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  1. #1

    Hello and Ideas wanted

    Hi all,

    New to the forum.. Not really a koi keeper, but we brought the house and it already had a (10000l) koi pond built by previous owner. We stocked it with some garden centre Koi and this has been running fine with just a cheapo garden pond filter (obviously, it's pea soup, but the fish are healthy and have even had babies this year), but unfortunately, the pond is in the location where I really want to build my dream 'man shed/workshop' (the house/garden is on a hill, so there are no other suitable locations for my shed.. hence it's got to go (it's already got bottom drain but we're not using it with our cheapo setup)

    Plan was to build a new koi pond to house the fish, nearer the house, so I can demolish the old one as we do like having a pond. So far I've dug out a hole for the location - as you can see it's part way into the hill side. Soil is VERY stable... literally not moved at all. And is a sand/compacted clay mix from about half way down.. but this tapers with the hill gradient as you'd expect. The hole I've dug is approx 3x3m. We wanted a pond depth somewhere between 1 and 1.1m deep, so it would stand about 850mm from the grey patio... but obviously taper to near nothing at the hill side where we plan to build an elevated deck/patio with a fence. We'd also like the pump to return via a waterfeature/waterfall underneath the raised patio/deck (i.e where you can see the rough fence at the moment- that's to keep my kiddies out. I should add, I'll be placing a cage over the pond until they group up as per the current pond pics.

    I need ideas/insipiration and suggestions for filter setups and location and specs that suit a newbie (with a young family) budget!

    I was going to put a bottom drain in, as I know I'd regret not doing that at this stage for the cost. But my budget, to buy all building materials, and filtration etc is 4k. Is there anything else I should do now to future proof it?

    I'd like to build something that I can upgrade later in terms of filtration, if I get the bug for 'clear water', but honestly, at this stage, a pond, with healthy fish is my first concern. I will do the whole build myself - I'm pretty competent with DIY having built my own conservatory footings. slab and walls and also done a Garage to room conversion.

    Ball park, I estimate the building materials will come to around 2k to 3k. (I've planning blockwork on slab construction, rendered, then painted in the waterproof pond paints I've seen.

    This doesn't leave a great deal for the filtration and other parts. Also, where would YOU locate the filter based on my pics, and how much room should I set aside? originally, I was planning to put it in the area under the picket fence (dig this out) but running out of places to get rid of soil already! - I obviously want them accessible, but don't want them spoiling the look of pond or garden.

    It sounds odd, but I've no idea how much 'space' I need to keep allocated for filtration, particularly for future proofing. I wondered about not making the pond square, and putting a filter space within the footprint you see... but this reduces the capacity of the pond... we're already dropping 10000l to about 6500l..

    so:

    1) What do I do now to future proof this build (i.e, what plumbing should I put in, even if I can't use it yet!
    2) Where would YOU locate the plumbing and filter area in this build?
    3) What filter / pump / air pump / setup will 'get me by' for now - As said, not fussed on clear water at this stage - don't mind buying 2nd hand either.
    4) I hear people have heaters? insulated walls of the pond?.... is this necessary?

    Honestly... I'm teetering on filling the hole back in and giving up at this stage. I'm worried I've bitten off my than I can achieve with my budget (reading this forum terrifies me with the money some people must have spent!)
    Thoughts? and thanks for reading all that!

    I have more money, but that is reserved for my workshop build... I started this in order to build my workshop (had to keep wife happy!) but if I have to blow the budget on the pond, there's little point!

    Rob

    IMG_20200525_124200.jpgIMG_20200525_124359.jpgIMG_20200525_131814.jpgShed Render 1.jpg



  2. #2
    If your doing all the work yourself I honestly can’t see how 4K wouldn’t get you a decent functioning pond,shame you have to knock down that pond and rebuild as it looks a decent size and with bottom drain already it would Ideal to work with

    Personally I’d go block construction with bottom drain for sure and then just get good 2nd hand filtration,there’s always plenty available on eBay and the likes

  3. #3
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Sansai m00ny's Avatar
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    I'm thinking the area behind your proposed workshop would be the place to have a filter pit/area, you'd have to dig it so the filter can be level with the top of the water, to allow you to be gravity fed. In terms of future proofing, I think if you have a bottom drain and skimmer there's a fair bit you can do in terms of adding filtration when you want to. Can't really add anything in terms of insulation or the importance of it as I've never done it. Good luck with your build!

  4. #4
    Ok, thanks for your feedback! Well I'm relieved to hear I should be able to do it for under 4k....

    Exact dimensions are still TBC, but ball park 6000 to 7000 Litres. I was looking at an Eazy Pod filter - Am I right that the auto cleaning ones aren't really worth the money> What about the one with UV included? I've heard it's better to put the UV downstream of filter rather than before which is how it appears to be on the integrated version.

    Are these bottom drains on ebay ok? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50mm-Bott...sAAOxyDEVSa4Ms

    This will be one of the first parts I need to order obviously! - I like the idea of aerated (as current pond also has that feature.. not that my current air pump is really up to the job) - don't want to cheap out on a crucial part if the ebay ones are known to be iffy.

    Also recommendations on a suitable pump and UV for that capacity? - anyone selling a setup for a similar sized pond? Also... Wife is now pushing for a pond window.. worth the agro? do they need a lot of cleaning, or is it a case that if the water is good, the window stays relatively algae free?

    I agree, a shame I have to demolish the old pond, but I blame children. I built the garage conversion for a man cave - that got taken over with kid toys. I then built the conservatory to have an office/space to concentrate - that also got taken over... Last retreat is the man shed, but I've outgrown my current one with too many tools.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Gosai Jampot's Avatar
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    Where abouts in the world are you Rob?

    I just took a nexus 200 off my pond in Lancashire.....

    Couldn't you do a bit more digging in the bank and make the terrace a deck with the filtration below or would that make access to mains drainage difficult?

    Jim
    I don't keep fish, I keep water. I don't keep fish, I keep water. I don't keep fish I kee........

  6. #6
    Hi Jim, daaan saaath. I'm afraid. I'm in Surrey / Hants border area. I did think about digging more, but. Bit worried about tree roots. The pond footprint already comes to the canopy edge of the big cherry /plum on the fence line.

  7. #7
    Another question - Do I actually need a layer of hardcore for my base if the ground I've dug out is solid (and indeed Sandy/clay).

    My original plan was 100mm of hardcore, compacted, sand binding, membrane then 150mm slab with reinforcing mesh.

    I can get another 100mm of depth to the pond if I forgo the hardcore. It's basically compacted sand / clay as it is.. Doesnt even leave footprints when you walk in it. Walls' havent moved either, so everything is really compacted.

    Anyone know their slab construction well? lol!

  8. #8
    Senior Member Rank = Gosai Jampot's Avatar
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    daaan saaath. I'm afraid. I'm in Surrey / Hants border area.
    There will be one (or something similar) for you daaan saaath I'm sure

    I'm not a 'slab construction expert' by any means but unless the hardcore extends beyond the slab in every direction I can't see it adding anything in your case. The bottom of my pond (built 15 years ago) is straight onto clay and hasn't budged. The beauty of a pond is that providing the walls are constructed similarly all the way round there is an evenly distributed load on the base.

    I would suggest though that in view of the bank, it may be worth installing a perimeter field drain to carry any ground water away from the slab and walls.

    Jim
    I don't keep fish, I keep water. I don't keep fish, I keep water. I don't keep fish I kee........

  9. #9
    I don’t know anything about the Auto setups used on the EA filters tbh as I only have experience of the standard ones,IMO unless you are away from home a lot I don’t know if it makes much difference,they are hardly labour intensive or messy to clean manually.
    I’d agree with the above comments regarding losing the easypod idea on that size pond and going the 200/210 or 220 route,I’ve done similar recently swapped from an eazypod (which was great) to a 2nd hand nexus 200 I picked up locally for 200 odd quid so there’s plenty of bargains to be had if you look about,I wouldn’t bother going new as with the nexus there’s not a lot that detoriarates or wears over time so you’ll get much better value for money buying used.
    Just bear in mind if you did go the eazypod with built in uv I don’t think they can be run gravity fed,I think they are designed for pump fed systems,someone else will clarify for sure no doubt but I’ve deffo seen something regarding this recently

 

 

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