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  1. #1
    Member Rank = Sansai f15hie's Avatar
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    Swimming pools - can it be done

    The missus has an urge to move house and surprised me with a question - can you convert a small pool into a koi pond?

    Some of the houses she has looked at have small swimming pools. she used too swim for her county when she was younger and still likes to swim now, but barrel roll turns and kick offs she would still be underwater at the other end, so these are no good for her! Whilst she is in a generous mood can this be done?

    I think a liner and submersible pump to filter and gravity return or could you use some of the initial plumbing for drain, skimmer and returns be used stripping out the pool equipment and replacing with pond equipment as gravity feed and pumped return. Some of the pools are in their own houses so heating and covers wouldn't be required?

    Would the tiling be ok or need fibre glassing? Im guessing grouting in tiles would attract algae and collect detritus?

    So any ideas?

    Regards gary


    When I’m dead I hope my Mrs doesn’t sell my fishing gear for what I told her they cost!

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  3. #2
    I have a client who has converted a rather large pool to a pond. It’s more of a general fish pond rather than a dedicated koi pond.
    I’ll ask him what he did.

    Plenty of options regarding retro bottom drains, in pond pumps, filters etc.

    My biggest concern would be keeping the bottom clear and turnover rates.
    I’d guess that a pool would make the average koi pond look a bit puny lol.

    I’ll come back to you when I’ve spoken to the chap.





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  5. #3
    Member Rank = Sansai f15hie's Avatar
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    Thanks matey

    These are not big swimming pools around 10 metres by 4 metres, so not olympic size

    I have a, excluding beach area, 6.5 metre by 4 metre pond at the mo which is vastly understocked and would carry on under stocking if this happens, Koi, carp and tench are my babies at the mo and would carry this on so not really a dedicated koi pond as such

    So it would be a little bit bigger and deeper so would upscale filter etc... but as stated if we decide on a house that is what she wants and a pool conversion its a win win situation and save my back digging and building
    When I’m dead I hope my Mrs doesn’t sell my fishing gear for what I told her they cost!

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  7. #4
    Lol sounds pretty awesome to be fair.
    I’d kill for a pond that size...in fact, I’ll probably have to bury her under it in order to get one bigger than I have now


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  9. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    All pond and pools are just big puddles at the end of the day so should be easy and a good ideal . Draco do a nice 4 inch retro bottom drain for about 150 I think

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    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

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  11. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    All pond and pools are just big puddles at the end of the day so should be easy and a good ideal . Draco do a nice 4 inch retro bottom drain for about 150 I think

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    In a pond that size I reckon minimum 3 drains that size. So that would be 3 retro drains in my opinion

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  13. #7
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    My pond builder did a massive swimming pool in Scarborough. Just before they built my pond. The swimming pool was square.
    They channelled trenches in the bottom for bottom drains. Put a new pad of concrete in the bottom. For the base. Then built walls into the pool. Turned the shape to like oval kidney shape. Then back filled all the spaces with concrete.

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  15. #8
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai hippo's Avatar
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    As with any pond build , a lot depends on budget . The great thing with this scenario is that 3/4 of the work has been done already , so the costs will be relatively low .

    One thing to consider is size . If you use the full 10x4 , that's going to be a large volume of water - so running costs , filtration costs , ect will be higher . Generally speaking , most hobbyists like ourselves look at around 6000 gallons as a maximum - if you want to keep things simple , regarding filtration ect . So personally I would cut the size down accordingly . For example (depending on depth) you could have the pond 6 x4 m and the left over area for your filter area .

    Not sure about sealing the walls and floor . There are various paints and epoxys you can buy ,and as you say , you could go down the liner route , but personally I would have it fibre glassed . This is proven to be the best finish for koi ponds , and if costs allow , the route most people take .

    Depending on the situation , I would look at cutting a channel in the base and fit bottom drain(s) and 4" pipework . This way , you`ve got a top notch koi pond - for not much money !
    Colin

    2500 Gallon Fibreglass Pond
    Draco Solum 16 , 400l Bio Chamber

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  17. #9
    https://youtu.be/E7n658Na0Ts

    Here you go


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  19. #10
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Heres a couple of photos of swimming pool to pond conversions.


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  21. #11
    Member Rank = Sansai f15hie's Avatar
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    Thanks chaps
    When I’m dead I hope my Mrs doesn’t sell my fishing gear for what I told her they cost!

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  23. #12
    I’ve not heard back from my contact yet, knowing him, he’s probably off somewhere exotic!


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  25. #13
    Righto, my chaps pool was fibreglass in ground already so he just repainted it.
    I’d have thought you could do the same with tiles however if you ever wanted to convert it back to a pool that may cause some issues, who wants a bristling racing green swimming pool? Lol.
    With a box liner at least you’d have to option to change later if moving house for example.



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  27. #14
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bigcarpchaser View Post
    Righto, my chaps pool was fibreglass in ground already so he just repainted it.
    I’d have thought you could do the same with tiles however if you ever wanted to convert it back to a pool that may cause some issues, who wants a bristling racing green swimming pool? Lol.
    With a box liner at least you’d have to option to change later if moving house for example.



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    There was a pond on here about 3 or 4 years ago where a pond was tiled .all of it
    Bottom and sides.
    Cant find it though

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  29. #15
    Member Rank = Sansai f15hie's Avatar
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    Thanks for replies
    When I’m dead I hope my Mrs doesn’t sell my fishing gear for what I told her they cost!

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