Advice needed on new pond build

[Davew]

I have finally persuaded the wife to upgrade the current “whole in the ground” too a 6,000 ish gallon pond and would like some advice / opinions on my proposed design with which I have a few issues but I am sure somebody will put me straight.

I currently have a 10x16x4.5ft deep whole, no drains, no skimmer hence the re-design. I cannot move the location of the pond as this would enter the “wife’s” part of the garden and possibly lead too world war 3 if I was to do so.

My proposal is therefore 10x16ft pond sloping from 6-7ft deep. Aerated bottom drains into a nexus 300 pumped back into the pond via a Bakki shower, and then a skimmer line into a Nexus 200 and then pump fed back to the pond. I will be using sequence pumps, size yet to be calculated, but 2800g through the N300 and 2200g through theN200, the pond will be insulated and fibrglassed.

My thoughts are that the shower, skimmer return and uplift from the drains would create a circular movement in the pond, pushing the crud down to the drains and moving any surface debris to the skimmer?

My concerns are:-
The only place I can locate the filters (without causing WW III) are about 1.5m from the pond which means I am pumping the returns further than I would like (6.5m plus head) but have no other alternatives, the pond will also be heated one day which means the boiler will be located in the shed which is next to the filter location, so I assume it is just a case of factoring the loss due to the distance and head when choosing the size of the pumps?

Am I putting enough water through the showers, approx 2800 gallons / hr from the N300 or would I be better putting the skimmer line through the showers as well removing the bottom return to the pond?
The max flow rates given for the N300 is 2859g, could I increase this to over 3000g to push more through the shower? or could I substitute the N300 for a sieve?

Opinions and thoughts greatly welcome. I have learnt the hard way with the first pond and do not want to build something that does not work. If someone can tell me how to post pictures then I will post a sketch of what I intend.

PS please be gentle, although not a total novice I still have lots to learn.

[Jules]

Firstly are you on a water metre? Secondly if you're going for showers would you like a 95% maintenance free pond? If yes to the second and no to the first - perfect! I would suggest you go for a "stream flow pond" Botomdrains flush themselves via air pumps on timers and you get good quality water and great filtration.

Jules

[Davew]

No, am not on a meter (thankfully), I have read a couple of pieces abour stream flow ponds, but cannot find any descent diagrams explaining exactly how it works and 95% maintenance free does sound appealing. Do you have any links offering descent advice.

Thanks

[eds]

After seeing one in action I agree with Jules - my next pond will probably be a streamflow one! I know a couple of threads on another site that detail Streamflow pond builds but they're both pretty long reads!

[Jules]

here is one http://www.jewelspondsandgardens.co.uk/proj ... .asp?ID=22" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Any questions ask away.

Jules

[Davew]

I did some research last night and am quite excited from the prospect.

Based on what I have learnt so far, I now propose 4 side drains pumped into the shower, planning on 3000g plus through this. At a later stage I can also see me adding another set of showers so I will try and configure the pipework to allow me too do this with a pump on each set.

Incidently does anyone know the footprint of a set of showers so that I can allow for a double set at a later date?

Skimmer line into a Nexus 200 pumped to the low level return, I have noticed some of the designs I have looked at have double skimmers, is this required for better flow / cirulation or just personel preference? The skimmer will be located at the shallow end next to the showers to one corner?

I will then use the air uplift method to dispose of the crud, 6-7 pipes in total.

Also thinking ahead I am plagued by trees so a pogoda is a must, I am also planning to utilise this to permanently enclose two sides of the pond with shiplap board, insulation and ply and during winter use removable polycarb sheets to enclose the remaining sides creating a small but sufficient fish house, now I have a combination boiler that I will position in my shed, does the heat exchanger work from the flow and return pipes from the boiler?, and if yes would it be possible to isntall a couple of radiators within the fish house on the same flow and returns as the heat exchanger?, my thinking being if I am already using the boiler for the heat exchanger what would be the harm of running through a couple rads increasing the air temp?

I will probably have lots more questions but need to get the design on paper so I am clear in my own mind.

Thanks for the input so far

Dave

[eds]

Is there any reason why you can't run two skimmers into sieves or static K1 filters then over the showers? It just seems like you're making things more complicated than you need to by having the inlets and the skimmer too!

[Jules]

Agree 2 skimmers one in each corner and 2 side drains below ground level on the 2 side walls. Placing them there will not effect the drop and flow you are trying to achieve. I would also just pull straight from each with a pump and basket, feed the showers with the crud they love! I would be tempted to add a pressurised bead system to get rid of fines.

Jules