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Thread: New pond build

  1. #1

    New pond build

    Hi all,

    I’m building a 9,000litre pond, bottom drain fed to eazy pod and return into the pond after pump and UV. Conscious this is pushing it for an eazy pod’s capacity so I am installing a second line, which will be skimmer fed using a second external pump and then back to the pond via a bakki shower. Plan is to fit the pond with a liner rather than Fiberglass, mainly due to cost, weather and what I am able to do myself!

    I’ve managed to muddle through having lurked on here (thanks!) and on YouTube but have some questions around the skimmer fit and would appreciate a steer - some questions re window installation may follow!

    I have bought the kockney koi wide mouth skimmer with the narrow outlet fitting - noted that a lot people have converted this to 3” or 4”. Just wanted to check if I will need to do this as well or is the small outlet OK to run through a pump and then to a bakki shower?

    I am not intending to use a sieve after the skimmer as I am tied with the filter space etc. Do you recommend fitting a larger outlet anyway and reduce it down with a rubber connector in case I connect it to a sieve or a second eazy pod in the future?

    Have been slowly building it since June so looking forward to finishing the job! Thanks in advance for the help

    Thanks

    Paul


    Last edited by Athers6; 08-11-2020 at 11:21 PM.

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  3. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Athers6 View Post
    Hi all,

    I’m building a 9,000litre pond, bottom drain fed to eazy pod and return into the pond after pump and UV. Conscious this is pushing it for an eazy pod’s capacity so I am installing a second line, which will be skimmer fed using a second external pump and then back to the pond via a bakki shower. Plan is to fit the pond with a liner rather than Fiberglass, mainly due to cost, weather and what I am able to do myself!

    I’ve managed to muddle through having lurked on here (thanks!) and on YouTube but have some questions around the skimmer fit and would appreciate a steer - some questions re window installation may follow!

    I have bought the kockney koi wide mouth skimmer with the narrow outlet fitting - noted that a lot people have converted this to 3” or 4”. Just wanted to check if I will need to do this as well or is the small outlet OK to run through a pump and then to a bakki shower?

    I am not intending to use a sieve after the skimmer as I am tied with the filter space etc. Do you recommend fitting a larger outlet anyway and reduce it down with a rubber connector in case I connect it to a sieve or a second eazy pod in the future?

    Have been slowly building it since June so looking forward to finishing the job! Thanks in advance for the help

    Thanks

    Paul
    Personally I would go minimum 3 inch to 4 inch. For the future. For more flow.
    I converted my skimmer. From 1 1/2 inch to 3 inch.
    Then rubber boot to 4 inch. Gravity fed to ultra sieve. Returned to pond mid returns.
    Fred

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

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  5. #3
    easy pods are not bad, but they clog up and overflow very quickly

    a sieve or drum filter prior will prevent the easy pod clogging up

    ps i can make a drum filter for you .

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  7. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Gazkoi's Avatar
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    Welcome to EKF mate and soon to be Koi keeping.

    Any future proofing at this stage is a good investment.

    Cheers

    Gaz
    Hobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.

    Always happy to help!!

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  9. #5
    Thanks guys appreciate the responses so far - would post a progress picture but not sure how!

    I’m struggling to find a 6 inch to 3 inch boot connector for the skimmer, 6 to 4 are easy enough to find so I may use that and then reduce before the pump. Few more questions:

    - what flow rate do you recommend on a skimmer line to a bakki shower? I have a 20000 varipump for the bottom drain/eazypod line but think a 10000 should be sufficient for the skimmer line? Do people tend to have different flow rates for their lines?
    - the more I read everyone suggests using a sieve after the skimmer but before the pump and bakki shower. I am short of space but wondered if anyone can recommend a cheap / small sieve that will ‘do a job’. Appreciate the comment above re using a sieve before the pod as well
    - I expected the kockney koi skimmer to sit on top of the bricks for the wall but the gap between the mouth and the sieve / basket section is less than 220mm in width, so unless there is an extension to the wide mouth version I think I need to cut out part of my wall to slot the outlet section (otherwise It will be too high) but don’t want to weaken the already laid wall. Is this common for such installations? Wondering whether to return the skimmer and bite the bullet for a more expensive one that fits without cutting out the wall

    Thanks again and sorry for the questions - helps me think things through before committing!

    After fitting the skimmer the next steps will be:
    - buying the liner and underlay, potentially insulation too
    - cutting and laying the remaining bricks and ordering windows to fit
    - fun and games then start with the pipe work given limited space!
    Last edited by Athers6; 11-11-2020 at 01:31 AM.

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  11. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Athers6 View Post
    Thanks guys appreciate the responses so far - would post a progress picture but not sure how!

    I’m struggling to find a 6 inch to 3 inch boot connector for the skimmer, 6 to 4 are easy enough to find so I may use that and then reduce before the pump. Few more questions:

    - what flow rate do you recommend on a skimmer line to a bakki shower? I have a 20000 varipump for the bottom drain/eazypod line but think a 10000 should be sufficient for the skimmer line? Do people tend to have different flow rates for their lines?
    - the more I read everyone suggests using a sieve after the skimmer but before the pump and bakki shower. I am short of space but wondered if anyone can recommend a cheap / small sieve that will ‘do a job’. Appreciate the comment above re using a sieve before the pod as well
    - I expected the kockney koi skimmer to sit on top of the bricks for the wall but the gap between the mouth and the sieve / basket section is less than 220mm in width, so unless there is an extension to the wide mouth version I think I need to cut out part of my wall to slot the outlet section (otherwise It will be too high) but don’t want to weaken the already laid wall. Is this common for such installations? Wondering whether to return the skimmer and bite the bullet for a more expensive one that fits without cutting out the wall

    Thanks again and sorry for the questions - helps me think things through before committing!

    After fitting the skimmer the next steps will be:
    - buying the liner and underlay, potentially insulation too
    - cutting and laying the remaining bricks and ordering windows to fit
    - fun and games then start with the pipe work given limited space!
    Most skimmers fit into the walls. Not on top. Lol. Because of water levels.
    Here is a rubber boot link for 6/4 inch rubber reducer.
    https://aquatix-2u.co.uk/products/po...30354290802751

    My skimmer ultra sieve has a 15000lph pump on it. For circulation flow on mid returns. Lol. My bakki shower I run a 30000lph ea vario pump set at 13000lph
    Reason it's set at that flow. My nexus 320
    Drop in draco. Is before the bakki shower.
    And any higher the nexus water level drops to much.
    So beware of flow rates from filters lol
    Fred

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    Last edited by freddyboy; 11-11-2020 at 07:04 AM.

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  13. #7
    Thanks Freddy. From your message I think I will get the 20000 varipump to be on the safe regarding the skimmer flow rate. I've attached a pond progress picture and also a picture of the skimmer which hopefully shows you what I mean regarding having to angle grind part of the wall to fit it (otherwise it is too high) - I thought the mouth would extend far enough that this wouldn't be an issue!

    Trying to decide whether to just get a different skimmer and still on the lookout for a cheap / small sieve.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Athers6; 11-11-2020 at 08:05 PM.

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  15. #8
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Gazkoi's Avatar
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    Hi Athens,

    I have some of these in stock if you are interested.

    Cheers

    Gaz
    Hobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.

    Always happy to help!!

  16. #9
    Hi all, slight change of plan with the pond. I’ll be getting it fiberglassed and have got a HF30 drum filter and a Jbr skimmer.

    Plan is to run the BD to the drum, pump and return direct through a bakki shower.

    For the skimmer, plan is to run it through the eazy pod, pump, then UV (as at a slower rate vs bakki return) then mid return.

    Just got a couple of questions:

    - the skimmer line exit is 4inch pipe so concerned about it messing up the pull from the bottom drain (and also cost of a 4” ball valve). Do you recommend reducing to 2” or going with the 4”?

    - general question around what pipework is suggested, either 1.5” or 2”? Should I mix it up on the two returns? 2” seems easier to find connectors for but my UV 55 has 1.5” connectors

    Have seen mixed views on the forum so just trying to get my head around what connectors I need

    Cheers - any help appreciated

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  18. #10
    Go big, you can balance the flows with the valves (although I’ve never managed it myself lol).
    The difference in cost between a 4” valve and a 2” valve on the overall cost of a pond is negligible.
    You can always reduce the pipe size down but it’s a bitch to make everything bigger.
    Coastal koi valley valves are decent for the money.
    There are cheaper ones (KK) but never used one, I suspect they’d be ok.
    It’s the smaller ones people have had issues with.


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  19. #11
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    Good shout re fibreglass and drum. It adds a fair chunk to the build cost but you'll be regretting it if you didn't.

    I went for 3" on skimmer. But if you go for 3" or 4" you really need a ball valve between skimmer and drum so you can control flow and isolate drum/skimmer if the need arises. Again it's a fair amount for just a valve, But you need something durable that will last.

    For your returns I personally would go for 2". What you don't want is to build it all and then later put a bigger pump on but find you can't get enough flow as your pipework is too restrictive.

    I see getting it right now will future proof it in case you change anything.



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    13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window

  20. #12
    Great stuff thanks guys, I will go for 2inch pipework and 4inch plus a valve from a skimmer.

    The drum has two inlets/outlets - do you recommend putting the skimmer to the drum or just straight to the pod? Conscious I don’t want to have difficulties regulating flows so makes sense to have just the BD feeding into the drum

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  22. #13
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    I've put my skimmer and BD pipework into a drum. I normally leave the ball valve on the skimmer line 75% open to ensure the bottom drain provides the lion share of flow. Works fine for me and I'm pretty sure most people with drums have both skimmer and BDs feeding them.

    If you have a drum it pretty much negates the need for the eazypod.

    Another benefit to having those valves before your drum is you can close them both off but leave pump running. Allow water level to drop in the drum (probably turn drum off temporarily) and then just open the bottom drain valve but leave skimmer valve closed. Doing this every now and again is good for flushing any crap that's settled out in the BD pipework.


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    13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window

  23. #14
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    The other benefit of that is it saves you having to keep cleaning the eazypod out. Let the drum do the cleaning for you.

    Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
    13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window

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  25. #15

    New pond build

    Hi,
    I run both my bd and skimmer into the drum as well.
    My skimmer is running on a 2 inch pipe though.
    I also do the same as twhitenosugar and flush out the bd and skimmer line on a regular basis by closing of the valves.
    Cheers
    Ady


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  27. #16
    Thanks all, sorry tying myself in knots with the pipework!

    I’m now thinking of converting the Jbr skimmer outlet to 3inch using a reducing bush to save space and money on the pipework/valve. Any ideas how to connect this to the drum without solvent welding as I’m not sure they sell 3 to 4 inch elbows?

    Happy to keep original plan just to use 4inch pipe if effort not worthwhile

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  29. #17
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Gazkoi's Avatar
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    Hi mate,

    Personally I always attach to ‘kit’ with runners.

    Just let me know if you need any and I will order for you mate.

    Cheers

    Gaz

    Quote Originally Posted by Athers6 View Post
    Thanks all, sorry tying myself in knots with the pipework!

    I’m now thinking of converting the Jbr skimmer outlet to 3inch using a reducing bush to save space and money on the pipework/valve. Any ideas how to connect this to the drum without solvent welding as I’m not sure they sell 3 to 4 inch elbows?

    Happy to keep original plan just to use 4inch pipe if effort not worthwhile
    Hobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.

    Always happy to help!!

  30. #18
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Athers6 View Post
    Thanks all, sorry tying myself in knots with the pipework!

    I’m now thinking of converting the Jbr skimmer outlet to 3inch using a reducing bush to save space and money on the pipework/valve. Any ideas how to connect this to the drum without solvent welding as I’m not sure they sell 3 to 4 inch elbows?

    Happy to keep original plan just to use 4inch pipe if effort not worthwhile
    I used a 3" rubber elbow then a 3" to "4 straight rubber boot.

    Gaz, what do you mean by runner? Just intrigued.

    Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
    13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window

 

 

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