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  1. #1

    First Koi Pond Design

    Hi I'm new to the forum,

    I have always been fascinated by koi and have always dreamt of having my own koi pond, well now the time has come!

    When I moved into my current home I inherited a small garden pond, which has unfortunately sprung a leak which has been the deciding factor for me to finally build a koi pond.

    I plan on building a 10,000 litre pond approx 10ft x 8ft x 4ft, I have never designed a pond before but have done a lot of research and was hoping to get your help and opinions.

    Here is what I have in mind:-

    pond plan.jpg

    Plumbing Plan:-
    pond plumbing.jpg

    The idea is that most of the time the water will be returned to the pond from the waterfall but I have the option to switch it off and return another way at night/in the winter.

    Bottom Drain:- Spindrifter Aerated Bottom Drain- do i need a separate air pump or will the nexus one suffice?
    Skimmer:- Standard Black Surface Skimmer
    Filter:- Nexus EazyPod - does it come with k1? how much do i need?
    pump: - Oase Aquamax Dry Filter Pump - 14000 Lph
    UV:- Evolution Aqua Evo UV - which size do i need? or should I opt for the built in one on the EazyPod?
    WaterFall:- Oase Waterfall 60

    As you can see I have opted for the Nexus EazyPod, I have done this simply because it looks very easy to clean and maintain but now I am wondering if it is too small for the volume of water I am planning. I have also recently read that drum filters are the best but I wouldnt know where to start with these, any advice?

    Do I need anything else?

    You will also notice no window in the design, this is because my wife is not keen on the idea of a viewing window, I am in 2 minds, on one hand I want a viewing window and then I think it will be far too much maintenance to keep it clean.

    Can anyone with a viewing window let me know how often you clean your window and how long it takes? Is it worth it?

    Hope that's everything covered and I look forward to starting the dig soon.



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  3. #2
    windows are really worth it, koi dont look their best from the side tbh, but a window is so handy to just be able to see them from all angles, you will notice marks or injuries easily that could other wise go unnoticed until its got much worse. Cleaning is no ordeal tbh.
    I would make the waterfall from a shower, and regarding a filter, its probably dependant on budget, but id aim for a minimum of a nexus 220, combined with a shower that will give you a decent bio filtration capacity.
    If money is available then definitely a drum filter is the best, something like a qk 15 followed by a bio chamber made to your sizes will work well for 10k litres, id recommend upping your volume to 3k gallons or 13500 litres, thats a useful size, other wise as your fish grow , you may well regret not going bigger in the first place, most of us have rebuilt to go bigger at least once.

  4. #3
    Ok I think the idea of a window is definitely growing on me.

    The problem is the available space, I have an area 4.8m long by 3.5m wide which I have to fit everything into. That means to fit a nexus 220 in I would have to reduce the size of the pond.

    I like the look of the qk 15 you mentioned as it is physically smaller than the eazypod which might allow me to squeeze in a few more litres... guess I'll have to do some more calculations! You mentioned followed by a bio chamber? Anybrecomendations on this?

    You also mentioned a shower to return to the waterfall? Again have you any recommendations?

  5. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    With your diagram where is the skimmer going to be filtered? Is it gravity and pipe work doubling back on its self

    Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  6. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    With your diagram where is the skimmer going to be filtered? Is it gravity and pipe work doubling back on its self

    Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
    I was under the impression that the skimmer didn't need to be filtered? It has its own basket which collects larger debris from the surface of the pond?

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  7. #6
    any standard shower will work, just box it in in your choice of material to give the finished look you want, and have it exit out just where you would have had your waterfall, you will get the same thing to look at, but loads of extra bio filtration capacity.
    Queni have showers advertised, but you can get good plastic ones off ebay from just a few hundred pounds, I have one, no matter what they are made of or what the asking price, they all work just the same.
    JBR make custom bio chambers to suit, at a very good price, they go under the name plasticsmen on ebay I think, they usually have some for sale of a standard size but will make you one any size you need to fit the space you have.

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  9. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by familyman View Post
    any standard shower will work, just box it in in your choice of material to give the finished look you want, and have it exit out just where you would have had your waterfall, you will get the same thing to look at, but loads of extra bio filtration capacity.
    Queni have showers advertised, but you can get good plastic ones off ebay from just a few hundred pounds, I have one, no matter what they are made of or what the asking price, they all work just the same.
    JBR make custom bio chambers to suit, at a very good price, they go under the name plasticsmen on ebay I think, they usually have some for sale of a standard size but will make you one any size you need to fit the space you have.
    Thanks, I'll take a look at the showers but I have one question - will it be ok not using the shower when I am diverting the water back the other route?

    My plan is that the waterfall will not be used at night or during the winter.

    I'll price up bio chamber now

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  10. #8
    You need a shower working all year round else the good bacteria in it will die off.
    You could return it underwater but you’d have to come up with some way of flipping between “waterfall mode” and “underwater silent mode”.
    Probably an easy enough thing to work out but could be a bit of a faff to actually do every night unless it was automated.



    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  11. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by bigcarpchaser View Post
    You need a shower working all year round else the good bacteria in it will die off.
    You could return it underwater but you’d have to come up with some way of flipping between “waterfall mode” and “underwater silent mode”.
    Probably an easy enough thing to work out but could be a bit of a faff to actually do every night unless it was automated.



    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Yeah I thought that would be the case, I was planning on automating the switchover anyway but now I have to figure out how to do this after the shower.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  12. #10
    yes just insulate your shower as part of the build and build in a divert.
    Skimmer water needs going through filter too really.

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  14. #11
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    If you are going down a drum filter skimmer though the drum as well will aid in all the fines off the top inch or so of water

    Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  15. #12
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Tom Koi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dawson View Post
    Hi I'm new to the forum,

    I have always been fascinated by koi and have always dreamt of having my own koi pond, well now the time has come!

    When I moved into my current home I inherited a small garden pond, which has unfortunately sprung a leak which has been the deciding factor for me to finally build a koi pond.

    I plan on building a 10,000 litre pond approx 10ft x 8ft x 4ft, I have never designed a pond before but have done a lot of research and was hoping to get your help and opinions.

    Here is what I have in mind:-

    pond plan.jpg

    Plumbing Plan:-
    pond plumbing.jpg

    The idea is that most of the time the water will be returned to the pond from the waterfall but I have the option to switch it off and return another way at night/in the winter.

    Bottom Drain:- Spindrifter Aerated Bottom Drain- do i need a separate air pump or will the nexus one suffice?
    Skimmer:- Standard Black Surface Skimmer
    Filter:- Nexus EazyPod - does it come with k1? how much do i need?
    pump: - Oase Aquamax Dry Filter Pump - 14000 Lph
    UV:- Evolution Aqua Evo UV - which size do i need? or should I opt for the built in one on the EazyPod?
    WaterFall:- Oase Waterfall 60

    As you can see I have opted for the Nexus EazyPod, I have done this simply because it looks very easy to clean and maintain but now I am wondering if it is too small for the volume of water I am planning. I have also recently read that drum filters are the best but I wouldnt know where to start with these, any advice?

    Do I need anything else?

    You will also notice no window in the design, this is because my wife is not keen on the idea of a viewing window, I am in 2 minds, on one hand I want a viewing window and then I think it will be far too much maintenance to keep it clean.

    Can anyone with a viewing window let me know how often you clean your window and how long it takes? Is it worth it?

    Hope that's everything covered and I look forward to starting the dig soon.

    Great Thread and congratulations on at last being able to live out your dream, I hope I'll be able to do same soon, good luck with it really hope it all goes well with it, keep posting updates and with photos.

  16. #13
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Tom Koi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dawson View Post
    Ok I think the idea of a window is definitely growing on me.

    The problem is the available space, I have an area 4.8m long by 3.5m wide which I have to fit everything into. That means to fit a nexus 220 in I would have to reduce the size of the pond.

    I like the look of the qk 15 you mentioned as it is physically smaller than the eazypod which might allow me to squeeze in a few more litres... guess I'll have to do some more calculations! You mentioned followed by a bio chamber? Anybrecomendations on this?

    You also mentioned a shower to return to the waterfall? Again have you any recommendations?
    Dawson, you could always go another 6 inchs all round and a tad deeper to increase your gallonage

  17. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Koi View Post
    Dawson, you could always go another 6 inchs all round and a tad deeper to increase your gallonage
    Yeah I'm gonna have another look at the dimensions and change the nexus dimensions for the drum dimensions and push the size to it's limits!

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

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  19. #15
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Tom Koi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by familyman View Post
    any standard shower will work, just box it in in your choice of material to give the finished look you want, and have it exit out just where you would have had your waterfall, you will get the same thing to look at, but loads of extra bio filtration capacity.
    Queni have showers advertised, but you can get good plastic ones off ebay from just a few hundred pounds, I have one, no matter what they are made of or what the asking price, they all work just the same.
    JBR make custom bio chambers to suit, at a very good price, they go under the name plasticsmen on ebay I think, they usually have some for sale of a standard size but will make you one any size you need to fit the space you have.
    What size would you recommend for a 3,500 gallon pond, was thinking of somin like a mtr long by 70 x 70 moving bed with K1?

  20. #16
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Djstiles999's Avatar
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    Saw this on EBay if it helps at all

    Oase Pond Drum Filter


    https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F 254229297804

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  22. #17
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Just remember all your plumbing ball valves arnt small ect

    Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

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  24. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    Just remember all your plumbing ball valves arnt small ect

    Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

    or cheap, lol !

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  26. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Koi View Post
    What size would you recommend for a 3,500 gallon pond, was thinking of somin like a mtr long by 70 x 70 moving bed with K1?
    roughly the max k1 you can fit in a bio chamber is 50 - 60 % by volume, I would aim for at least 300 litres of k1, which would then mean you want a volume of at least 600- 700 litres.
    The beauty of a big bio chamber is, you can always just add more media if you start to struggle with your water parameters, instead of needing to buy a bigger filter again.

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  28. #20
    Trying to plan in the return through a shower but still being able to switch between returning from the waterfall or under the water.

    The problem I am having with this is the height of the shower in relation to the height of the waterfall, does the bottom of the shower have to be higher than the waterfall or can I pipe upwards as long as the waterfall is lower than the top of the shower? See the below image for an example


    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

 
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