Welcome to Koi Forum. Is this your first visit? Register
TuffX Glass
Page 2 of 28 FirstFirst 123412 ... LastLast
Results 21 to 40 of 551
  1. #21
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,936
    Thanks / Likes
    13162
    The other one's not an RS, its an old M3.

    Just come in for a break, digging around 80% done now, hopefully get it finished for tonight.

    Got a faint ammonia reading in the pool just now, so going to put the pool water in the Nexus and do 50% water change in the pool. Can wait till darkness to do that as I need as much light as possible for the pond build.

    Also started unbolting the old sleepers (doing it when having breaks from digging), and fingers crossed no snapped bolts yet.

    Need to get the old concrete collar cut out today as I've borrowed a huge angle grinder and cutting disk for the weekend.

  2. Thanks freddyboy, john1, Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
  3. #22
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,936
    Thanks / Likes
    13162
    Progress so far.... Stopped for another break, aching all over.

    IMG-20190224-WA0004.jpgIMG-20190224-WA0005.jpgIMG-20190224-WA0002.jpgIMG_20190224_151315.jpgIMG-20190224-WA0006.jpgIMG_20190224_151332.jpg



    Didn't know we got these round here, haven't seen one since I went to Wales as a kid. It was in the bottom of the big hole amongst all the rubble and looked like it was dying but when the sun came out he perked up and wandered off:

    IMG-20190224-WA0000.jpg

  4. Thanks Ajm, freddyboy, john1, Frimley Koi keeper, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  5. #23
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21135
    Going good rs not hanging about well deserved scotch after the digging

    Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  6. Thanks freddyboy, john1, cupra88, Frimley Koi keeper, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  7. #24
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,936
    Thanks / Likes
    13162
    Cheers Johnathan.

    No alcohol for me though. New Years eve was very messy and new years day paid me back with the worst hangover I've ever had. Could not bring myself to touch a drop of anything until last weekend when I finally decided to have a quiet drink at home with the wife.

    The last thing I remember is being resuscitated on the bathroom floor! .

    Nothing like that has ever happened to me before.

  8. Thanks Ajm, john1, freddyboy, Frimley Koi keeper, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  9. #25
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21135
    Quote Originally Posted by RS2OOO View Post
    Cheers Johnathan.

    No alcohol for me though. New Years eve was very messy and new years day paid me back with the worst hangover I've ever had. Could not bring myself to touch a drop of anything until last weekend when I finally decided to have a quiet drink at home with the wife.

    The last thing I remember is being resuscitated on the bathroom floor! .

    Nothing like that has ever happened to me before.
    Yeah that's a pretty good reason not to drink like to be fair don't be over doing to digging then

    Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  10. Thanks john1, freddyboy, Frimley Koi keeper, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  11. #26
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,936
    Thanks / Likes
    13162
    As for the pond progress, sadly didn't get the digging quite finished. Its almost there, just need a bit trimming off the walls and the floor levelling.

    I reckon there's 30 more sack fulls and it'll be done. Unfortunately I only have 20 sacks left!

    Tomorrow's plan is to finish the digging, get the old liner out (needs unsealing from the bottom drain and the returns etc), cut the old sleepers so I can stagger the new ones, then get all the sleepers in position and start drilling them for the rebar.

    Also don't think I've got enough sand for the pond floor, so a trip to B&Q at some point.

    Meanwhile I'm having to do daily 50% water changes in the temporary pool as the pressure filter media isn't quite mature enough to cope, and water changes in the Nexus to prevent a PH crash as I'm adding ammonia to keep it going.

  12. Thanks Ajm, john1, Frimley Koi keeper, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  13. #27
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,700
    Thanks / Likes
    15243
    Never mind Rs I have made up your quota of scotch this afternoon watching Ireland playing Italy.
    You have done well mate,good to hear you will finish the slog tomorrow and get stuck into the the final touches,weather looks good for the week so I wish you well.
    John

  14. Thanks Ajm, RS2OOO, freddyboy, Frimley Koi keeper, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  15. #28
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,936
    Thanks / Likes
    13162
    Demolition phase finally completed. Can't believe I've spent this long on it and not yet done anything "constructive".

    Around half a day behind where I hoped to be but my body hit a brick wall after all the digging so I've taken it slowly. Dug out over 100 sack fulls in little more than 24 hours. Anywhere that you can experience pain, I'm experiencing it! Even my fingers and toes are aching lol.

    On a brighter note I've been lucky - All the old sleeper bolts came out without snapping, and the bottom drain sealing ring and return inlets all came off cleanly. I couldn't remember if I'd sealed both sides of the liner to the drain and inlets, fortunately I hadn't.

    The liner was so stuck that it looked like it had become one with the bottom drain and inlets, so I didn't attempt to unstick it, just cut around it and will seal the new liner to the existing liner using MS Polymer which I read is the strongest bond for EPDM to EPDM.

    IMG_20190225_153440.jpgIMG_20190225_153450.jpg

    To think this time last year was -10C, the weather is truly stunning today.

    Garden is a bit of a mess.... Best start tidying it before she gets home from work!

    IMG_20190225_153509.jpg

  16. Thanks Ajm, freddyboy, john1, Frimley Koi keeper, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  17. #29
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,936
    Thanks / Likes
    13162
    This is how it looks at close of play.

    Sleepers only resting in place, need to do some cuts (hand saw) tomorrow and drill for the rebar. I think that will take most of the day so I'll be hard pushed to get the new liner in and sealed up by tomorrow night which is where I wanted to be.

    IMG_20190225_170321.jpgIMG_20190225_170339.jpgIMG_20190225_170414.jpg


    Unfortunately the media in the pressure filter on the temp pool, which has been in the Nexus since November, isn't doing much if anything and I got a 0.25 ammonia reading tonight so doing a 70% water change right now and will have to do another tomorrow. The only one positive is that I can put that water in the Nexus to keep the media ticking over.

    A little bit worried that there will be water quality issues once the new pond is built as the old liner must have been harbouring a lot of good bacteria.

  18. Thanks Ajm, freddyboy, john1, Frimley Koi keeper, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  19. #30
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21135
    Looking good. I swore I long time ago it's chainsaw cutting or not at all haha am still yet to find the pull cord on them handsaws .

    Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  20. Thanks freddyboy, john1, RS2OOO, Frimley Koi keeper, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  21. #31
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,936
    Thanks / Likes
    13162
    That's a good call Johnathan.

    By hand, I have never cut anything straight in my life. I still have that huge angle grinder I borrowed. If my hand cutting looks really bad on the first cut I may go and buy a wood cutting disc and use the angle grinder for the rest.

  22. Thanks Ajm, john1, Frimley Koi keeper, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  23. #32
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,700
    Thanks / Likes
    15243
    Doing well Rs and it looks tidy so cant see your Mrs complaining .
    I would go buy a good quality hand saw,I did and it makes all the difference for under a tenner.
    You off all week? take it easy and plan it well you dont want to be too knackered to put the koi back into their new home.
    John

  24. Thanks Ajm, RS2OOO, Frimley Koi keeper, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  25. #33
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,936
    Thanks / Likes
    13162
    Taken from 9am till now just to cut and drill the sleepers.

    I've learnt the following:

    1) I still can't cut straight.
    2) I can't drill straight either. Struggling to get the rebar through.

    Doesn't help that the sleepers aren't exact measurements. One of the side sleepers is 19cm high and one of the back sleepers is 21cm high, so it's hard to try and get them looking level without the pond being higher on one side. Spent ages wedging shims under them to try and get everything straight and I'm still far from getting there.

    Can't see the liner being sealed to the bottom drain today, which means its going to be at least Thursday before I can start filling, and I can't cut the liner for the returns until pond is 2/3 full and the liner's in the exact right position, which means a further 24 hours for that sealant to cure.

    MS290 does say it will cure under water, but would it be a bit risky to seal and start filling the same day? I'm guessing yes unless someone knows different.

  26. Thanks Frimley Koi keeper, lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  27. #34
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion andikoi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    wakefield,west yorkshire
    Posts
    3,491
    Thanks / Likes
    3764
    i used CT1 on my windows,left an hour and carried on filling with no issues,as for cutting sleepers,when i did mine i bought an old black & decker alligator saw off someone for a fiver,cost me £15 for a new set of blades but it cut all 96 of mine spot on,for the levels you could use a circular saw to cut a sleeper to make smaller to fill the height gap,as for the rebar i used 12mm and bought an 12mm x450mm auger bit from toolstation,still had to whack them in with an 8lb sledge hammer and at 36 x 14" pieces every 3 layers and ponds 4ft deep it nearly killed me so i feel your pain lol,,,,andi

  28. Thanks RS2OOO, Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
  29. #35
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,936
    Thanks / Likes
    13162
    Rebar is in now and all sleepers secured. Used a 12Ib sledge hammer, but I have cracked the concrete collar on 2 of them, and one of them is protruding / visible through the pond wall. I will just wrap it up in underlay and leave it there.

    Also noticed one of the old sleepers has a damp patch where one of the returns must be leaking slightly (not from the Koi pond side, but the other side). I therefore decided to treat the tops and inside sides of the sleepers with Cuprinol.

    To look at, the pond just looks the same as yesterday where the sleepers were resting in place, but at least now they're all secured, and I've secured them significantly more than I did last time with brackets on the corners and on all the joins. 8 pieces of 16mm rebar (in addition to the rebar in the concrete collar) and around 15x 250mm timberlok screws.

    Hopefully should get the sand base and underlay down before darkness tonight, leaving tomorrow to install the liner.

    After all that's done, gotta change the water on the Nexus and another 50% water change on the pool as I battle the ammonia!

  30. Thanks Ajm, john1, Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
  31. #36
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21135
    Just ready to enjoy the weekend fingers crossed mate

    Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  32. Thanks john1, RS2OOO, Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
  33. #37
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,700
    Thanks / Likes
    15243
    I think you have done well this week Rs,you know the score take your time with the liner dont want any mistakes.
    Good luck tomorrow mate.
    John

  34. Thanks RS2OOO, Ajm, Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
  35. #38
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,936
    Thanks / Likes
    13162
    Thanks all.

    Now ready for the liner. The stanley knife cuts it so damn easy I get nervous about slipping and end up a shaking wreck!

    Last time I did the bottom drain I started out with all my tools neatly around the drain, old rags and tissue, everything planned out, then you get to a point where you think sod it, I'll squirt sealant everywhere just to be sure, and its all over your hands, up your arms and on your face lol.

    Gonna wear gloves this time.

    IMG_20190226_174759.jpgIMG_20190226_170324.jpgIMG_20190226_174837.jpgIMG_20190226_174746.jpg

  36. Thanks Ajm, Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
  37. #39
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21135
    Magic mate looking well . Final day tomorrow then . When will you be aiming to get fish back in . How's the nexus looking ?

    Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  38. Thanks RS2OOO, Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
  39. #40
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,936
    Thanks / Likes
    13162
    Cheers mate.

    Not checked parameters in the Nexus, just putting 5ml of ammonia in 3 times a day and doing 50% water change each day. Kind of hoping it will thereabouts stay mature.

    Want to get the fish back in ASAP as they don't look happy in the temp pool, very jumpy and the colours on a few have faded badly. The sumi on the Shiro has gone light grey and a few others have faded too. Its pitch black in there at night and I leave the lights on during the day, not sure if that's the cause or whether its the ammonia. Oddly enough the Sanke with the veins looks better now.

    If I get bottom drain sealed tomorrow, then start filling on Thursday and overnight into friday, then seal the inlets once pond is 2/3 full, another 24 hours for that to cure, then final top up and fish back in there either friday evening or Saturday morning.

    Also the 20k variable pump I'm using on the temp pool needs to go on the pond so will have to do that just before transferring the fish over.

    Then all the capping needs cutting and fitting. That's half a days work if not more by the time I've cocked it up a couple of times before getting the corner angles right.

    In the previous pics you can see an aluminium box section, that's going to be fitted across the pond so I can still use the old powder coated mesh covers (which weren't cheap), then I'll need to get more covers made up.

  40. Thanks Ajm, Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
 

 
Page 2 of 28 FirstFirst 123412 ... 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 12:49 PM. 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.