My new "Big" pond

[hewhoisatpeace]

I spent some time working in Simpsonville about 15 years ago, remodeling the Kemet plant, and building a bank there (construction background stuff). I'm glad you're taking the time to do some research, and do it right the first time. I researched for about 6 months as I dug my pond and did a lot of concrete block work.

You could check out my construction process in the pond photography thread "Pictorial History", if you have any questions about it, please ask, I learn more by trying to answer questions.

 

[medxam]

Well, Gentlemen and Ladies, I will sign the contract for construction in the next two days.

You have been very helpful with your advice. We now plan on a 10' X 15'. The pond will be 2' deep gently sloping to 3' at the deep end. NO rock will be on the bottom. A bottom drain will be installed, plumbed to the skimmer pump, as suggested. The skimmer will be on the shallow east end since the prevailing winds are from the southeast. The sides will be "straight down", hopefully to discourage herons ( I live on a tidal river), and there will be many hiding places for the fish. The pond will also house several plants, water lilies and lotus, plus others. I plan to plant a non-shedding shade tree as suggested. I plan on Koi and maybe a few "goldfish".

I can still make changes to the construction plans if needed. I really want to do this right and I need to hear from you ASAP, as construction should start next week. There will also be a fountain with its own filter. Adequate eletricial will be provided for lights, but they will be decided on later.

Please let me know what you think!

medxam

 

[hewhoisatpeace]

I would really consider using an external pump, rather than a submersible in a skimmer. You can get plenty of power with less electrical draw, which is good, but not the best thing about them. The best thing about an external pump is the leaf basket/priming pot, which works as an excellent and easy to clean prefilter. No pulling out the pump or anything like that, you can stay dry to clean it. Catches leaves, strains fish poop, catches any fish or snails or frogs small enough to get in your bottom drain - and believe me, they will. Bottom drains are great, but they suck up all kinds of stuff. spraying off a leaf basket is a lot better than pulling a pump out of a skimmer to clean it.

I planned to use a Laguna submersible, but as I researched it, I chose an Artesian external. Pm me if you need any info on it. Good luck.

 

[addy1]

I agree, stick with an external pump. We are setting ours up with a skimmer, that has a leaf basket (big weir pool skimmer 15 inches (hayward)) , bottom drain (home made), in line leaf basket right before the pump, that the skimmer and bottom drain feed into, the pump has a large leaf basket also, then the water goes into our filter the bog.

 

[robchester06]

Hi, newbie here!

 

[DoDad]

Koi ponds should not be less than 4 feet deep if you want your koi to have good body conformation.
Install a bottom drain at the pond bottom and make the entire floor surface slope towards this drain. Your filtration system will extract pond water for filtration from this drain.
I would recommend a filter flow rate equivalent to displacing the entire pond volume within one hour. A 3,000-gallon pond requires a pump that can move 3,000 gallons of water per hour.
External pumps would be the best choice because of their efficiency and long life.
To me the best setup for the filters is the gravity fed system. This way the pump is the last thing the water goes through before returng to the pond. I believe that mechanical filtration should be the first place your water should go when leaving the pond.
With a pump fed system anything gettin through the strainer basket is purred and harder to remove from the system.

 

[DoDad]

BTW there are pond contractors and koi pond builders contractors.