Pond Kit Features
HOW DOES THIS WORK?
We pre-build your pond kit, put it in boxes, and ship it to your location. You just re-assemble, and add water. There are several sizes to choose from. Check out the video showing the easy set-up.
IS KIM'S PONDS THE ACTUAL MANUFACTURER OF THE KITS?
Yes, we build the frame, benches and pre-formed liner at Kim's Ponds in our pond shop. We start by hand selecting mill ends or salvaged lengths of western red cedar; which is sorted and air dried to achieve the optimal moisture content. The cedar is cut, ripped, planed, sanded, notched and stained on all sides. This seals the cedar and locks in its own protecting resins for maximum durability in any climate zone.
The Pondgard liner made by Firestone starts off in 30 foot wide rolls. We cut blanks to size, attach arena board to give the liner its own frame and the result is a perfectly fitting pre-formed liner that you simply open and place inside the frame.
We work directly with the pump manufacturer, Lifegard Aquatics, headquartered near San Diego, who supply us with the amazing magnetic drive pond pumps, fountains and filters that come with your pond kit.
DO I NEED TO DIG UP MY LANDSCAPE TO HAVE THIS POND KIT?
No digging! With the exception of the 600 gallon Pond Kit, which is partially dug into the ground, all of the other Kim's Pond kits set up completely on top of the ground, stone or concrete patios, wooden decks, or even inside. Just choose or create a fairly level space for your pond. You want your pond frame to sit fairly level as the water will show grade. Check out the easy set up video!
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO SET UP MY POND KIT?
'Ready for water in under an hour, without ever lifting a shovel' is our slogan. The first time you assemble one of Kim's Ponds kits, your pond should be ready for water in about an hour. Customers tell us that 'it takes longer to fill than to assemble'. Check out our video of a 100 gallon (64" x 55") pond kit that Mike has set up and ready for water, in under 6 minutes.
ARE THE SET-UP INSTRUCTIONS EASY TO UNDERSTAND?
Yes. There is video online showing the complete setup, and printed detailed set-up instructions are included in your Easy Pond Care Guide. And, for those who are not inclined to watch a video or read the directions, there is a one page sheet with 6 pictures showing the entire set-up inside box #1. We also have a toll free line to our office should you require assistance or have other questions.
I CHANGE RESIDENCES A LOT. CAN I MOVE MY POND?
Yes, and easily. Just pump out the water, gather up the interlocking frame, fold up the pliable liner, and off you go. With the benches still attached, you can lift the top off in one piece if you wish. One customer told us he moved his pond in under ten minutes, once the water was out. See our video on how to disassemble your pond kit.
HOW STRONG ARE THE BENCHES? CAN I SIT ON THEM?
Yes, all of Kim's ponds have benches sturdy enough to sit on. The pond frame is a stack of interlocking cedar rails, so you are sitting on an interlocked solid stack of wood! You can also place plants, decorations and other water features on the benches.
WILL I NEED TO STAIN OR PAINT MY POND KIT?
Kim's Pond kits come to you already finished with Behr Stain, a high quality wood protectant.
Easy Assembly
I'M NOT GOOD AT BUILDING DIY PROJECTS. HOW HARD IS THIS TO BUILD?
We do the hard parts and leave you with an easy-set up. You simply stack the interlocking frame rails together like a little log house. Drop in the pre-built liner. Attach the 3 benches by tightening 12 screws into pre-drilled holes, and add water with a garden hose. Check out the easy set-up video.
WHERE DO I GET THE WATER? DO I NEED TO RUN A PERMANENT PLUMBING LINE?
No plumbing required! Simply fill your pond one time with a garden hose. The pump re-circulates the same water after it is filled. Depending on your location, you may need to top up the water occasionally.
DO I NEED ANY SPECIAL TOOLS?
No. The entire pond kit is setup using only 12 square head wood screws. We even include a screwdriver for your convenience.
CAN I PUT MY POND KIT AWAY FOR THE WINTER, OR MOVE IT TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION?
Yes. Our pond kits have been designed to be taken apart easily and moved or stored. Once you have the water pumped out, you can quickly take the interlocking frame apart, and remove the flexible liner. We have a video online showing you how (see the video section at the bottom of this page).
Western Red Cedar
Weather Proofing Wood Stain
WHAT KIND OF STAIN DO YOU USE ON THE PONDS?
Our pond kits are completely finished with BEHR's best wood protectant, Premium Transparent Weather Proofing All-in-One Wood Finish, in the Cedar Naturaltone color.
HOW LONG WILL THE WOOD FINISH LAST?
This advanced 100% acrylic formula penetrates deep into the wood to deliver complete protection from the elements for up to 4 years on decks and 6 years on fences and siding. The silicone fortified formula delivers excellent protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. How frequently maintenance coats are required on your pond will depend on sun and weather exposure levels. Often, when the ponds are in direct sunlight the benches may need refinishing more often than the side rails.
Periodically, you can clean the wood surface to remove dirt and residue. This will help with color retention, dimensional stabilization and effective water repellency. If fading or wear is evident and you wish to freshen up the look, simply prepare by lightly cleaning the wood surface (mild detergent and clean water); then re-apply one maintenance coat of stain according to the manufacturer's instructions.
This water based stain is absorbed into the outer layers of the wood, so no stripping or sanding is required prior to refinishing. If you have scratches in the surfaces from day to day use, simply lightly sand them out, and then reapply the stain.
EPDM PONDGUARD Preformed Liner
WHAT HOLDS THE WATER?
The liner is made from Firestone PondGard EPDM. This is the same material used for most large in ground ponds. PondGard is non toxic, and carries a 20 year warranty from the manufacturer against breaking down from UV rays of the sun or rupturing from the cold.
IS THE LINER SAFE FOR FISH AND OTHER AQUATIC LIFE?
Yes. The Japanese Koi Association considers PondGard to be the world's safest liner for fish. Our .45 mil PondGard liners are non toxic, easy to care for, and have a 50 to 100 year life expectancy. Check out the section dedicated to fish care and aquatic plants in our website.
PondGard is based on EPDM synthetic rubber, a highly flexible stable material that is long lasting and easy to work with. It has been used successfully in a variety of environmental containment applications for more than a decade.
The Unique Properties Of EPDM Give PondGard These Unique Benefits:
- FISH FRIENDLY: PondGard is a highly stable material that is specially formulated to be safe for exposure to fish and plant life in decorative ponds.
- WEATHER RESISTANT: PondGard shows outstanding resistance to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation (UV), ozone and other environmental conditions - important characteristics especially along the water line of the pond where the liner can be exposed
- HIGH ELONGATION: PondGard EPDM has high expansion and contraction characteristics which enable it to conform to objects in the sub-grade. This feature is especially important after the pond is in service when earth movement, or erosion, could cause roots and rocks to be dislodged beneath the membrane, placing stress on the liner. PondGard's high elongation properties will enable it to stretch over the object.
- LOW MAINTENANCE: PondGard requires little or no regular maintenance once installed. Should the need arise, it is easy to repair in place with a self-adhesive Quick Seam Joint Cover Patch, minimizing cost and inconvenience.
Pond Pumps & Fountains
DOES A PUMP COME WITH MY POND KIT?
Yes. Your kit comes with a "Quiet One" Pond Pump. These magnetic drive pumps are submersible, so they live in the middle of the pond. Each has a foam pre-filter, 3 fountain styles, and a 20 foot power cord. They plug into regular 120V, although GFCI outlet is highly recommended.
HOW BIG IS THE PUMP?
As the pond sizes get bigger, the size of the pump supplied also increases. The pumps are sized to turn over the entire volume of water in the pond more than once per hour. The more you circulate the water, the more oxygen goes into the water. Bacteria doesn't like all the oxygen, so this makes it much easier to keep the water clean.
- The Quiet One Model 800 pump is included with The Wall Pond, 60 gal. and 100 gal. Pond kits.
- The Quiet One Model 1200 pump is included with the 165 gal. and 200 gal. Pond kit.
- The Quiet One Model 2200 is included with the 300 gal. Pond kit.
- The Quiet One Model 4000 is included with the 425 gal. and 600 gal. Pond kit.
- The Quiet One Model 6000 is included with the 800 gal., 1000 gal. and 1200 gal. Pond kit.
WHAT KIND OF FOUNTAINS ARE INCLUDED WITH THE POND KITS?
The Quiet One pumps come with three fountain styles; a multi-spray (sometimes called daisy, blossom or flower), a water bell (dome shaped, like an umbrella) and using just the riser extension tube will give you a gurgle effect. You can also adjust the flow of the pump to control the height of the spray and the size of the water bell.
A note of caution, the higher you turn up the spray, the larger the "splash zone" will be. You don't want water landing outside of your pond.
ARE THE PUMPS ENERGY EFFICIENT?
Very efficient and quiet! Pond kits up to the 100 gallon size come with a pump which turns 220 gallons per hour using a 1/4 of one amp of electricity. About $1.00 per month running full time. The power gets them going but the magnets help them spin. These Quiet One pond pumps are inexpensive to operate, run a long time, and they are quiet! You get to listen to the sound of the water, and not the hum of a pump!
WHAT IS THE WARRANTY ON THE PUMPS?
Your pump comes with a three year warranty, and has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. The impeller has a separate 60 day warranty.
HOW DOES THE MAGNETIC DRIVE PUMP WORK?
Basically, the power gets the pump started, and the magnetic drive turns the impeller, which uses very little energy. The model 800 pump for example uses only 0.24 of one amp of current, to turn over 220 gallons of water per hour. Runs 24/7 for about a $1.00 per month.
Internal re-circulation prevents overheating and ejects any obstructing debris. Remarkable impeller technology and corrosion resistant bearings help ensure quiet operation and a significantly longer life expectancy.
WHAT IF I WOULD LIKE MORE FILTRATION?
For our larger pond kits, we offer an optional Lifegard All-in-One Pond Filter System.
The ALL IN ONE FILTER SYSTEM is a compact filter system for ponds, water gardens and fountains. It's easy to install and is designed for easy maintenance. Besides offering 2 different fountain spray patterns, it performs three different filtering functions:
- Multi-Layer, 2 stage high capacity MECHANICAL Filtration (2 types of sponges) to remove solids.
- BIOLOGICAL Filtration to promote beneficial bacterial growth.
- ULTRAVIOLET STERILIZATION puts out 13 Watts of intense UV light to kill free floating algae. The ultraviolet sterilizer has a separate 20' cord so that you can operate it only when it's required. There is an indicator light so you can see when it is working.
The SINGLE filter system runs with a quiet, efficient QUIET ONE model 2200 pond pump. It is rated for use in ponds up to 1,000 gallons and is available with our 300 gallon pond kit.
The DOUBLE filter system runs with a model 3000 pump and is designed for ponds up to 1,500 gallons. The double system is best suited for our 425 & 600 gallon ponds.
The TRIPLE filter system runs with a model 4000 pump and is designed for ponds up to 2,000 gallons. The triple system is best suited for our 800, 1000 & 1200 gallon ponds.
The water feature fountain attachment has a ball joint leveling device to keep spray vertical even when the bottom of the pond is not level.
The advanced features of this compact filter system allow efficient operation and if installed according to instructions, will keep the water in your pond crystal clear.
Fish & Pet Habitat
