Growing on pond design advice

Jon W · Post by **Jon W** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:59 pm

Hi all

I am now limbering up for the indoor 1,000 gallon growing on pond build. I've got a couple of questions re design;

1. Is it worth putting in a skimmer?

2. Initially filtration will be a Cloverleaf CL3 multibay with static and fluid K1 (manufacturer capacity of 3,700 gals for a koi pond). I have been persuaded of the efficacy of a Bakki shower courtesy of Gazza and will be adding one in due course. If the CL3 is gravity fed is it possible to run the BS from the same line i.e. pump after the CL3 but before the BS or does the BS demand such a high g.p.h. as to render the CL3 ineffective?

3. Is there any point adding a U.V.?

4. What do you do if the whole shooting match is remote from the drainage system? All I can think of is a very long flexi pipe which is temporarily hooked up to the drains every time the filters are purged.

Any advice welcome.

Cheers

Jon W.

GERRY5 · Post by **GERRY5** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:39 pm

hi jon....i will see if i can assist you with an answer or two ..

question 1 the answer if at all possible is ..yes , it will remove all dust particles from the water top any uneaten food will be removed as well.

question 2 ..you could run to the bakki after a gravity filter it will increase your bio no doubt ...but its gonna cost more to pump up to the bakki in leccy so you need to work out the cost in relation to the water quality your prepared to pay for , me i agree with gazza

question 3. once again yes ....not only does it help keep parasites down a bit to a degree but it will help to flocculate particle mass so making the water cleaner allowing the filters to trap the crud more efficiently.

question 4 once again i think youve answered your own question , we have 30mtrs of flexi on the waste from the main pond to the two indoor ponds where we pick up in plastic and pipe into a soil pipe ..it works...these are just my own opinions of course but we have all installed the same as above

Jon W · Post by **Jon W** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:02 pm

Hi Gerry

Thanks for the response. I was wondering whether a U.V. would be necessary if I run a bakki shower. I'd got the impression that they can pretty much provide excellent water quality without any other filtration being present if you manage to get the correct flow and air circulation right.
In terms of the U.V. providing flocculation and knocking out bugs, does this require a sterlising U.V. or will an ordinary unit do the job?

Cheers

Jon W.

GERRY5 · Post by **GERRY5** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 10:13 pm

i dont use serilising uv myself just standards, as its indoors we shoudnt need to much to worry about over b\w problems. just water quality.

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 10:17 pm

Hi Jon,

I thought you would of had that built by now

OK heres my twp bobs worth

1. Yes i would have a skimmer if you have the room as you could run some filtration of it separately and then not only does it keep it clean it helps with the turnover of the pond.

2. I would run the two filtration systems separate so you then have a back up if one goes wrong.So you could have the CL3 from the bottom drain and then a shower on the skimmer line with BHM job done

3. I have a UV on my tank (8 watt) but its never on well its only been on a couple of times when i am messing around,i have removed the UV from my main pond as it was from my first pond and is about 5-6 years old with the same bulb and was never on.....so it got removed.I will also be removing the one from the tank when i get time as i see it as just a restriction.No this is just my opinion and my pond is nice and mature it works for some not all

4. My drainage for both the pond and tank is pumped to waste,I have 2" pipes running round the pond and garden and down to the waste so when i open the valve and switch the switch i can pump any waste out....without getting wet

or smelly

Hope that helps......and where are the pictures

Jon W · Post by **Jon W** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:57 pm

Hi Gazza

Thanks for the input. I will start as soon as I can get my hands on some suitable building materials.

It does make sense to put the shower on the skimmer line. I'll probably leave sufficient space in the pipework to add a U.V. but not fit one unless absolutely necessary.

The only way I would run normal waste pipe would be to get a road drill and chisel out a rout all the way to the main drain - this would be a project in it's own right, and not a very exciting one.

Once I'm underway I will definitely post some pictures - if nothing else it probably be a good guide to others about how not to build a pond!

By the way, knowing your devotion to trickle towers/bakki showers, Ken at Coldwater Collection showed me the trickle tower on his show pond. It is built up the side of his house - 2 stories high and enclosed in polycarb - I forgot to ask how on earth it's possible to maintain without the aid of a cherry picker!

Cheers

Jon

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:37 pm

Don't need to maintain it i hadn't taken the lid of mine for years until the other day and all i could see was BHM looking great

Jon W · Post by **Jon W** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:01 pm

Hi Gazza

He didn't have any BHM in the trays; so I assume that at some point they are going to need maintenance - I really wouln't fancy the job.

Incidently, do you know the optimum flow rate and air circluation requirements for BHM? From my limited knowledge I get the impression that these are key to avoid a build up of solids.

Cheers

Jon

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:08 pm

Hi Jon,

Flow rate for BHM is easy mate FAST

My little tank is less than 500gln and the flow rate at the moment is 1128gls per hour and i could take that up to 1500 which i may well do

Jon W · Post by **Jon W** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:43 pm

Hi Gazza

Blimey! Do you issue the inhabitants with little harnesses so they can maintain their midstream position?

So basically it is "the higher the gph the better" up to the point where the fish are still comfortable with the flow?

Cheers

Jon

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 9:15 pm

Hi Jon,

They love it and it keeps them fit and fit fish feed well and are healthy and grow well with good body

I have a Aquamax 16000 on my main pond and you see fish swimming into the current

Jon W · Post by **Jon W** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 10:02 pm

Hi Gazza

When looking at design issues re. new pond I was initially quite taken with the koi hamster wheel approach whereby you have a very strong flow across a shelf which then drops away to a deep end. Apparently this maximises exercise as the koi push up into the flow then launch themselves back into the deep end. Should the fish require a bit of respite from the current they can hang out (hopefully not head downwards) in the deep end below shelf height.

My only reservation would be that knowing my luck the week after completion someone will publish a study that proves this is the very worst design possible and puts koi under extreme stress.

Cheers

Jon W.

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:40 am

Hi Jon,

Yes its a bit of a hobby where there are so many different approaches all i can say is try to go with what you feel is correct and then let everyone tell you "you did it like that then"

You will be OK so far you seem to be on the right road and i am sure you new system will be spot on,still we always seem to be changing things i think we do it just to keep ourselves out of trouble

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 4:16 pm

Hi Jon,

Ive sent you a couple of PM's to arrange collection of your filter, if you can PM me when you get a minute mate,

Cheers Andy