Thread: DTF's New Pond

here's a video of the new bio chamber installation

Originally Posted by Ukzero

Nice work. It all looks so clean! My filter shed appears to house 75% of the UK spider population (feeding on an equally high number of tiny flying critters). The cobwebs aren't so bad, but there is spider sh#t absolutely everywhere!
Installed a UV fly trap, but it was overwhelmed

This is what the carnage looks like viewed on the CCTV system - worse in "real life".....

flies.jpg

yeah the spiders go crazy if you leave them alone
I hadn't been in my filterhouse much all year due to working on the house and the spider population exploded,
so i vacuumed them all up in the 'creature catcher 2000' and evicted them

Originally Posted by samp09

That's strange Dave I would have fully expected it to all be submerged in the moving bed by now, I know mine took a bit of time initially but I did stick 150l in (75l per barrel) straight off the bat then added a few litres at a time when I added more.

same when i added my k1 micro to a brand new pond it didn't sit so high out of the water.
you can see how much more plastic there is per piece in these pictures.

K1



K+

Originally Posted by samp09

It may or may not have helped but when I was getting mine going I kept pushing it under and moving it around so the stuff at the top would get submerged frequently. Might be worth a go

yes mate, been out there 3 or 4 times a day doing the same thing

there is a little more sinking everyday like maybe <5%, but it's taking a long time and i'm impatient
probably looking at november before it's all rolling...

Originally Posted by Alburglar

I thought it was an old wives tale, but some people swear that PP'ing it helps it sink amongst other things.
I'd be more of the opinion that it's ready when it's ready. No rush is there?

your not supposed to pp K+ like you do with K1
as there are supposed to be minerals and stuff in it to make it mature faster...

the only rush is i've taken the shower out which was about 3/4 of the bio filtration,
and i'm having to carefully manage the parameters until the new media has cycled.

it's only been a couple of weeks since the K+ media started rolling,
but it has coloured up and matured a lot fast than i though it would

I've bought another 50 litre bag of K+ to make 250 litres in the bio,
and hadn't noticed how much the new media had matured until i added the stark white new stuff

Your pond setup sounds like it’s shaping up to be a top-notch, well-thought-out project! The dimensions and structure seem perfect for creating a solid, durable pond that’ll last. Using a concrete collar and backfilling with concrete will add a lot of stability, especially with the re-bar and timberlocks. Given the robust setup, it looks like you’re setting yourself up for a strong, long-lasting build.
For filter placement, it sounds like a bit of a balancing act. Placing them next to the pond for cost efficiency is a good idea, but you’re right—maintenance might be easier if they’re in the shed. With longer pipe runs, gravity may be a bit limited with that water height, but your choice to go with pressure pipe and ball lever valves sounds smart. They’ll handle the flow much better and give you greater control, especially with the 4" and 2" pipes you’ve mentioned.
Your equipment list is impressive too, particularly the QK 25 drum and maxi shower. Have you thought about adding something like stainless steel deck drains to manage any overflow or runoff from rain? They’d work well alongside your setup for a clean look and reliable drainage.
The temporary pool from Germany will also help keep everything running smoothly while you transition. It’s always a bit of a hassle with customs, but worth it for the peace of mind knowing your fish will be safe during construction.

i couldn't fathom that post, it asked and answered it's own questions...