Thread: New/ old pond installation

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Don't know why the photos have come out the wrong way but we could house all of the stuff in the potting shed next to the pond if it was to be above ground
The second pic shows the layout better

To be fair I hadn't thought about heating, and I certainly don't want to have to get a degree in chemistry just because we've got a pond.

Maybe I need to come at it from the other direction and look at what is the biggest filter/s I can fit in to keep the water conditions right and then work back to the pond size, if that's the case, looking online is a minefield trying to get a straight answer given all the options.

Nice sized pond your planning there! I agree with trying to avoid pump in the pond. Your be having to pull it out and clean it when it gets clogged.


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Would I be right in thinking of a large drum filter, with maybe the multi bay filter used for something else ?

Also initially I was thinking about raising the pond up so I could do away with the fence, which would help with the gravity fed system but then increases the volume, I'm going round in circles again

The multibay does have a vortex if that helps

I think it’s all part of the fun! You end up obsessing and researching the hell out of it. Have a look at my build, I hand dug my pond out as I wanted it in ground then realised once I had all the info I needed from the guys in here and research the filter needed to be the same level! I nearly gave up but so glad I didn’t as the pond runs like a dream and I only need to do some maintenance once a month or so if that.


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This might be a daft question but if I put in a bottom drain, that gets set in concrete ?
Am I best to then build the sides up with blocks or can it be left with the earth making up slanted sides, would the weight of the water hold the sides in place ??

And once built, fibreglass or liner ??

If you raise the pond and what you dig out for the foundation for the walls can be used to fill the existing pond to get to the required height. Your right in thinking of a drum filter and maybe the multi bay can be converted into a moving bed bio filter.
The best way is to have concrete blocks right to the bottom of the pond and then a concrete base with the bottom drain in it. You can put in a concrete collar at ground level and build from that, but the first option is best.

I did a concrete collar and then went a block higher then ground level, went for rubber liner. Thank god I did as my water table is so high and seen people with liners floating up in the middle of wet season, the extra block seems to be enough weight to keep it in place all year. Can imagine the liner will give way in the future but just didn’t have the cash or patience to fiberglass once the Mrs gave me the thumbs up

Martin59,
So my bonus, if it can be seen as one, is that I can do all the brick and blockwork, digging out and concreting myself, I'm in the trade so the labour side of things is free gratis, when I do it I only want to do it once, hopefully.

Ajm,
I wasn't planning on altering the shape too much, the wife has kinda given me free range so long as the bridge stays, we do have a Heron that visits us occasionally and the dogs tend to see him off if they see him, that was one of my reasons for getting rid of the shelves that the plants sit on.
Pigeons are a real pain for sitting on the bridge though.

james9489,
We do have a Dyke running at the back of the Laurels the top of the bank is level with our grass, it's never got high enough to worry about but you never say never,,, (Part of the thinking behind raising the pond up).

So the best large drum filter is ?????

Are we looking something like a nexus 320+,
Oase proficlear
Draco
Filtreau

To be honest at this stage they are all just names

My 2 pence on filtration, I went for a mid range drum filtreau combo next. It hasn’t missed a beat since Aug 2023 but can suspect it’s going to fail sometime and the parts are hard to source and customer service non existent. If I was to go again I would have held out for a higher premium version like a burton or an Oase. Iv also started to look back at the stability and reliability of the nexus, having minimal mechanics to go wrong


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Originally Posted by JazzaM

Aaah OK, told you I didn't know much, what about something like a Filtreau Combi 50 XL, or stick to two smaller drums ??

I think we must have been answering at the same time, so not a thumbs up for Filtreau then.

Just checked the 50xl out and it looks like it covers your volume if under 80k litres? I mean mine has been great so far but heard horrors of the model before failing and emptying ponds so that have a slightly tainted name. I think and hope they fixed that on my combi next 2 model and the newer stuff is looking really good. If you could stretch to a better brand I think it would be worth it


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Just had a look at Burtons, just for the idiot in me, what's the difference between their drum filter and the through flow filter ?

I’m was also in the building game, retired now, and the pond I have now is the biggest and most complex one I’ve ever built, it’s all so my last pond I’m going to build, i don’t think I’ve got another one in me, those concrete blocks seem to get heavier and heavier.
I to went for a concrete collar as James did as the cost was spiralling out of control.
The best advice I can give is plan your pond and have it set in your mind of exactly what you want and research everything, yes things will change during the build but as long as you end up with what you want you’ll have something you can enjoy for many years