Sunny CA says Hi

[Lawdog]

Hello to all,

New to forum and excited to start my first pond in about two weeks. Joined to learn as much as I can and hopefully you all won't mind a lot of questions from the new guy! I live in northern CA near Sacramento and hope to start construction ASAP but want to be well informed and ready before a shovel hits the ground. Going for a natural looking pond with plants and Koi.

Regards,
Matt

 

[Dave 54]

Matt one question I know there is drought in CA so how are you planning on getting around this first off ?
Next you'll need a pond between 4-5ft deep and most koi keepers will tell you plants in a pond with koi just dont mix
However weve been koi keepers now for 27 years and are more than willing to help as are others so fire away ?

Dave

 

[Fishylove]

Welcome! ask away

 

[addy1]

Welcome to our group!

 

[Nepen]

Welcome to our group! you come to the right place

 

[sissy]

welcome and do you have a budget and ideas on the size and what you really want .

 

[Becky]

Hello and welcome aboard!

 

[j.w]

Matt

 

[Lawdog]

Thank you all for the welcome. I removed a large area of sod and a tree we were having issues with, giving me a space for a pond and a small deck (which I hope to extend a little over the ponds edge). I am still tweaking plans but right now i'm looking at about an 8x12x4deep pond.

As a family we want a more natural looking pond with stones and a small creek/waterfall. I plan on having a few shelves in the pond for plants and also accenting all around with other plants/bushes etc.

Some of the other forums are dead set on a bottom drain for ponds with Koi, and while I realize that may be a "must" for some, I have visited a friends pond who does not have a bottom drain and does annual clean outs-its beautiful and has large healthy Koi.

Planning on having a skimmer which returns to a sand and gravel filter which will also be the return for the creek/waterfall. Also want to add a UV and some sort of airstone in the pond for added filtration. Really excited about all the different plants as well and I realize the Koi may mess with some but thats ok. Would like to keep cost down but havnt priced everything yet.

 

[RobAmy]

Welcome. My pond sounds a little similar to what you want. I do not have bottom drains but do use a pool vac. Mine is smaller around 3500 gallons. You can see it in my showcase