How to Make a Garden Pond in an Old Bathtub

Repurpose an old bathtub into a mini pond for your patio or garden. Add aquatic plants and a fountain to complete your relaxing water feature.

For more ideas, also see this gallery of small garden ponds from home gardens.

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Make a Pond from an Old Bathtub

I’ve been wanting one of these ponds for a while and I’ve got my local junk shop owner on the lookout for an old bathtub at the right price.

While many people love the idea of restoring an old clawfoot tub for an indoor bathroom renovation, the downside is that old tubs can be chipped and don’t retain heat well due to a lack of insulation.

That’s when it’s time to move it outdoors.

I saw this little pond on a local garden tour. It’s from the same wonderful gardener who created this Bed Frame Veggie Garden.

How to Make a Bathtub Garden Pond

Safety First

Any water project can pose a risk to humans, pets, and wildlife. Do not add any water feature unless you are certain it’s legal and safe.

Supplies

Some links go to my affiliate account at Amazon.com. I always suggest you try and buy locally or better yet, get stuff free and repurpose it.

My best tips for getting stuff cheap or free are here.

• Old bathtub.
  It really doesn’t have to have claw feet. Just pick something you like. And keep in mind that a slippery container like a tub is best kept above ground so small animals and rodents don’t fall in and drown. If there’s any chance wildlife will use the pond, please research safety considerations.
• A recirculating pond pump and filter. You can see one here via my Amazon affiliate account.
  You’ll need to estimate the water volume of the tub and choose a pump appropriate for that volume of water. They are sold by “gallons per hour.” If your tub holds approximately 50 gallons of water, you’d want a pump that circulates 50-100 gallons per hour. This will allow extra strength to power a small waterfall or spray feature.
  Small pond pumps usually come with small sponges inside that gather gunk as the water circulates. Once the pond is established, you may have to clean them every day. Some pond pump kits come with extra gadgets like bubblers or fountain sprays. Check that the pump you’re getting comes with the attachments you want.
• Outdoor GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) electrical outlet.
  Don’t mess around with this. If you don’t already have one near the pond location, get a certified electrician to install a proper GFCI outlet that meets all the code requirements in your area.
• Plugs or other materials to close up drain and overflow holes.
  Decide whether you want to close up the bottom drain hole and overflow holes temporarily or permanently. If you’re lucky (or have a good plumbing store nearby), you’ll find plugs that fit snugly in both and do not leak. Otherwise, ask at a plumbing shop for a product they recommend for this purpose. Some sealants work in sitting water and others do not, so you need to make sure you choose a marine grade product. Another option is plumber’s putty.

• Aquatic plants
  Hardy water plants will survive as well if they never get frozen solid. Tropical pond plants have to be stored indoors if you live in a cold climate like I do. You won’t need a lot plants: they do multiply quite readily each growing season.
  Shop at a favorite garden nursery, tell them what your project is, and they can help you pick the best plants based on what’s available in your area. Or ask a friend with a pond if they have any plants ready for dividing.
• Bricks or other materials to hold plants at the required level.
  Each type of aquatic plant has a preferred planting depth in the water. Use bricks to ensure the plant containers sit at the right height.

Optional: faucet handles and/or tall shower attachment
If your pond will be in a fairly sheltered area (where the wind won’t get it), it’s really sweet to devise a recirculating spray of water from a shower head. You may need an extra pump dedicated to this with some tubing to run the water up through a pipe to the showerhead. If this idea is making your head hurt, just ignore it. Your pond will still be really sweet. Faucet handles are a sweet idea to keep the bathtub theme going (rather than having the mount holes exposed).

Can I add fish?

Fish are not recommended for small water features like this. Living creatures need natural habitat with plenty of room to move around and places to hide. Just add plants and a fountain. You will still benefit plenty of wildlife including dragonflies.

Setting Up Your Bathtub Pond

• Choose a  safe, level location near an outdoor GFCI electrical outlet.
• Clean the tub.
• If you want to paint the exterior, do it before setting up your pond.
• Close up the bottom drain and overflow hole.
• Add water.
• Set up the pump/filter (Amazon.com). Follow the safety guidelines on the manufacturer’s instructions. Choose one with a fountain attachment if you like.
  
  You want the pump away from any plants or debris so it can freely take in the water and recirculate it.
• Add aquatic plants. Find out the best growing depth for each type of plant you are adding and use bricks to set them at the right level.

Bathtub Pond Maintenance

• Your pump filter may need rinsing out on a daily or weekly basis to keep the water flowing nicely and avoid straining the pump.
• The aquatic plants may need to be lowered in the water as they grow.

Winter Care

• If you live in a cold climate, tropical plants will need to be stored/”overwintered” in a garage during the winter months.
• Hardy plants can survive most winters if they are placed at the bottom of the tub and the pump is kept running to ensure the water never freezes.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛