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  1. #1

    New Member, New build, New to ponds!!

    Hi All,

    I'm new to the forum and about to embark on my 1st pond build. I'm coming from the aquarium world so in a way not totally new. I'm realising pretty quickly though how much you pond guys have to scale stuff up.

    Anyways. I'm planning my build at the moment. The pond is going to be 4m x 2.5m x 1.6m

    I wanted to put my idea out there to see if I'm about to walk into any avoidable pitfalls.

    I'm fortunate enough to own an excavator and concreting equipment. So the plan was to excavate my hole approx 4.5 x 3m and approx 1m deep. Mesh the bottom and fill with concrete to 150mm with my bottom drain and pipe in place. (is an air fed bottom drain worth putting in? whats the benefit of this?)

    Then build up four rows of hollow block and fill with concrete. I could push some rebar in also although I'm not sure if this is necessary as its in the ground.

    I would like the above ground section to be planed treated timbers 190x 90 layed on their wide side. The only way I can think of connecting these to the blockwork is to drill the concrete filled sections in the blockwork and resin fix M12 threaded bar. Drop five rows of timbers over the threaded rods and bolt down with recessed nuts. Can also timbertite all the corners and overlaps. Then the last timber on top fixed down with Timbertites only. Or could these timbers be stood upright? It would cut the quantity in half.

    Or is it simpler to complete the whole lot in hollow block then timber clad it to get the wood finish?

    I was going to use a Draco drum and bio unit. Also a skimmer with sieve. I do have trees surrounding the garden. Also a UV.

    I 'm hoping this is about right. I'm just a bit unsure of the timber to block. It's a lot of water to restrain.



  2. #2
    Well the dig has started. so I think this is going to turn into a build thread. Not the best weather to dig holes but I had a spare hour today so out came the mini ex.

    One problem I've noticed straight away is that I'm finding alot of glass in the ground. So I'm going to have to make sure the hole is clear before the liner goes in.

    This will be a bit of a slow build as work is real busy at the moment.
    I had to stop digging here as I need to get a telehandler across near the end of the pond next weekend and I don't want it to cave the pond side in.
    dig1.jpgdig3.jpg
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by kitsune; 08-08-2020 at 08:42 PM.

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  4. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai algarth's Avatar
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    Hi there In my opinion i would not be without an airated bottom drain..I also would build from the slab to the top of the pond with 4" blocks laid flat then clad the outside with timber. Alternatively just before ground level change to normal block on edge and build an outer brick skin like what i did.007.jpg
    Quote Originally Posted by kitsune View Post
    Hi All,

    I'm new to the forum and about to embark on my 1st pond build. I'm coming from the aquarium world so in a way not totally new. I'm realising pretty quickly though how much you pond guys have to scale stuff up.

    Anyways. I'm planning my build at the moment. The pond is going to be 4m x 2.5m x 1.6m

    I wanted to put my idea out there to see if I'm about to walk into any avoidable pitfalls.

    I'm fortunate enough to own an excavator and concreting equipment. So the plan was to excavate my hole approx 4.5 x 3m and approx 1m deep. Mesh the bottom and fill with concrete to 150mm with my bottom drain and pipe in place. (is an air fed bottom drain worth putting in? whats the benefit of this?)

    Then build up four rows of hollow block and fill with concrete. I could push some rebar in also although I'm not sure if this is necessary as its in the ground.

    I would like the above ground section to be planed treated timbers 190x 90 layed on their wide side. The only way I can think of connecting these to the blockwork is to drill the concrete filled sections in the blockwork and resin fix M12 threaded bar. Drop five rows of timbers over the threaded rods and bolt down with recessed nuts. Can also timbertite all the corners and overlaps. Then the last timber on top fixed down with Timbertites only. Or could these timbers be stood upright? It would cut the quantity in half.

    Or is it simpler to complete the whole lot in hollow block then timber clad it to get the wood finish?

    I was going to use a Draco drum and bio unit. Also a skimmer with sieve. I do have trees surrounding the garden. Also a UV.

    I 'm hoping this is about right. I'm just a bit unsure of the timber to block. It's a lot of water to restrain.

  5. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Hassai Mike Bass's Avatar
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    I agree with Algarth I am currently building a 3200 gallon pond similar in size 4.5m long x1.8m wide x 1.8m deep ( internal measurements) with concrete 7n block flat below ground & on edge with brick facing on 2 Sides (rest flat on other 2) 2 aerated bottom drains but because of the depth of the airBDs the concrete slab 300ml thick reinforced with metal mesh. Two windows one on end & one on side with three low level returns positioned to give anti clockwise flow below the windows directing debris into the BDs &skimmer.A9719F1B-AC30-41C1-9E2C-0D767C6A119B.jpg

    You have the advantage of equipment to save some of the pain of digging so build it once & build in redundancy & spare capacity where you can You won’t regret it.
    1kGal BD/Skim RDF/UV/k1 2.3kGal 2windows 2airBD/skim Sieve/Eazypod RDFcombi+bakki 3xVP/UV,ASHP

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  7. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai algarth's Avatar
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    If you can afford it forget the liner and have it glassed Ken on here will do a superb job for you and you will never have to worry about punctured liners
    Quote Originally Posted by kitsune View Post
    Well the dig has started. so I think this is going to turn into a build thread. Not the best weather to dig holes but I had a spare hour today so out came the mini ex.

    One problem I've noticed straight away is that I'm finding alot of glass in the ground. So I'm going to have to make sure the hole is clear before the liner goes in.

    This will be a bit of a slow build as work is real busy at the moment.
    I had to stop digging here as I need to get a telehandler across near the end of the pond next weekend and I don't want it to cave the pond side in.
    dig1.jpgdig3.jpg

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  9. #6
    I didn't really consider fibre glassing it but it would make for a worry free pond. I've no idea of budget for glassing but I take it we are talking around 2k?
    If I can fit it in the budget I will. I'm sure a box weld liner will be a third of that already.

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  11. #7
    Well it looks like I'm defo in this for the long run now. I'm getting a small front loader delivered on Friday with the plan to move all the materials down the garden. 1st mistake I've made is that I didn't realise tradepoint don't deliver on pallets. If you want the pallet they are £25 each!!!! Normally I can't get rid of the things. I have loads at work. So now I have 4 pallet loads of block sitting on the ground that I'm going to have to move by hand onto pallets. Great.
    20200812_115328.jpg
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  13. #8
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai algarth's Avatar
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    Have you not got any of those smaller humans to help shift those blocks???? Its amazing what a £20 note will do!!
    Quote Originally Posted by kitsune View Post
    Well it looks like I'm defo in this for the long run now. I'm getting a small front loader delivered on Friday with the plan to move all the materials down the garden. 1st mistake I've made is that I didn't realise tradepoint don't deliver on pallets. If you want the pallet they are £25 each!!!! Normally I can't get rid of the things. I have loads at work. So now I have 4 pallet loads of block sitting on the ground that I'm going to have to move by hand onto pallets. Great.
    20200812_115328.jpg

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  15. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by algarth View Post
    Have you not got any of those smaller humans to help shift those blocks???? Its amazing what a £20 note will do!!
    Do you know what. I was thinking exactly the same thing. I could make it a competition. 10p a block. Shift as many as you can. Theres 364 of them lol.

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  17. #10
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Welcome and good luck with the build. Lots of photos lol
    Fred

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

  18. #11
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion dbs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kitsune View Post
    Do you know what. I was thinking exactly the same thing. I could make it a competition. 10p a block. Shift as many as you can. Theres 364 of them lol.
    Hahaha sounds perfect.... good luck with the build

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  20. #12
    Senior Member Rank = Hassai Mike Bass's Avatar
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    I am sure we can find some chimneys to clean once they’ve done that
    1kGal BD/Skim RDF/UV/k1 2.3kGal 2windows 2airBD/skim Sieve/Eazypod RDFcombi+bakki 3xVP/UV,ASHP

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  22. #13
    This is the stage I'm at for the moment. I've got my shuttering in (just to give me something to level off of), mot 1 is in. This needs compacting. I'm going to glue up my bottom drain tomorrow and put my mesh in. I may be able to get concrete in next week. It looks like I'm going to be around 12,000litres
    I'm going to use a wheel barrow service so a bit more hard work. I've used a pump a couple of times in the past and while convenient it adds about £400 to the delivery in this area. That £400 will go towards a grab truck to remove the soil I've dug out. I did consider mixing it myself but I doubt I will be able to mix it fast enough. It's around 2 cubic meters of concrete.
    I've ordered my Draco drum and bio, which will be a few weeks. This should be about right by the time I get the wall built.
    pond dug.jpg
    Only thing I'm not too sure about is where to put my returns. I've done a little sketch of the returns. Will this work or is there a better tried and tested way of doing them? Maybe in diagonal opposite corners to push back towards the skimmer.
    Also does anyone know if I can connect my bottom drain into one inlet on my draco and my skimmer into the other inlet? or will this cause problems with flow? I get the impression the bottom drain is going to flow a lot better than the skimmer. My skimmer outlet is 110mm.
    drawing.jpg
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    Last edited by kitsune; 30-08-2020 at 07:59 PM.

  23. #14
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion dbs's Avatar
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    That is looking a nice size pond

    Have you got fish already or all going to be new ??

  24. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by dbs View Post
    That is looking a nice size pond

    Have you got fish already or all going to be new ??
    Completely new. I'm coming from the aquarium world. I sold my aquarium in my house move and had the room for the pond and here I am. I popped into a koi dealer last week and saw some lovely koi, but realistically I won't be stocking until next year.
    If I hadn't sold my aquarium I would buy some tosai and use it like a growing on tank lol.

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  26. #16
    Senior Member Rank = Hassai Mike Bass's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kitsune View Post
    Completely new. I'm coming from the aquarium world. I sold my aquarium in my house move and had the room for the pond and here I am. I popped into a koi dealer last week and saw some lovely koi, but realistically I won't be stocking until next year.
    If I hadn't sold my aquarium I would buy some tosai and use it like a growing on tank lol.
    I would be wary of placing Koi in an aquarium unless you have dramatically increased the filter system.I tried placing fry into an aquarium but lost half of a batch in one day on the hottest day despite doubling up the filter & air system. The rest only survived when I placed them in a tank that was within part of a 1000gallon pond & an 8 ft bio chamber with matting/alfagrog/moving beds that had been established for a couple of years.
    1kGal BD/Skim RDF/UV/k1 2.3kGal 2windows 2airBD/skim Sieve/Eazypod RDFcombi+bakki 3xVP/UV,ASHP

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  28. #17
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion dbs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kitsune View Post
    Completely new. I'm coming from the aquarium world. I sold my aquarium in my house move and had the room for the pond and here I am. I popped into a koi dealer last week and saw some lovely koi, but realistically I won't be stocking until next year.
    If I hadn't sold my aquarium I would buy some tosai and use it like a growing on tank lol.
    Ahhh cool, you will be longing the day to get some I am sure

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  30. #18
    Well I welded up my BD today using Weld-on 725

    I have to admit I expected it to melt into the pipe a bit more but it almost seems like a heavy superglue with acetone base. Smells like acetone anyway.

    Only issue I did have was that it's a bit too fast. On my 1st joint I got it pushed fully home into the BD but it set up before I got to twist the pipe slightly.

    I think I will need to cap off the BD. Fill the upright 110mm pipe with water and cap off. Then pressurise the air line slightly to see if I have any leaks. Just 5psi or so and see if the pressure drops off. I'm guessing it won't see pressure as such as it's gravity fed. But I can only imagine what a nightmare a leak would be once concreted and fibreglassed.

    I found this interesting test on Primed vs non-primed solvent welds. https://www.plumbingsupply.com/the-g...er-debate.html

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  32. #19
    Hi all, just thought I would post an update here since my last pics of a hole in the ground.

    This is the stage Im at, blockwork done. K rend on.



    I did have a question about pipe fittings. So far I've been exclusively using pressure pipe and associated fittings. I ordered a load of valves and fittings from fleabay as the price was good, the valves are fine, but I've been sent a load of schedule 40 fittings which are considerably thinner than the pressure pipe fittings I've been using. I've actually got all of the fittings below ground already so anything I'm doing now is accessible. Do you think these schedule 40 fittings will suffice?

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  34. #20
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Alburglar's Avatar
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    Yeah. Pressure stuff underground. Less important above ground.
    2660 Gallons. 4" Bottom Drain and Skimmer. Draco Solum 16 Drum. Anoxic Filtration. Air lift returns.

 

 
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