This must be a new breed of Koi... So cute!
Spring/Pond Build
- Thread starter Airic
- Start date
Dude your work has come along nicely!!! I wish i had land to do this!
Now im not familiar with mud ponds, but with heavy duty filtration, whats the clearnes you can get out of this???
Now im not familiar with mud ponds, but with heavy duty filtration, whats the clearnes you can get out of this???
Thanks for all the compliments guys and gals.
Basically it comes down to me always wanting a stream and waterfall and if I am going to put in the time and expense of putting one in I want it to do many other beneficial things as well. I have the perfect hill and drop off and it just seems natural for one to be there. I have yet to see a pond out there with a set up like what I’m trying to attempt. There may be a reason but, I’m up for taking the risk and there is not much loss if the filter part does not completely work as I expect.
Things I want it to accomplish:
1. Be able to skim filter the pond surface to remove the film that continually develops. When the spring is running this happens naturally but, when mid to late summer hits the spring stops and the pond surface looks messy.
2. Provide oxygen to the pond.
3. Remove ammonia and nitrogen from the pond so I can potentially increase fish volume.
4. Allow for me to have a formal bog type garden but, I'm doing mine as an Anoxic Filter set up.
5. Have a nursery tank for fry. This will follow behind the bog/anoxic filter chamber.
Not particularly looking for crystal clear water but if it does improve the water clarity all the better.
Basically it comes down to me always wanting a stream and waterfall and if I am going to put in the time and expense of putting one in I want it to do many other beneficial things as well. I have the perfect hill and drop off and it just seems natural for one to be there. I have yet to see a pond out there with a set up like what I’m trying to attempt. There may be a reason but, I’m up for taking the risk and there is not much loss if the filter part does not completely work as I expect.
Things I want it to accomplish:
1. Be able to skim filter the pond surface to remove the film that continually develops. When the spring is running this happens naturally but, when mid to late summer hits the spring stops and the pond surface looks messy.
2. Provide oxygen to the pond.
3. Remove ammonia and nitrogen from the pond so I can potentially increase fish volume.
4. Allow for me to have a formal bog type garden but, I'm doing mine as an Anoxic Filter set up.
5. Have a nursery tank for fry. This will follow behind the bog/anoxic filter chamber.
Not particularly looking for crystal clear water but if it does improve the water clarity all the better.
This last week has been interesting. My water clarity has really been improving a lot which has been nice for watching the fish and I've made no real changes other than adding a pump for surface skimming and circulation. Interesting part is that we have been having some heavy rain which has typicaly murked it up. Knock on wood but, this year has been really good so far. I'm assuming its because of the added plants but, I've had no algae bloom and don't have the suspended mud like last year. Don't laugh but my estimated 2 1/2 foot of visability has been really nice.
as your water ages and the bacteria process takes a foothold, you will see the clarity happen. Obviously, you've created a great breeding ground for good bacteria. Kudos!
Well, we found fry today, or I guess I should say my girls did. They caught three and put them in our outside aquarium. Since they have pointed them out I have now been seeing them all along the shore. Most are yellow, but some have other colors and patterns as well but, not been able to catch any of those.
They also had caught another mud puppy (2") so I have included a pic of him too. My oldest said she saw a big one the size of her shoe. This morning on my close inspection I saw one that was about 9" long, must be mommy.
It's really fun to look for pond critters. I think my girls spend 2-4 hours a day looking catching stuff.
They also had caught another mud puppy (2") so I have included a pic of him too. My oldest said she saw a big one the size of her shoe. This morning on my close inspection I saw one that was about 9" long, must be mommy.
It's really fun to look for pond critters. I think my girls spend 2-4 hours a day looking catching stuff.
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koiguy1969
GIGGETY-GIGGETY!!
Cool...
Could I get some opinions on this skimmer/prefilter setup? Remember this is for a mud pond. This is the best idea I have been able to come up with. This is a gravity fed system and its primary purpose is to skim but it will have a mid level intake as well. This will be fed to a large upper stream and waterfall. What do you think?
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beautiful job, Love everything you have done
your set up looks like it should work well.
your set up looks like it should work well.
Thanks Addy1, this is one I have really been struggling at for quite some time and think this may be my best solution.
Only thing I can not figure out is for a gravity fed system like this, how much fall in elevation do I have to make from the skimmer box to vortex and then to the pump. 6" pipe will be utilized for the skimmer inlets and 3" pipe will be used for the connection between skimmer box and vortex and also to feed the pump from the vortex. I'm looking a 60gpm so anyone have any ideas on what would be ideal?
Don't want to get this all built and realize that it does not draw fast enough to keep up with the pump.
Only thing I can not figure out is for a gravity fed system like this, how much fall in elevation do I have to make from the skimmer box to vortex and then to the pump. 6" pipe will be utilized for the skimmer inlets and 3" pipe will be used for the connection between skimmer box and vortex and also to feed the pump from the vortex. I'm looking a 60gpm so anyone have any ideas on what would be ideal?
Don't want to get this all built and realize that it does not draw fast enough to keep up with the pump.
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I would think with that size of piping, it should keep up with the pump. You have two feeds also which will give you a good flow of water.
Making a little more progress but, slow. Got way to many things going on to make this pond build go any faster. Been building up the big retaining wall and getting closer to completion. Pond almost has all shoreline retaining stone work complete.
