Why are you re-doing it? Maybe there's something you can do differently with this one to better meet your needs.

The previous owner removed the pump and the water was very dirty. It is covered in knot weed and the bricks for the boundary are very outdated. Also the lining has ripped in several places.

You might try the gardenweb part of HOuzz, look for the pulldown menu on the upper right.

I have a hard time recommending small ponds because of some of the problems you have already experienced. Small ponds never develop the ecology needed for self-maintenance so the need a fair amount of upkeep. Perhaps you'd be happier with a fountain. I'm not sure of the layout for your yard, but you might even consider placing the fountain in a more prominent location.

Some great photos here on Houzz. Go to outdoor tab above and click. Then enter ponds in the Houzz search bar. Select first item from drop down box.

Remove the gunk first. Then i would remove the brick and fit new bricks or use old brick with some fresh motar ,cement, or simply have non. I would leave the old liner in and recover with new, extra added protection. Or even sand between the two liners. Butyl liner is the best one.Attach a good pump with filter box and uv light to kill the algae off. Square the pond off with the new liner add extra sand underneath where you have squared off cement edge down. A nice level decking surrounding the pond. Some potted weeds with fitted netting to keep herons out. Ive been hit by herons esp winter icy months.

That’s a nice space to work with! I would keep the pond shape fairly natural but add a clean stone border to give it a more modern look. You could use a few larger rocks, gravel, and tropical-looking plants such as ferns, ornamental grasses, and leafy plants around the edges. A small waterfall or gentle water feature would also add a nice touch without making the design too busy. I’d keep the planting simple and leave some open space so the pond remains the main focus. Planning the filtration and circulation before rebuilding will also save you trouble later. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out!

" Looking forward to seeing how it turns out! "

David Wilson , 11 year old post................................................

we had one very similar to yours. very high maintenance!!