Finished personal backyard ecosystem pond with waterfall, fountain features, patio, and trellis in New Ulm Minnesota

Personal Project Showcase · New Ulm, Minnesota

A Complete Backyard Transformation Built Around an Ecosystem Pond

What began as an underused backyard with an aging concrete stoop became an integrated outdoor retreat with a goldfish pond, waterfall, four fountain features, a garden trellis, illuminated landscaping, and a new paver patio.

Project at a Glance

Backyard Ecosystem Pond Project Statistics

A complete backyard transformation combining an ecosystem pond, waterfall, biological filtration, fountain features, landscape lighting, a garden trellis, and a paver patio.

Project Location New Ulm, Minnesota

Project Type Personal Backyard Ecosystem Pond

Pond Dimensions Approximately 4 × 7 Feet

Overall Feature Area Approximately 14 × 10 Feet

Primary Pump Aquascape AquaSurge 2000–4000

Mechanical Filtration Aquascape Signature Series Skimmer

Biological Filtration 40-Inch Fountain Bowl with Filter Media

Main Plumbing 2-Inch Flexible PVC

Decorative Water Features Four

Fish Goldfish

Additional Features Trellis, Patio, Stoop, Plants, and Lighting

Construction Method Aquascape Ecosystem Methodology

Water Feature System

40-inch fountain bowl serving as the biological filter
Stacked slate half sphere
Bubbling boulder
Stacked slate bowl
Naturalistic waterfall returning water to the pond

The complete vision

More Than a Pond Installation

This project began with the idea of creating a small ecosystem pond, but the vision quickly grew into a complete redesign of the surrounding backyard. The pond needed to feel connected to the house, patio, garden, and trellis rather than appearing as a separate feature placed into an empty corner.

The finished design combines natural stone, circulating water, fountainscape elements, goldfish, aquatic plants, low-voltage lighting, and a compact paver patio. The result is an outdoor space that can be enjoyed from beside the pond, from the patio, or from inside the home.

Because this is a personal project, it also serves as a living demonstration of the construction methods, components, maintenance practices, and design principles used by Fountainscapes & Waterfalls.

Starting point

Before the Backyard Transformation

The original backyard included an aging concrete stoop, an exposed air conditioning condenser, uneven working areas, and no dedicated outdoor space for sitting beside a water feature.

Backyard before construction of the ecosystem pond and patio — Backyard before construction

Original backyard view from the future patio area — View from the future patio area

Old concrete stoop before demolition — The original concrete stoop

Central air conditioning condenser before decorative screening — Condenser before screening

Design and layout

Planning the Pond Within the Larger Backyard

The pond was laid out to remain compact while still providing multiple viewing angles. Its position relates directly to the house, the trellis, and the future patio, allowing the sound and movement of the water to become part of the entire backyard.

The layout also had to accommodate the skimmer, underground plumbing, fountain components, waterfall elevation, access for maintenance, and the future paver construction.

Backyard pond project layout before excavation — Planning the complete footprint

Outline of the ecosystem pond marked on the ground — Finalizing the pond shape

Clearing the way

Removing the Original Concrete Stoop

The existing stoop occupied valuable space beside the future pond and patio. Removing it created a cleaner transition between the home and the new outdoor living area.

Removing the old backyard concrete stoop — Beginning demolition

Concrete demolition in progress beside the house — Removing the old structure

Backyard project area after concrete demolition — Space cleared for construction

Creating the garden backdrop

Building the Trellis Before the Pond

The trellis was constructed first so its posts and framing could be installed without disturbing the finished pond or patio. It defines the edge of the garden and gives the completed water feature a stronger architectural backdrop.

Installing posts for the backyard garden trellis — Setting the trellis posts

Wood framing for the garden trellis — Building the overhead structure

Completed backyard garden trellis — The completed trellis

Shaping the ecosystem

Excavating the Pond by Hand

The pond was excavated by hand, allowing each shelf, depth transition, and edge to be adjusted as construction progressed. The finished shape had to support stable stone placement while creating habitat for the goldfish and room for aquatic plants.

Beginning excavation of the backyard ecosystem pond — The first cuts into the soil

Hand digging the ecosystem pond with shovels — Excavating by hand

Excavated pond showing depth and shelves — Establishing depth and shelves

Completed ecosystem pond excavation before liner installation — The completed excavation

Circulation and serviceability

Installing the Skimmer and Water Distribution System

An Aquascape Signature Series Skimmer houses the AquaSurge 2000–4000 adjustable-flow pump and provides accessible mechanical filtration at the edge of the pond.

From the pump, water travels through a dual-union check valve and a two-inch flexible PVC mainline. Tee connections distribute water to the 40-inch fountain bowl, stacked slate half sphere, bubbling boulder, and stacked slate bowl.

The mainline continues beyond the final tee and ends in a capped section of pipe. The resulting back pressure helps maintain balanced flow among the connected features.

Aquascape Signature Series pond skimmer — Signature Series Skimmer

Positioning the pond skimmer beside the excavation — Positioning and leveling the skimmer

Aquascape skimmer installed at the edge of the pond — Installed skimmer

Installing two inch flexible PVC pond plumbing — Installing the two-inch mainline

PVC plumbing connections for multiple pond fountain features — Preparing the fountain connections

Protecting the pond basin

Installing Underlayment and EPDM Liner

Protective underlayment separates the liner from the soil and helps guard against stones, roots, and irregular surfaces. The flexible EPDM liner was then positioned across the excavated shelves and basin before rock placement began.

Protective pond underlayment installed over the excavation — Protective underlayment

Installing EPDM liner in the backyard ecosystem pond — Installing the EPDM liner

Positioning pond liner around the excavated shelves — Positioning the liner

Stone by stone

Building and Rocking In the Pond

Rocking in is not a decorative step added after construction. It is part of building the pond itself. Each foundation stone, wall boulder, gravel pocket, and edge treatment contributes to stability, water movement, habitat, and the finished natural appearance.

Foundation boulders being installed inside the pond — Setting the foundation stones

Constructing natural stone walls inside the pond — Building the pond walls

Placing a large natural boulder during pond construction — Placing larger character stone

Rocking in the ecosystem pond with boulders and cobbles — Rocking in the pond

Installing washed gravel across the pond floor — Adding washed gravel

Beginning natural edge treatment around the pond — Beginning the edge treatment

Finishing the rear edge of the backyard pond — Finishing the rear edge

Natural stone waterfall construction beside the ecosystem pond — Constructing the waterfall

A distinctive filtration feature

Using a 40-Inch Fountain Bowl as the Biological Filter

Rather than using a conventional BioFalls unit, this pond uses a 40-inch fountain bowl that contains biological filtration components and filter media.

Water enters the bowl through its plumbing connection, passes through the filtration media, and then spills from the bowl into the surrounding waterfall system. This allows the filter to become a visible design element instead of remaining hidden behind the waterfall.

The bowl works alongside the skimmer to support circulation, mechanical debris removal, and biological filtration throughout the pond.

Positioning a 40 inch fountain bowl beside the pond — Positioning the fountain bowl

Installing biological filtration media inside the fountain bowl — Installing biological filter media

Bringing the system to life

Startup, Aquatic Plants, and Goldfish

The first startup revealed the completed circulation pattern, fountain flows, and waterfall movement. Aquatic plants and goldfish were then introduced as the pond began developing into a living ecosystem.

Backyard ecosystem pond during its first startup — The first system startup

Newly planted water lily in the backyard pond — Adding a water lily

Goldfish swimming in the completed ecosystem pond — Goldfish exploring their new home

Creating a place to enjoy the water

Building the Paver Patio and New Stoop

The patio turns the pond into an outdoor destination rather than a feature viewed only from a distance. Its compact footprint provides a comfortable sitting area with direct views of the waterfall, fountain components, fish, and garden.

Excavating the backyard paver patio beside the pond — Excavating the patio area

Completed excavation for the backyard paver patio — Completed patio excavation

Installing compacted base material for a paver patio — Installing the compacted base

Laying pavers for the backyard patio beside the pond — Laying the paver field

Paver patio installation nearly complete beside the pond — Preparing for final finishing

New masonry stoop installed beside the paver patio — Installing the replacement stoop

Finished paver patio beside the backyard ecosystem pond — The completed patio

The surrounding environment matters

Improving the View Around the Pond

A water feature is experienced within the context of everything around it. Screening the central air condenser helped reduce a strong visual distraction while preserving the airflow and access required for the equipment.

Central air condenser before decorative screening — Before

Central air condenser after decorative screening enhancement — After

The completed transformation

A Backyard Retreat Built Around Moving Water

The finished project brings the pond, fountainscape components, trellis, patio, plants, fish, stonework, and surrounding details together as one connected outdoor space.

Wide view of the finished backyard ecosystem pond — Finished ecosystem pond

Finished ecosystem pond viewed from the paver patio — View from the patio

After sunset

Lighting Extends the Experience Into the Evening

Underwater and waterfall lighting reveal the stonework, moving water, and fish after dark. The illumination creates depth without overpowering the small backyard setting.

Wide nighttime view of the illuminated backyard pond — Complete nighttime setting

Backyard pond waterfall illuminated at night — Waterfall lighting

Underwater pond lighting illuminating rocks and goldfish — Underwater illumination

Project highlights

What Makes This Project Special

Compact, Integrated Design

The pond, waterfall, fountain features, trellis, and patio fit within a relatively small backyard without making the space feel crowded.

A Visible Biological Filter

The 40-inch fountain bowl contains biological filtration components while also serving as one of the project’s main visual features.

Four Features From One Pump

A two-inch water-distribution mainline supplies four separate fountain features from the adjustable AquaSurge pump.

A Complete Outdoor Destination

The new patio and stoop create a comfortable place to experience the sound, movement, wildlife, fish, and lighting at close range.

Create your own backyard retreat

Thinking About an Ecosystem Pond?

Fountainscapes & Waterfalls designs and installs custom ecosystem ponds, waterfalls, fountainscapes, lighting, and surrounding water feature environments throughout Southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro.

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