Welcome to Koi Forum. Is this your first visit? Register
TuffX Glass
Page 8 of 18 FirstFirst ... 678910 ... LastLast
Results 141 to 160 of 341
  1. #141
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Grand Champion lee63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    East riding of yorkshire
    Posts
    3,881
    Thanks / Likes
    3865

    Gray's Pond Build Diary

    Nice one gray Gray's Pond Build Diary 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 Gray's Pond Build Diary

    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 Gray's Pond Build Diary


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Last edited by lee63; 06-08-2018 at 07:36 AM. Reason: Bludy spelin 😉
    Its always a work in progress

  2. Thanks Handy Kenny, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  3. #142
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Handy Kenny's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Livingston Scotland
    Posts
    595
    Thanks / Likes
    877
    Quote Originally Posted by lee63 View Post
    Nice one gray Gray's Pond Build Diary 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 Gray's Pond Build Diary

    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 over a year now and its always been close enough for my liking, i used to regularly test it to see if still working on but i dont other now Gray's Pond Build Diary


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    lee63,

    Re the Gardenia meter, I will second that. Mine is working fine. One of the best tools I ever bought.

    Kenny

  4. Thanks freddyboy, lee63, Gray Thanked / Liked this Post
  5. #143
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion RoyLittle0's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Derby
    Posts
    2,551
    Thanks / Likes
    4705
    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.uk
    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

  6. Thanks freddyboy, Handy Kenny Thanked / Liked this Post
  7. #144
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion voodoo_15_uk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    York
    Posts
    4,526
    Thanks / Likes
    3287
    Quote Originally Posted by Gray View Post
    So the BIG FILL has commenced.



    Took a while to clean it all out but thought I’d start off with as cleaner pool as possible. Amazing how much crap collects in the BD.

    Bought a digital flow meter, seems to be working well. Gave it a test with 5 gallons of water and it reported 5 gallons of water spot on. Not bad for about £20 off Amazon.



    While it’s filling I’m going around all the connections and valves to check they are all nice and tight as I’m pretty confident with the solvent welds (famous last words!) as I followed the guidance to the letter with all the prep & slight twists on glueing. 🤞

    Just wish this rain would p*ss off so I could take the whole cover off the flute house instead of crawling around. Might make it full size next year. Gray's Pond Build Diary

    Just checked the meter again, 140 gallons so far...
    NOOOOOO don't use that type of meter they are crap! Mine was way out. It was out by a few hundred gallons.

  8. #145
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Gray's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Warwickshire
    Posts
    693
    Thanks / Likes
    1116
    Quote Originally Posted by voodoo_15_uk View Post
    NOOOOOO don't use that type of meter they are crap! Mine was way out. It was out by a few hundred gallons.
    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.

  9. Thanks lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  10. #146
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion RoyLittle0's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Derby
    Posts
    2,551
    Thanks / Likes
    4705
    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

  11. #147
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion voodoo_15_uk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    York
    Posts
    4,526
    Thanks / Likes
    3287
    Quote Originally Posted by Gray View Post
    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.
    You have been very lucky then. When I tested mine it was 2-5 litres out what it was actually saying


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  12. Thanks Gray Thanked / Liked this Post
  13. #148
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Gray's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Warwickshire
    Posts
    693
    Thanks / Likes
    1116
    Quote Originally Posted by voodoo_15_uk View Post
    You have been very lucky then. When I tested mine it was 2-5 litres out what it was actually saying


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Eek! That’s way out! Clearly I was very lucky. Gray's Pond Build Diary

  14. #149
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Gray's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Warwickshire
    Posts
    693
    Thanks / Likes
    1116

    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.

  15. Thanks freddyboy, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  16. #150
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    11,123
    Thanks / Likes
    17023
    They sound like the business mate. The struts.
    Nice one

    Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

  17. Thanks Gray, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  18. #151
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion RoyLittle0's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Derby
    Posts
    2,551
    Thanks / Likes
    4705
    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

  19. Thanks Gray, freddyboy, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  20. #152
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Gray's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Warwickshire
    Posts
    693
    Thanks / Likes
    1116

    Gray's Pond Build Diary

    Quote Originally Posted by RoyLittle0 View Post
    Just make sure you don't bleed to mush out as the weight of the wood will change when it gets wet
    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. Gray's Pond Build Diary

    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.

  21. Thanks freddyboy, lee63, RoyLittle0 Thanked / Liked this Post
  22. #153
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Gray's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Warwickshire
    Posts
    693
    Thanks / Likes
    1116
    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!!!!

  23. #154
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Gray's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Warwickshire
    Posts
    693
    Thanks / Likes
    1116

    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! Gray's Pond Build Diary
    Last edited by Gray; 27-08-2018 at 06:25 PM.

  24. Thanks lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  25. #155
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Somerset
    Posts
    6,653
    Thanks / Likes
    5635
    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).

  26. Thanks freddyboy, lee63, Gray Thanked / Liked this Post
  27. #156
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Grand Champion lee63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    East riding of yorkshire
    Posts
    3,881
    Thanks / Likes
    3865

    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 Gray's Pond Build Diary 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 Gray's Pond Build Diary 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 Gray's Pond Build Diary 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 Tapatalk
    Its always a work in progress

  28. Thanks freddyboy, Gray, blue harbour, familyman Thanked / Liked this Post
  29. #157
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Gray's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Warwickshire
    Posts
    693
    Thanks / Likes
    1116
    Quote Originally Posted by Feline View Post
    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).
    Thanks. I’ll test the tap water tomorrow. Makes sense now you’ve said it. Gray's Pond Build Diary

  30. Thanks freddyboy, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  31. #158
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Gray's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Warwickshire
    Posts
    693
    Thanks / Likes
    1116

    Gray's Pond Build Diary

    Quote Originally Posted by lee63 View Post
    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...
    Cheers Lee. That’s a bloody brilliantly post. Thank you so much for that.

    I’m going to have a good read again later and reply properly but just wanted to say thanks straight away! Gray's Pond Build Diary

  32. Thanks freddyboy, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  33. #159
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Gray's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Warwickshire
    Posts
    693
    Thanks / Likes
    1116
    Quote Originally Posted by lee63 View Post
    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 Gray's Pond Build Diary 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 Gray's Pond Build Diary 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 Gray's Pond Build Diary 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 Tapatalk
    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.

  34. Thanks freddyboy, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  35. #160
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    11,123
    Thanks / Likes
    17023
    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


    Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

  36. Thanks lee63, Gray Thanked / Liked this Post
 

 
Page 8 of 18 FirstFirst ... 678910 ... LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:38 AM. Online Koi Mag Forum
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3
Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

vBulletin Improved By vBFoster® (Lite Version), © UltimateScheme, Ltd.