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  1. #1
    Junior Member Rank = Fry thisisit2019's Avatar
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    Post Building a new Koi pond - advice or tips needed :)

    Hi all!
    Ive got very little experience and know very little compared to what Ive been reading on forums on here so I need lots of help and advice !

    Im half way through digging a new space for my new koi pond . We had a very small pond which is still visible in the picture
    Ive dug all of this so far on my own with just a spade and wheel barrow - I thought I could save some money and I would build some muscles in the process lol but its taking a lot longer then I had hoped!

    My plan in short:
    im hoping for a in ground pond with large waterfall in front of the tree's .
    All equipment to be set in a space behind the trees
    concrete base with bottom drain
    brick walls and then fibreglass.

    It may seem like the wrong thing to do, but im trying to plan as I go ( its the way I work)
    so as im digging im trying to visualise where to run pipes etc but my current aim is clear the space.

    If anyone can recommend any forums posts on here or web sites or you tube vids that give me a step by step on koi pond building that would be brill!!

    Or my questions currently on the depth, base, bottom drain
    ....
    How deep do i need to go ?
    My plan was to dig 4 ft deep , then hardcore and cement base (1/2ft) so from ground level to base is 3ft . -
    Should I go deeper?
    Do I need to 'compress the soil' ?

    Any recommendations where to buy a bottom drain ?
    - Is 2 bottom drains worth it ? is there any negatives from using 2?

    Any recommendation on what material to use for concrete base? and where to buy?
    - Im thinking hardcore from old pond + some extra stone , packed, then mesh , then cement.


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  2. #2
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Sansai Hawk101's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by thisisit2019 View Post
    Hi all!
    Ive got very little experience and know very little compared to what Ive been reading on forums on here so I need lots of help and advice !

    Im half way through digging a new space for my new koi pond . We had a very small pond which is still visible in the picture
    Ive dug all of this so far on my own with just a spade and wheel barrow - I thought I could save some money and I would build some muscles in the process lol but its taking a lot longer then I had hoped!

    My plan in short:
    im hoping for a in ground pond with large waterfall in front of the tree's .
    All equipment to be set in a space behind the trees
    concrete base with bottom drain
    brick walls and then fibreglass.

    It may seem like the wrong thing to do, but im trying to plan as I go ( its the way I work)
    so as im digging im trying to visualise where to run pipes etc but my current aim is clear the space.

    If anyone can recommend any forums posts on here or web sites or you tube vids that give me a step by step on koi pond building that would be brill!!

    Or my questions currently on the depth, base, bottom drain
    ....
    How deep do i need to go ?
    My plan was to dig 4 ft deep , then hardcore and cement base (1/2ft) so from ground level to base is 3ft . -
    Should I go deeper?
    Do I need to 'compress the soil' ?

    Any recommendations where to buy a bottom drain ?
    - Is 2 bottom drains worth it ? is there any negatives from using 2?

    Any recommendation on what material to use for concrete base? and where to buy?
    - Im thinking hardcore from old pond + some extra stone , packed, then mesh , then cement.
    Hi and welcome to the forum.
    Some great information on here and really experienced members so don't be afraid to ask.

    A few questions:

    What size pond are you planning?
    Fully in ground or partly raised?
    Is that a French drain I see in the photos? If so I would do a bit more investigation before digging any further.
    If it is a French drain you are either going to have surface water problems at your pond site or you will move the problem somewhere else on your property.

    Shaun

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  4. #3
    Junior Member Rank = Fry thisisit2019's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hawk101 View Post
    Hi and welcome to the forum.
    Some great information on here and really experienced members so don't be afraid to ask.

    A few questions:

    What size pond are you planning?
    Fully in ground or partly raised?
    Is that a French drain I see in the photos? If so I would do a bit more investigation before digging any further.
    If it is a French drain you are either going to have surface water problems at your pond site or you will move the problem somewhere else on your property.

    Shaun
    Hi!
    The size is of the pond is still in debate with family and friends - some say bigger, some say its too big. The current plan is to judge how it looks as we go, but everyone has suggested it should be a fully in ground pond.

    Yes the drain was very curious . At first ,I did not know there was a drain - there was an overflow for the old pond (which was there when we moved into the home) but I couldn't work out where the overflow was taking the water.... After knocking away the old pond , we found the overflow went into this drain ,which heads deep into the garden. We still have no idea where the drain is going (I don't want to dig up any more garden) but we was guessing it was just a soak away in the ground?? so the plan is to block it up and leave it .

    Do you think it will be a problem if left?

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  6. #4
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Sansai Hawk101's Avatar
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    You will really need to decide how big a pond you want before planning anything else with regard to how many bottom drains, filtration etc. The more planning you do the better and just bear in mind that the finished pond generally looks a lot smaller once its built.
    That drain looks as though its falling towards your pond but it may just be the photo. It may be that the pond was just a fancy way to drain the garden and the pipe is a supply rather than an overflow?
    I would check the pipework with a level to make sure, if you just block it without knowing which way it falls you might end up with a wildlife pond that you don't want somewhere else in the garden.

    I really don't envy you having to dig in that ground!! Its got mini digger written all over it!!!

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  8. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai Simon Fish's Avatar
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    The drain has to be investigated, if you just block it without knowing where it's coming from or going to you could end up with big problems or not, needs resolving or rerouting.
    A finished depth of 3ft would be a desperate minimum, go for 4-6ft.
    I would be worried about the trees, roots, access to pond, rubbish falling in, would you ever want to trim them?

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  10. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    hi and welcome mate. good advice from above. agree about the drain. and the size of your pond. you need to know for amount of bottom drains and filteration you need.
    have a great time building the pond mate. and lots of photo s.
    fred

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  12. #7
    Junior Member Rank = Fry thisisit2019's Avatar
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    Hi - thanks for replies

    The size of the pond which im currently thinking is 4m (13ft) x 5.5m (18ft) .

    Originally 3ft deep but ,Simonfish ,you think 4-6ft is better?
    Im alittle concerned with roots , I was thinking some heavy blocks should be enough?
    I can get behind the trees from the side, and this is where I want the equipment to be, so access should be fine.
    It may get a lot of leaves drop but im hoping a good skimmer will pick up these?

    The drain seems to be heading downwards into the middle of the garden . Its not a water tight drain, so it may be some kind of soak away drain? Im not too concerned about it but will check more as I go.

    Its a bit of a mud bath at the moment , but the pics is how far I am at, I guess still a way to go with the digging!
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