So here is the latest update.
Out of 5 fish, I lost 2 before I could get the problem in hand. As you recall the pond collapsed and caved in on itself due to the texas clay being rained on for a day straight.
In the middle of the night, I dragged the remains of the pre formed pond out of the sink hole, and up to my back porch. Tuned on the hose and filled it half way, and then released the other three fish in it, and babysat them all night through the storm to make sure that nothing fell, and the pump was working and didnt get tipped over.
From then on its been an above ground pond, sitting on my slab. Its not pretty but the fish are alive.
Now, I need to tell you I spent 3-4 days researching every type of homemade filter to build for the pond, and I have to say that well meaning as the videos and claims are, they are all outdated, and they don't address some important issues.
Number one, scrubby pads as filter media - the days of getting packs of 30 are long gone. The best I could do is 5 to a pack for 2.00 at all of the major stores, Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Dollar King. Total cost therefore for the media about 40-50 dollars.
The parts for the pvc that I'd need amounted to another 20 dollars, and that is before the bulkheads and reducers and the grate. It all adds up greatly.
Speaking of bulheads, neither Lowes nor Home Depot know what they were or where to find them. So no, it cannot be built easily with parts from your local hardware supply store.
The cost of the Rubbermaid stock tank, for example also pushed the cost over the 100.00 mark, so now we are approaching the 200.00 range, which also pushed the overall cost for this "cheap" filter. But what they dont warn you about is the chances of overflow, and that if it does overflow after all that work you will not be watersealed, which means you can drain your pond without meaning to. Usually while you are out of town for the weekend, making it too late. Great idea in concept but far too risky in execution. They also don't warn you for the need of a UV light.
My solution for this cheap pond filter was simple - eat the 40.00 and start researching. I found a Pressurized Laguna 700 with UV for just over 100.00 on clearance, presumably because its off season. Fine, I bought it, set in in my 171 gal pond, with a 500 gph pump and a 700 gal filter and my filtrations been fine for 2 weeks. Microbelift was no where to be found at any supply store locally so I bought Little Green Bugs and seeded the pond with that. No doubt it hasnt kicked in and the pond is an eyesore, but for now the three koi are alive and seem to be okay (3 inch fish) and my plans now are to build a pond for housing 10 koi - apx 2500 gallons. Ive been all over the internet and youtube researching, studying and have determined that the best prescription for this is, time and save my money, being patient as I go, giving myself till hopefully April or May to have it done. I know I will need another filter and the possibility of running the one I have now with the soon to be bigger one is a very strong one. I know I will also need a bigger pump, and those items will have to be bought and stored as the pond is built, one piece of the puzzle at a time. My considerations now are the bottom drain for the filter, the aeration and circulation, and the depth and shape. At this point I'm tending towards a half in and half out of the ground rectangle shape with a net formed and attached to a PVC frame, and tall enough to place a bench or two so one can sit and peer over the ledge at the fish. I think 10 would be plenty for me, and Ive been around koi and appreciate them, and how fun they are to feed, but 10 is plenty for me.
Another consideration for me will be pond maintenence - I welcome the beneficial green on the sides of the liner, but I wanna minimize the cleaning, to some backwashing and maybe some leaf skimming, so that will go into the consideration for my design as well.
For anyone new reading this, I encourage you to do your research and homework before trying to do a koi pond, things like waste, biological filtration, ammonia, water care, pH, Nitrites and Nitrates, all are vital to the care of these creatures. The more you can do to inform yourself, the better off you will be. Places like this are invaluable in that search.
Out of 5 fish, I lost 2 before I could get the problem in hand. As you recall the pond collapsed and caved in on itself due to the texas clay being rained on for a day straight.
In the middle of the night, I dragged the remains of the pre formed pond out of the sink hole, and up to my back porch. Tuned on the hose and filled it half way, and then released the other three fish in it, and babysat them all night through the storm to make sure that nothing fell, and the pump was working and didnt get tipped over.
From then on its been an above ground pond, sitting on my slab. Its not pretty but the fish are alive.
Now, I need to tell you I spent 3-4 days researching every type of homemade filter to build for the pond, and I have to say that well meaning as the videos and claims are, they are all outdated, and they don't address some important issues.
Number one, scrubby pads as filter media - the days of getting packs of 30 are long gone. The best I could do is 5 to a pack for 2.00 at all of the major stores, Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Dollar King. Total cost therefore for the media about 40-50 dollars.
The parts for the pvc that I'd need amounted to another 20 dollars, and that is before the bulkheads and reducers and the grate. It all adds up greatly.
Speaking of bulheads, neither Lowes nor Home Depot know what they were or where to find them. So no, it cannot be built easily with parts from your local hardware supply store.
The cost of the Rubbermaid stock tank, for example also pushed the cost over the 100.00 mark, so now we are approaching the 200.00 range, which also pushed the overall cost for this "cheap" filter. But what they dont warn you about is the chances of overflow, and that if it does overflow after all that work you will not be watersealed, which means you can drain your pond without meaning to. Usually while you are out of town for the weekend, making it too late. Great idea in concept but far too risky in execution. They also don't warn you for the need of a UV light.
My solution for this cheap pond filter was simple - eat the 40.00 and start researching. I found a Pressurized Laguna 700 with UV for just over 100.00 on clearance, presumably because its off season. Fine, I bought it, set in in my 171 gal pond, with a 500 gph pump and a 700 gal filter and my filtrations been fine for 2 weeks. Microbelift was no where to be found at any supply store locally so I bought Little Green Bugs and seeded the pond with that. No doubt it hasnt kicked in and the pond is an eyesore, but for now the three koi are alive and seem to be okay (3 inch fish) and my plans now are to build a pond for housing 10 koi - apx 2500 gallons. Ive been all over the internet and youtube researching, studying and have determined that the best prescription for this is, time and save my money, being patient as I go, giving myself till hopefully April or May to have it done. I know I will need another filter and the possibility of running the one I have now with the soon to be bigger one is a very strong one. I know I will also need a bigger pump, and those items will have to be bought and stored as the pond is built, one piece of the puzzle at a time. My considerations now are the bottom drain for the filter, the aeration and circulation, and the depth and shape. At this point I'm tending towards a half in and half out of the ground rectangle shape with a net formed and attached to a PVC frame, and tall enough to place a bench or two so one can sit and peer over the ledge at the fish. I think 10 would be plenty for me, and Ive been around koi and appreciate them, and how fun they are to feed, but 10 is plenty for me.
Another consideration for me will be pond maintenence - I welcome the beneficial green on the sides of the liner, but I wanna minimize the cleaning, to some backwashing and maybe some leaf skimming, so that will go into the consideration for my design as well.
For anyone new reading this, I encourage you to do your research and homework before trying to do a koi pond, things like waste, biological filtration, ammonia, water care, pH, Nitrites and Nitrates, all are vital to the care of these creatures. The more you can do to inform yourself, the better off you will be. Places like this are invaluable in that search.
