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  1. #1

    First pond build - 3000 gallons

    Hi everyone,

    New to the forum but been reading up on bits for the last couple of weeks.

    We have started our pond build! Our pond will be just over 3000 gallons, 11ft x 9ft x 5ft. It will be gravity fed via 1 bottom drain into a drum filter. The pond is located about 7 metres from the filter in shed.

    Still learning as we go along and any advice on things needed or not needed or things you would change. As well as specifics such as required flow rate and pump size....etc...
    Would be brilliant! Want to try and get everything sorted before concrete is poured.

    Our progress so far...


    Digger was a godsend but mum wasn’t to happy with the mess.



    Finally finished... 3 skips later!











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  3. #2
    Below is rough sketch of plans, would be great if any one has any suggestions or ideas to improve.

    Sorry for the lack of sketching ability haha







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  5. #3
    Skimmer ?
    Drawings pretty good. Few more people who are more knowledgeable than me will reply.

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  7. #4
    Skimmer is in the far left of the pond with a 3” feed to the drum.


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  9. #5
    You wont need a static K1 bed. This is generally used as mechanical filtration which your drum will take care of.

    You could consider going anoxic.

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  11. #6
    Hadn’t considered going anoxic, don’t really know to much about it. I’ll be sure to have a look. I was thinking about alphagrog in the static as well as a good Media to put in the Bakki...

    Or maybe do away with the static chamber and have a bigger single chamber of moving k1?


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  13. #7
    Few questions going through my head atm..

    Does anyone see any problems running the 2” pond outlet from one pipe until it t’s under the pond? Also with the pond being around 7 meters away from filtration what pump would be better 20,000 vario or 30,000? There is an alternative to run the Bakki return on a separate pump before the bio chamber so the flow in the bio would have a better hang time in the chamber. Does anyone think that’s a good idea?

    Was thinking about getting the qk drum but not sure wether 22,000 would be enough or 35,000 would be better?

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  15. #8
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai Sim's Avatar
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    You may want to put in two bottom drains so your not limiting the flow

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  17. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Sim View Post
    You may want to put in two bottom drains so your not limiting the flow
    Hi sim, would you say that because of the distance to the filter? Or the size of the pond. Would it help having a stronger pump maybe 30,000 vario..

    If I did have 2 bd’s I’d then need to upgrade to a larger filter to Accommodate 3 inlets. 2 bd’s plus the skimmer. Not sure if the budget will stretch... 😢
    Last edited by Phippzy89; 11-06-2020 at 08:38 PM.

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  19. #10
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai Sim's Avatar
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    I run a shower from two bottom drains and skimmer and try and keep the turn over quite high.
    If you have a long run with a few bends it will reduce the flow, I think you are on the limit for that size pond, if it was me I would put another drain in and a drum capable of turning over more water than I need.
    i have a oase drum and I don’t get the water through that they say.

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  21. #11
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
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    nice mate, look forward to seeing it finished......
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

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  23. #12
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    If you wanted two bds, how about having the two bd's into a drum and skimmer into a sieve?

    Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk
    13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window

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  25. #13
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Adult Champion NickK-UK's Avatar
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    Fit a 4" skimmer line.

    Water test pipe work once glued together.
    14000l, my mutts: Chargoi (2010), Doitsu (2022), Tancho (2022), Kujaku (2022), Hi Utusri (2022)

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  27. #14
    Sorry should if said I’ve already ordered most of the pipe work including all the 3” from the skimmer to drum. So want to utilise that now.. it’s not the fact I defiantly want 2 bd’s, I’m happy with one if that will work properly. But if you guys see a problem just with the 1 then I’ll have to put 2. Better get it right the first time. Didn’t want to add a seive. Would I defo need one if I put the skimmer through the bakki? With a separate pump..


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  29. #15
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Adult Champion NickK-UK's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Phippzy89 View Post
    Sorry should if said I’ve already ordered most of the pipe work including all the 3” from the skimmer to drum. So want to utilise that now.. it’s not the fact I defiantly want 2 bd’s, I’m happy with one if that will work properly. But if you guys see a problem just with the 1 then I’ll have to put 2. Better get it right the first time. Didn’t want to add a seive. Would I defo need one if I put the skimmer through the bakki? With a separate pump..

    The issue is todo with cross sectional area between 3" and 4" where they're being pulled from the same output. area is pi*r^2 so:

    Total of 19.64 sq inches as 100% of your flow:
    1.5^2 * pi = 7.07 sq inches = 36% skimmer
    2^2 * pi = 12.57 sq inches = 64% bottom drain

    So without adding valves to change the flows you'll get that split (will vary with bends etc on each pipe).
    14000l, my mutts: Chargoi (2010), Doitsu (2022), Tancho (2022), Kujaku (2022), Hi Utusri (2022)

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  31. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by NickK-UK View Post
    The issue is todo with cross sectional area between 3" and 4" where they're being pulled from the same output. area is pi*r^2 so:

    Total of 19.64 sq inches as 100% of your flow:
    1.5^2 * pi = 7.07 sq inches = 36% skimmer
    2^2 * pi = 12.57 sq inches = 64% bottom drain

    So without adding valves to change the flows you'll get that split (will vary with bends etc on each pipe).
    Hi mate, I’ve got a 3” and 4” ball valve to be fitted before the drum filter


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  33. #17
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai Sim's Avatar
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    I think if you stay with one bottom drain then you would be better to have the 4” pipework on the skimmer as nick has said.
    i have 3” pipe on my skimmer and would have possibly been better off with 4”, I could have pulled more water through it for the bakki.

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  35. #18
    I may just have to bite the bullet and go for a bigger drum with 3 inlets. That way I can have 2 4” bd’s as well as the 3” skimmer all into the drum and then run two pumps. 1 for the k1 chamber/pond returns. The other 1 for the bakki. Just don’t want to go over the top and break the budget if not necessary.

    Do you think this would the way to go then?


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  37. #19
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai Sim's Avatar
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    I think either way would work but two drains and the skimmer would allow good turnover for the bakki, if you add other filtration later you won’t be restricted.

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  39. #20
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    3" will be fine for your skimmer.
    I have 3" on mine and need to slightly close its valve so it doesn't steal the lions share of the flow and take the food literally from the koi's mouthes. And its 'competing' with 2 x 4" BDs on my pond.

    One thing I would have a think about though is your pipe layout.
    I know it seems nice to be able to buy only one pump, but your system would be a heck of a lot more versatile and adjustable flow wise if you you take 2 separate feeds from your drum:
    1. directly to pump and over shower
    2. to moving beds then pump and through heat pump back to the pond

    That method would give your the advantage of being able to increase the dwell time in your moving beds to help your bio function, whilst still moving a decent flow through the. drum to clean the particles out of the water and chuck a decent quantity of water over the shower. It could also help reduce your nitrate levels by not having the submerged media make the nitrate first before your shower media gets a look in.

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