From a “Little Pond” to a Backyard Sanctuary

Ryan’s Pond Build – Salt Lake City, Utah

Hey Kev,

Figured I would share my pond with you 🙂

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Location

Salt Lake City, Utah

Builder

Ryan

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How It All Started

This project started in the very back corner of my girlfriend’s beautiful backyard garden. She had an unused space where she said I could build a “little pond”… lol.

My overall “technical” water flow design was inspired by your bog filter videos.

I wanted to build a Zen sitting space that helped mask the sounds of the nearby freeway with flowing water. At the same time, I wanted the seating area to be flexible.

• Mounting points for hammocks
• Space for full lounge chairs
• A shade sail with multiple configurations depending on the sun

I also built a small bridge for foot traffic, and the kids love sitting on the edge playing with the fish.

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Filtration & Water Flow Design

The system uses approximately 3.5 tons of gravel throughout the back loop of the pond.

Here’s how the flow works:

• Water is pumped from the skimmer to a rock fountain
• From there, water either:
  • Filters down through the gravel and returns to the opposite side of the pond (creating a full loop), or
  • Flows across a small stream over the top of the gravel

This setup lets me:

• Manage water level and back pressure at the head of the bog
• Maintain a large planting area on both sides of the fence

I also added a second rock fountain on the back side, which loops some water for an extra pass through plant life before returning to the pond.

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Materials & Build Choices

• The pond is lined with a mid-grade liner (I wish I had gone higher quality—lesson learned!)
• Rock was sourced locally using discounted one-ton pallets of random stone
• Plants in the bog include:
  • Mint
  • Iris
  • Horsetail
  • “Murderdock”
• Seasonal planting:
  • Sweet potato (last year)
  • Creeping Jenny (this year)
• Basketed water lilies in the main pond

I also:

• Poured concrete pads and steps inside the pond
• Created a sitting area where you can put your feet in the water
• Built a cedar fence and lamp post to frame the space

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Equipment & Helpful Resources

• 12V variable-speed pumps — made it easy to fine-tune flow
• Auto-filler system connected to PVC
• RV water pressure regulator:
  • Protects plumbing from pressure spikes
  • Allows fine adjustment of water levels

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Wildlife & Pond Life

• 24 decorative goldfish (Shubunkin and Comet), plus offspring
• Lots of Japanese trapdoor snails
• Birds regularly bathing in the stream and fountains
• A garden snake that has made the pond its summer home

I also tried introducing tadpoles, but the frogs didn’t stick around.

Interestingly, I’ve got stonefish as well, which I hear is a good sign of water quality.

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More Than Just a Pond

This project became more than just a backyard feature.

A couple of years ago, I had a serious throat cancer scare. This pond played a huge role in my mental and physical recovery.

After surgery, I had nerve damage in my shoulder. Moving rocks and pouring concrete actually helped me regain my range of motion.

And honestly… it was a lot cheaper than physical therapy.

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Lessons Learned (Worth Paying Attention To)

1. Gravel Filters Create Back Pressure

When filtering through gravel, expect higher water levels at the head end than you might think.

I had unexpected overflows and had to modify the design after the fact.

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2. Buy Quality Liner

Just do it.

This started as a small, budget project and turned into a permanent feature. I regret not investing in better liner from the start—it will eventually need to be redone.

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3. Plan for Problems Before They Happen

I installed a single switch to shut down all pumps.

This has been invaluable. If something goes wrong while I’m away, my girlfriend can simply flip the switch and prevent bigger issues.

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Final Thoughts

This build is a great example of what happens when a “little pond” turns into something much bigger—with a bit of creativity and a solid system behind it.

And like Ryan’s shown here, these projects aren’t just about water and fish…

They can become part of your recovery, your routine, and your space to switch off.

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If you’re designing your own pond, this is exactly the kind of thinking I try to teach.

Every pond I build follows the same basic principles. That’s the system behind the Pond Formulas Blueprint.

👉 You can learn more about the blueprint here.

And if you’ve built something yourself, I’d love to see it.

You submit your pond story and photos here and you might be featured next.

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