Welcome to Koi Forum. Is this your first visit? Register
TuffX Glass
Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1

    New pond and filter before, during, after...

    Please feel free to check out my webpage linked below to see descriptions and pictures of:
    My pond design ideas.
    Pond construction.
    Filter design.
    Filter construction.
    And my attempts to build in back ups and reduncancies.


    Link to webpage: https://www.ukzero.com/pond5M.htm

    For example - here is a photo showing halfway through the build of the pond itself:




    I hope it's of interest.


    Last edited by Ukzero; 20-11-2020 at 07:31 AM.

  2. Thanks freddyboy, Deanosbeano, Feline Thanked / Liked this Post
  3. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    11,123
    Thanks / Likes
    17023
    Quote Originally Posted by Ukzero View Post
    Scroll down through the webpage below to see my pond design and construction and filter design, construction and operation.

    https://www.ukzero.com/pond5M.htm

    I hope it's of interest.
    Great read love it mate. Looks great. Lot of thought gone into the build. And filter system. And a nice back up system.
    Impressed. Thanks for sharing.
    Fred


    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

  4. #3
    To answer some questions (originally posted in welcome to new members section):

    "Is there anything you would have done differently if you built it again?" - I might have increased the longitudinal floor slope. The koi range from 22"-28"+ and in a crystal clear pond their waste is very visible on the bottom. The existing slope, water circulation and fish movement does push it down to the bottom drain eventually, but not as quick as I would ideally like. Sometimes I use an old swimming pool brush to guide it down - quite theraputic!

    "Whats the gallonage and now you have finished what are you going to do with your time?" - 12,500 litres (including filter) and I am currently tinkering with our caravan and our classic car.

    And thanks for the kind comments posted in both sections.

  5. Thanks Letimgo, freddyboy, dbs, Feline, vegeemart59 Thanked / Liked this Post
  6. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai g mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Posts
    1,431
    Thanks / Likes
    2641
    That is one seriously impressive project and a great write up.
    Last edited by g mac; 20-11-2020 at 08:20 PM.

  7. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  8. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Spongebob's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    1,281
    Thanks / Likes
    2324
    Looks great! Slightly confused on the method for the floor though?
    Fibreglassed/5000 gals/4.5 m Tunnel/Spindrifter/Twin drums/Bio chambers/Beads/Showers/Remora ASHP

  9. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Spongebob View Post
    Slightly confused on the method for the floor though?
    By the time I had excavated down to the ring beam level at the base of the wall I was well down into stable undisturbed subsoil - the kind of thing building inspectors look for in deciding if your house extension foundation trench is deep enough.
    From there I carefully dug out (and pick axed out!) the shape of the pond base. This was then covered with about 70mm of sharp sand render, which is more than capable of acting as a smooth base to fibreglass onto. The same method is used to build liner swimming pools. I don't have a suitable picture of this pond build, but to give you an idea here is a pic of my DIY swimming pool base being rendered directly onto the subsoil by yours truly (at a previous house when I was younger - I did this one in 2 layers to get it perfectly smooth).
    You will get hairline cracks in this kind of base, but it won't move, so fine when covered in GRP (or a suitable liner). Hope this explains it.


  10. Thanks dbs, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  11. #7
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Djstiles999's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Forest of Dean
    Posts
    1,327
    Thanks / Likes
    1859
    No concrete base just into the soil?

  12. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Djstiles999 View Post
    No concrete base just into the soil?
    The swimming pool had a thicker base (approx 125mm plus 25mm smooth render), but the principle is the same and was not reinforced. One end of the swimming pool excavation did have very poor ground, so an additional concrete sub base had to be used there. But that's another story.
    Our koi ponds don't usually have people jumping up and down on the bottom, so thinner is ok. This method is well tried and tested - but only if the ground is stable and the pond has some type of strong lining.
    This would definitely not be a good idea if you were to use pond paint, etc.
    Please note that I am only referring to the pond floor and not the walls. In each of my ponds the walls have been on a reinforced concrete ring beam.
    Here is my last pond built the same way - it was finished in 1993 (hence grainy photo post render, pre GRP) and never had any issues:

    Last edited by Ukzero; 21-11-2020 at 03:46 PM.

  13. Thanks dbs, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  14. #9
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Djstiles999's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Forest of Dean
    Posts
    1,327
    Thanks / Likes
    1859
    Must admit I'm happier having a big slab underneath my pond to be honest although I’m on sand and stone with is pretty hard (and no clay) just wouldn’t want to take the chance

  15. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  16. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Djstiles999 View Post
    Must admit I'm happier having a big slab underneath my pond to be honest although I’m on sand and stone with is pretty hard (and no clay) just wouldn’t want to take the chance
    No problem. I wasn't trying to turn anyone to the dark side or say that the method I used (although well established) was any better.
    The reinforced concrete floor slab with walls built on its perimeter method is how many conventional coated or tiled swimming pools are constructed.
    Looking at threads of recent builds on this forum I can see that this appears to be the perferred go to option for Koi keepers here. Particularly those who are serious and build an often beautiful out door aquarium as opposed to an ornamental garden pond which can also support Koi. My ponds have been the latter rather than the former.

    My floor method is common for liner swimming pools and the GRP in my pond is in effect a liner. At least nobody should be concerned about the reinforced concrete walls round my pond which will be stronger than any non-reinforced block construction above or below ground level.
    One advantage of the method I used is that it allows you to more easlily play around with sloping the floor to guide waste to the bottom drain.
    Last edited by Ukzero; 22-11-2020 at 02:23 PM.
    My DIY ponds from 1988 until present day.
    All can be found here:
    https://www.ukzero.com/pond.htm

  17. Thanks Letimgo, dbs Thanked / Liked this Post
 

 

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:12 AM. Online Koi Mag Forum
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3
Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

vBulletin Improved By vBFoster® (Lite Version), © UltimateScheme, Ltd.