New pond

[Koi.Comets.Happy]

I finished our new pond a few months ago. Its about 5x5x2.5. I built my own filter using skippy type construction, but i also have a second filter in line to the waterfall that I am using as a bio filter. I also built my own skimmer that is working great. The skimmer cost about 4 dollars to make. I have a 210gph pump in the skimmer and a 520gph pump in my filter box. The filter is gravity fed from a bottom drain. I built a bypass valve between the filter and the waterfall so i can shut the water off to the waterfall and use the pump to pump out the filter box for water changes. The pond turned out great and our fish are doing awesome. Without all the great information on this forum our build would never have gone so well. We are planning a bigger build for next year.


http://s1134.photobucket.com/albums/m603/koicometshappy/? action=view&current=IMG_20110717_194657.jpg

 

[Koi.Comets.Happy]

I will add more photos tomorrow.

 

[j.w]

Looks really nice. Love your big fat frog sitting on the side. I'm interested in how you made your skimmer :lol:

 

[addy1]

Great job, nice looking happy fish place. Love the driftwood, still looking for some...........
Like jw says, post how you did your skimmer.

 

[rebelangel_3733]

Nice pond looks great! and I also luv that big frog!

 

[Koi.Comets.Happy]

j.w and addy1. I built the skimmer to match the standard skimmer i saw on the internet. I used a very thick plastic filing box as the skimmer. I cut a weir door out of the front approximately 5"x2". I made the front mount plate out of the lid from the tough tote i used for my filter. I used stainless steel bolts and nuts to attach the skimmer to the liner. For the door i used wire mounts that you would use to run a telephone wire up a wall and two stainless bolts as the hinge. I had the box already so all i had to buy was hardware.

 

[j.w]

Pretty cool. So is this black filing box something that they sell pretty much anywhere or did you just have this hanging around for years waiting to be used :yikesu:

 

[addy1]

great job! very innovative

 

[Koi.Comets.Happy]

j.w the filing box is available at Home depot and Lowes. We already had the box though.

 

[j.w]

Ok thanks Koi.Comets.Happy :lol: