Any pond master creeping this board? (1 Viewer)

[Kungfu4u]

In a week or so my patio and slab will be poured so on to my next project, a koi pond. The dimension is roughly 10X6X3, though that could change between now and groundbreaking. Below are some of the ? I'd like answered please.

Do I really need a bottom drain? Can I get by with a DIY plastic tub filter?

Cheapest place for liner I found online @ billboardtarp.com. Any other suggestion?

Does anyone know what is the spillway in the below pic is made out of?

http://ezpong.com/wp-content/themes/EZPONG/images/jqzoom/zoom.png

To get power to the pond I plan on dispatching heavy duty extension cord using metal conduit bury underground with GCFI outlet adapter plug into an outlet. Not sure how reliable the adapter is going to be. GUess we'll find out when the first person get cooked Thought?


Ben please feel free to chime in


Happy reefing...I meant Happy pond-ing!

 

[rparker2112]

I had a pond....billboard tarps are very good quality. Of course they are used but in very good shape. Mine had a little bitty pin hole near the edge. They sent me another no questions asked.

I didn't have a bottom drain, but my waterfall pump sat in the very bottom in a diy filter (milk crate, blue A/C filter stuff, lava rock and pump sitting inside it all, still have it if you want it, free with pump). I put a tee in my waterfall line with a valve so I could hook up a hose to it and pump it all out.

My waterfall was blocks built up and the liner placed down and rocks around it.

My pond is now dug up and filled in. Alot of work for sure

Sent with the power of children's screams!!!

 

[Kungfu4u]

Thanks for your generosity, I picked up a used mag from my cousin yesterday. Where did you get your rocks from? Love to see a pic of your pond if you have any.

 

[rparker2112]

The lava rock I got from a yard supply, lowes has it too but the yard supply place was almost like stealing it. It was bagged. Just plain ole lava rock, same basic concept as live rock. Had around fist sized pieces.

Sent with the power of children's screams!!!

 

[Kungfu4u]

Thank you !

 

[OceansX]

Do I really need a bottom drain? Can I get by with a DIY plastic tub filter?

Cheapest place for liner I found online @ billboardtarp.com. Any other suggestion?

Does anyone know what is the spillway in the below pic is made out of?

http://ezpong.com/wp-content/themes/EZPONG/images/jqzoom/zoom.png

To get power to the pond I plan on dispatching heavy duty extension cord using metal conduit bury underground with GCFI outlet adapter plug into an outlet. Not sure how reliable the adapter is going to be. GUess we'll find out when the first person get cooked Thought?

I am NOT a pond master, though I'm working on it. I have a ~20' x ~12' x ~4' pond, roughly 15 years old. I did the extension cord in conduit with GFCI. Make sure it's reliable. You don't want to kill yourself and or anyone.

I wish I had a bottom drain. When I made the pond it was a potential point of failure. I think nowadays they are reliable. Hopefully, Ben will chime in

Look into getting some surface skimmers like a pools, Dolphin pumps, and a bog/gravel filter. Nelson Water Gardens in Katy is my prime retailer. I added the surface skimmers after I tired of a dirty pond surface: leaves, pollen, etc. Also, avoid a Mag pump. You'll end up paying more for electrical and impeller/cover maintenance costs on that. I started my pond with two Mags a 12 & 18. Finally, look into a bog-type gravel filter. Basically, it's a place for biological filtration. You can add the surface skimmer(s), Dolphin pump later, but plan out the bog/gravel filter now, though I did expand mine last fall (added more koi)

I haven't checked out our local pond clubs, but let me know what you think:

lonestarkoi.com/

Houston Pond Society

 

[frankc]

I don't have a pond, but the Lone Star Koi club has a pond tour every year, usually in May or June. I went one time, and it was awesome - you can learn a lot and see some inspiring ponds.

 

[Diesel]

...........

 

[Kungfu4u]

I'm still trying to grasp the concept of adding a bottom drain. Some swear on their first born a skimmer is nice but not needed, while other said it's a gold standard in the hobby. I think I'm going with the latter since Ben pointed out the ease of maintenance trumps everything else.

No liner should be expose even on the walls, bottom? How can one go about achieving this? I can cover it on the outer rims, unless additional shelves/ledges are dug in I don't see how I can accommodate this.

Is is your bottom drain gravity fed, air pump or directly plumbed into a pump? 30 bones on a single pump a month sounds mad crazy
can an I use this pump to T off a waterfall and a filter?


3170GPH Submersible Pond Waterfall Fountain Pump 33ft Cord Max Head 15ft 175W | eBay



Lonestarkoi.com, houston pond society. Looking them up as soon as I get off later this evening. Thanks!

 

[Kungfu4u]

Meant to say bottom drain not skimmer.

 

[Diesel]

............

 

[Kungfu4u]

Being a noobie it is natural to ask questions to see what's best for my situation, not meant to undermine or side step your expertise. Sorry if it came across that way. I'm just at a cross road whether to install one or not for I hear bottom drain are not accident proof in most ponds. However, from what you mentioned earlier it's probably best to have one and I'm leaning toward that idea.

Oceansx

ideally Id love to put in a pond your size although space is a limiting factor in my yard. Already got a dog house, concrete slab, and a shed. Length wise I can pull it off, for width I'm bound to bump into things.

 

[Tangs]

I have 2 small ponds. One is shaded and just has regular gold fish in it with no algae. It has a waterfall using new fresh water and is put on now and then. I have a bridge that you walk over to get to my patio set. For a liner I just used regular high grade clear home depot plastic with old carpeting under it. The other is a hard plastic pond shell with regular gold fish and water plants. Including red flowering lily pads. The water has a slight green colour because of algae. The plants do consume some of the algae and I use my water hose on low to put fresh water into the pond to reduce the green colour now and then. I do not feed my fish while they are outside there is plenty of bugs and larva for them to eat. I bring in my fish from September to April cus we have a cold winter. September because in October the water is warmer at the bottom of the pond and harder to catch. Both do not have filtration. Apparently you can not have water plants if you have koi. Make sure your ponds are deep enough. This will help the fish escape from predators like racoons. No drain as well.

 

[Kungfu4u]

Call me weird but I like the look of a matted green algae bottom. Has a natural look and feel to it. How long have you had the clear plastic liner for? I heard they worked out long term for some, while other claimed plastic tarp lasted only a few months before they begin to crack,leak. Did you double layer them for added insurance? I think goldfish can winter over in harshest condition but I wouldn't risk it being you're in Canada.

 

[reeftopia]

I belong to lone star koi club and they swear by bottom drains. Myself a little leary about a drain at the very bottom. Just like our reefs if their is a break
in the line you will go out there to find a pile of dead fish. Would tell you my mistake was to add some small gravel at the bottom and that hold deitrus.

 

[Kungfu4u]

I'm steering clear of small gravels for the same reason, they're like detritus sink as soon as you lay them down. Where can I find nice size chunks of rocks or even slates? Been looking up yard supply but most are wholesalers in my area.

 

[Tangs]

Ya when we get ice forming at the top it traps the gasses from rotting leaves and what not. Gasses build up and kills the fish. So I have them in an aquarium over winter in my basement. Pros and cons to living everywhere we have cooler summers and no hurricanes. knock on wood. We do not have to stay inside when it snows like when it rains cus snow is dryer. I have had the same high quality 1 ply home depot plastic for at least 20 years now. As I said you have to put old carpeting under it unless you are on sand possibly. I have found that some people do not like green slimy algae so I try and keep in down in my plant pond. I also have made mine sort of child proof using posts to keep an accident from happening. I remove them when company comes over to make the ponds look nicer... Jim

 

[Kungfu4u]

Where are the old carpets when you need em..just chunk a good section not too long ago.