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Thread: Floating hexagonal pond covers
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25-03-2019, 10:11 PM #1
Floating hexagonal pond covers
Has anyone got or used the floating plastic guards that clip together and can be cut to suit.
From what I see just need to cover the perimeter edge around the pond.
Do they work, or are they a waste of time/ money?
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Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
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26-03-2019, 09:18 AM #2
I considered them, and in the end went for an 'invisible' net.
The reason i didn't go with them, is that they will not allow the skimmer to work if you have one? I do, so hence my decision.
If you dont have a skimmer, it maybe worthwhile.
I have a slightly raised pond so threaded re-bar through the net to keep it taught, sprayed the re-bar with plasticote (black) looks great.
You can hardly see the net.
A lot to be said for the piece of mind - otherwise your constantly looking in the sky for the dreaded Heron!Its a hole in the ground where I throw my money!
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26-03-2019, 09:56 AM #3
You made the right colour decision in black I thought I'd be clever and go green but it doesn't work, will be going black later this year.
I made a frame out of 25mm black PVC electrical conduit a cross box and some tees and it works a treat, apart from the green net that is lol
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29-03-2019, 10:04 AM #4
my neighbour had them on his ground level pond,they didnt last long as they kept seperating and floating off,also said that leaves and things would land on them and it looked unsightly,he went for a net in the end suspended by garden canes,or you could build a pergola,,,andi
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29-03-2019, 10:27 AM #5
Depends on how big or wide the pond is to if the canes will span the gap?
25mm PVC conduit comes in 3m lengths and if you have it bowed upwards a little bit it will have extra strength and not sag down onto the surface or under the surface. You'll need to make a complete frame and fix it down to allow the pipe to bow upwards as it goes over the pond.
Basically you make a square or rectangular frame that will sit flat on the edge of your pond and then add the cross pieces. I think mine lifts about 4 to 6" as it goes across my pond and can take a reasonable amount of weight too, I can reach over and lean on the middle of the pipe and it doesn't move - probably only risk putting 3 or 4 stone of weight on it? Never really thought about checking what it could actually take as I don't fancy going for a swim in the pond One of my cats walk across it and it doesn't move but then the cat only weighs just over 4 kg. As mine is round it is easier to make the centre bow upwards but with a square or rectangular frame you will need to fix the frame down to get the middle to bow or it will just push the sides out and go flat.
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29-03-2019, 08:42 PM #6
Seems to be best option is keep the net.
At the moment the net is just held in place with bricks on top, that's a pain, do need to get something more easily movable and rigid.
That's another job on the ever growing list.
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Frimley Koi keeper, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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29-03-2019, 09:05 PM #7
Definitely not the prettiest cover solution, nor the cheapest, but I went for stainless steel 2" mesh powder coated in black.
The sections slot into each other so you can pull half off towards you, then fit hinges to the back half (and possibly gas struts) so it lifts 90 degrees.
IMG_20190304_170341.jpgIMG_20190301_155333.jpgIMG_20180627_213923.jpgIMG_20190328_140430.jpg
Might not be for everyone but my priority is protecting the Koi from predators and thieves (as I padlock mine down when going away). As you can see in pics I've just extended pond so waiting for delivery of another couple of panels.
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04-04-2019, 10:18 PM #8
I have a version of them - mine are rounded. they form part of my heron defenses. Basically stop the gray beast pecking at the koi - koi are too big to be lifted now.
I have them round a skimmer to - I just tie them to the lower rung of the skimmer guard which means they are below the water surface by the skimmer. No way am I putting a net over the pond!6000g in ground koi pond
+3000g lily/Anoxic pond attached
29 koi (40 to 65cm)
Bottom drain, Mid water & Skimmer to Drum
JBR boichamber->Blue eco 500 pump ->below surface return.
Blue Eco 240 -> Large MB -> Waterfall -> Planted Anoxic pond (25 baskets)
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26-04-2019, 08:41 PM #9
Pond Covers definitely give piece of mind....
Spotted this tonight, he actually walked along the mesh right across the middle of the pond:
Attachment 27539
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26-04-2019, 09:06 PM #10
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27-04-2019, 10:27 AM #11
In all fairness after studying the footage I think the cat was looking for a drink of water as opposed to a fishy meal.
Also spotted something much, much worse than the cat.....
The fence isn't straight alongside the pond. I checked old pictures and the fence is dead straight. I think the pond has pushed the fence out.
Not sure whether to try and do something about it, but as the fence is still solid and I've inadvertently nicked a few inches of next doors garden I think I'll just have to leave it.
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27-04-2019, 11:08 AM #12
Those few inches RS are you talking width or length? As if it's only an inch or so of width over a few inches of length then you should be OK but if it's more like a few inches of width and length then you may need to do something about it as your neighbour is more likely to notice what you have done.
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28-04-2019, 08:34 PM #13
Open up the picture Frim.
I have a CCTV screenshot from 6th March this year and it is dead straight.
But now the 5th panel from the front, alongside the pond, has clearly moved - looks like its been pushed more into next doors side.
Next door had some trees along the fence line removed last year. I guess that may have created a void and then my 12 tonnes of water may have pushed the earth slightly.
The fence is still rock solid.
You cannot notice it from the ground, and its very difficult to see it from a bedroom window, only the camera shot picks it up.
Next door would never notice, and I don't think she'd care anyway, she is a huge corner plot and her garden is at least 3 times bigger than mine (her house was owned by the builders who built this whole area in the 1930s), it is huge. She has 2 garages on it with side access that she rents out and she used to have a 6000 gallon pond that she had filled in when her grandchildren were born. Most of her garden is concreted over now as its too much work for her.
She has enough room to build another house in her garden which she wont do, but when she dies and it gets sold that risk would be a major concern for me.Last edited by RS2OOO; 28-04-2019 at 08:41 PM.
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29-04-2019, 08:06 AM #14
Going by the photo RS it looks like it's just a small amount of width over a few feet of length. When I had my shed built a few years ago the builder wasn't working to any drawings and just built as he went along more or less and I could see the shed was over hanging next door's garden but same as in your case not much width but a reasonable length. The neighbour at the time spotted it but just thought it was close to going over into their garden but that was as far as it went. Just in case I spoke to some one at the council in the buildings department and they basically said as we are only talking such small amounts they wouldn't even bother coming out to look at it even if the neighbour complained and even then they probably would do anything anyway. If I was you I'd see if I could just make the fence look straighter so it's not so obvious. Can't tell from the photo but is the fence your responsibility or your neighbours as normally you own one fence and your neighbour owns the other. We're lucky as we own the right hand side fence which only has about 4 or 5 panels but the fence on the left hand side is the full length of the garden and the neighbour we're joined to owns that fence and I think it's about 10 panels which currently needs about 6 panels replacing.
If you have a measure up and work out how much you have gained of your neighbour's property and just speak to someone in the building control department and they will let you know what they think. It just looks like you may have to reposition one fence post slightly if anything? If you are going to do any measuring up, do it when you know your neighbour is out. It may not be an issue to your current neighbour but if they move it may then become a problem as you know what solicitors can be like not that they would initially come out but if your new neighbours want to funny about it.Last edited by Frimley Koi keeper; 29-04-2019 at 08:09 AM.
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29-04-2019, 09:16 AM #15
Cheers Frim.
It really isn't possible to see from ground level, or even from the bedroom window. The movement can only be captured if looking from the angle of the CCTV camera so I'm just going to keep quiet about it.
That fence is my responsibility, doesn't go the full length of the garden but it's still 11 panels long.... Cost £2000 gulp.
When the right time comes I may enquire about buying part of her garden, probably the bit with separate side entrance and a garage on it.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
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30-04-2019, 05:55 PM #16
RS, could you please get that chair a friend please it just looks so lonely sat there looking at your
pond all on its own, I am sure there are plenty of chairs that want rehoming and looking for good homes out there .
Maybe it has a friend and its just to shy to appear in the photos, who knows .
Rehome a chair in 2019...………………….
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30-04-2019, 06:00 PM #17
Running heater at low temp?
Covering the pond with polycarb should be enough to stop water temps dipping below 6C for the most...