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Thread: Gray's Pond Build Diary
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06-08-2018, 12:16 AM #141
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Gray's Pond Build Diary
Nice one gray looking spot on mate, very very nice. Hope you get the fish moved over ok. Be carefull not too overload the pond from the off though. Even if you have some mature media coming with the koi that depending on what media it is will take a hit in the move so min feeding and eye on the ball mate as you will defiantly experience NPS
Also that little gardenia meter, there was some on here a while ago who slated them and some who praised. Ive used one for must be well over a year now and its always been close enough for my liking, i used to regularly test it to see if it was still working properly but i dont bother now
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkLast edited by lee63; 06-08-2018 at 07:36 AM. Reason: Bludy spelin 😉
Its always a work in progress
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Handy Kenny, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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06-08-2018, 01:03 AM #142
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06-08-2018, 08:51 AM #143
One option for the glass to copings instead of silicone is to use a casting rubber, its pourable and you can colour it as well
Polytek Poly PT Flex 70 Liquid Casting Rubber - mbfg.co.uk4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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freddyboy, Handy Kenny Thanked / Liked this Post
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07-08-2018, 07:16 PM #144
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08-08-2018, 09:14 AM #145
It’s funny you say that because I was a bit dubious based on the cost and the variable reviews.
However, I tested it a number of time with 5 gallons exact and it reported perfectly each time.
I also mathematically calculated the volume of the pond and the meter reported back, after the full fill but prior to filters being filled, 19 gallons less.
That margin of error I put down to the benching of the corners and where the base meets the wall plus the fact that I had to calculate the pond volume in 3 parts due to its shape so a bit of rounding too.
Not bad for just £20.
That said, there’s clearly some rogue devices out there as some people have reported wildly different results.
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lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
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08-08-2018, 01:17 PM #146
If you had of spent an extra £9 you could have had a proper meter lol, I've permanently connected mine up now so I know how much I am trickling in each week, Month, year
4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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08-08-2018, 03:21 PM #147
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Gray Thanked / Liked this Post
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09-08-2018, 09:46 AM #148
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09-08-2018, 09:52 AM #149
Gray's Pond Build Diary
Took a bit of time the other day to sort the filter house roof. It’s in two parts as mentioned before but I’ve now hinged it so it lifts up. It’s still pretty heavy, good that it doesn’t blown away, so I’ve been looking at gas struts.
First problem I encountered was trying to calculate what Newton of force I’d need in two struts to lift the lid as weighing the lid is quite impossible but I could guess.
However, I found a company near me that makes gas struts that can be bled out from 2,500N down to 100N. £60 for the pair including fittings.
You fit them when they are full of gas and then bleed them 1sec at a time each side until the lid starts to slowly close - bingo, you’ve got the right pressure to aid lifting with no maths needed! Think soft close loo seat.
They are on order and should arrive next week so I’ll see if I can get a video of them in action.
I’ll be sealing up and treating the timber roof this weekend to make it match in with the rest of the area and be nice and water tight.
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09-08-2018, 10:00 AM #150
They sound like the business mate. The struts.
Nice one
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09-08-2018, 07:58 PM #151
Just make sure you don't bleed to mush out as the weight of the wood will change when it gets wet
4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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12-08-2018, 11:51 PM #152
Gray's Pond Build Diary
There’s a good point. Hadn’t considered that.
Maybe I’ll just bleed enough to hold it then. That way, when the timber gets wet, it might come down by itself this solving that.
Cheers Roy. Appreciate it.
I’m treating the timber tomorrow, didn’t get a chance this weekend, so hopefully the moisture doesn’t penetrate too much thus meaning not too much weight is added.
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23-08-2018, 08:01 PM #153
I took delivery of my water test kit the other day and whilst the pond just has water in and the filters running I was interested to see the parameters as it stands.
Haven’t started to cycle it at all yet. Just filled it up, switches everything on and the kids play in it at the mo.
Here’s the numbers:
PH - 8.5
Ammonia - 0
Phosphate - 1.5
Nitrite - 0.5
Nitrate - 0.2/0.4
Just starting to understand the parameters after some serious reading for a few months but what do you guys think of those stats as a starting point?
What suggestions do you have for starting and running the cycling? All tips & hints very welcome!!!!
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26-08-2018, 11:40 PM #154
Gray's Pond Build Diary
Going to start the cycling this week. Hoping to get things tip top within 4 weeks I feel. 🤞
(Edit) 4 weeks...think I’m dreaming based on the feedback. Better get cracking!Last edited by Gray; 27-08-2018 at 06:25 PM.
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lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
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27-08-2018, 05:07 AM #155
You need to test your tap water too to make any sense of your readings.
But with no fish or ammonia in the pond its pretty meaningless anyway. Youve got a limited time to try to get things going before winter now (unless youre going to heat to over 16C all winter).2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
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27-08-2018, 06:26 AM #156
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Gray's Pond Build Diary
Agree with feline here bud, the season is drawing to an end and temps are already starting to fall. You will get new pond syndrome as that is inevitable grey but its how you do things that can make it an easier period or a damn tough one, the last thing you want is to go into winter with it as it can do a massive backflip on you and you end up chasing your tail.
You need to either get some life in the pond or start adding ammonia, if your girls have been letting one go then that might explain the nitrite jokes aside though mate your against the clock now. Typically 8 weeks to get it going and thats in a perfect world. Realistically it takes months, years depending.
Your nexus is going to deal with ammonia pretty quickly but i can guarantee and im sure anyone here honest enough will agree that your going to struggle with nitrite for a while with k1, However this also depends on how you go about things oh and no amount of filter start or pond bombs will help in any way if there is nothing for the bugs to eat bud. You need ammonia and nitrite for the bacteria to eat and get colonising. This is another one we see all to often mate. With nothing in the pond its pointless, might aswell set your wallet on fire.
Best way forward is low stocking, light feeding and a very very close eye on things for the first few months. I know it will look a bit bare with not many fish in it and you may feel your efforts have been wasted but its not this year you should look at bud, its next year and the years beyond the bigger picture. All too often you see people ram a new pond full of fish late in the season and then wonder why by the time next summer comes there thoughts are on giving in and demolishing the pond. All due to going too fast too soon and having the worst start up year/winter they could ever have. Water issues, parasites, fish deaths etc.. the list goes on mate. Just go steady and dont be tempted by the end of season koi sales either just keep thinking of the bigger picture.
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkIts always a work in progress
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27-08-2018, 06:21 PM #157
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27-08-2018, 06:23 PM #158
Gray's Pond Build Diary
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27-08-2018, 11:16 PM #159
Hi Lee,
Regards the cycling, I’ve got Ammonia to hand and also a good quantity of bicarb to start things off. Picked up some phosphate as well just in case I need it.
I posted the parameters only to see if they were good enough to start from so I’m hoping they are. I’ll test the tap water tomorrow as Feline said.
I’ve read up and fair bit (never enough though!) and referred a lot to the article written by Manky Sanke regards fish-less cycling so I understand the approach and purpose. Reading and doing are two separate things though! 🤨
However, I’m now in two minds based on your post; fish-less cycling or stock low & feed low.
Personally I prefer the fish-less route so I am not making any fish, Koi or otherwise, suffer unnecessarily as I’m sure it won’t go perfectly first time. But if I’m going to have to keep cycling until the temps come back up that’s a long time to be doing it manually. Maybe some support from livestock would be better after all.
I read that maturing the media in just the filter chamber could be preferable (or in bins out of the filter) but I do wonder how this affects things when the main pond water is then flowed through the media once more and if that’ll then knock everything out of balance - can’t decide on this.
So would it be better to look to cycle it a pond level or just within the filter chambers as per above?
FYI - the Koi I’m eventually putting in are priceless from a sentimental point of view so I’m in no rush. If it has to be next year when the temps are back up then so be it. Just want to get the water in good shape for when the move does happen.
Sorry for the all the various questions above but your post really has got me thinking again here...in a good way!
Thanks in advance for the advice as always.
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28-08-2018, 05:57 AM #160
Lee and feline are both spot on.
It took my 4000 gallon pond 18 months to mature.
All my fish went in the pond in a oner. No choice. But thats another story.And i lost quite a few.
Fish.
Its finally there now though.
Do you know anyone. With more hardy fish. Like rudd and goldfish
Borrow a few and put them in the pond.
And recycle with them. Untill you get the pond and filters mature. I have rudd and a goldfish. There 17 years old now. And they are never affected with anything. Yet my problems with new pond syndrome. It only affected the koi carp. I tested my water parameters every day. For that 18 months. Now once a week.
Best of luck with it mate.
Fred
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Best plants to remove Nitrate
pug has a very impressive veg filter on his pond, have a look at some of his his youtube videos....