition of the area, rainfall pattern, and nature of the soil when calculating quantity of water.
• A general rule is that pond water inflow and outflow should equal the pond volume over the period of a month. If inflow is too low, water quality may suffer from oxygen depletion and/or the accumulation of toxicants. However, if the inflow is too high, large amounts of beneficial algae may be flushed from the pond.
• As a rule of thumb, ponds should fill up in less than a week. For small ponds, e.g., ponds smaller than 200 m2, 1-inch pipe is recommended. A 400-m2 pond needs a 2-inch pipe, while a pond larger than 4000 m2 will require a 4-inch pipe
• Estimate the amount of water available from a specific source
Steps to constructing a Pond
1. Survey the land
2. Clear all vegetation from the site
3. Remove the topsoil from the site
4. Determine pond, drain pipe, and supply canal elevations
5. Peg out the pond, including core trenches, d**e tops, and d**e toes
6. Dig core trenches and pack them with good soil
7. Excavate the pond area
8. Build the d**es
9. Install the drainage system
10. Install the water supply system