Kent Pond Builders?

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:39 pm

Hi All,
In the next couple of months I'd like to do what will be my final and ultimate pond build. Wont be all that.....4-5000 gallons with a fairly small surface area but a lot of depth (7-8 foot)
Just wondered if there are any members close enough that I might be able to call upon for advice if needed?
I'm based in Sevenoaks in Kent and would love to think that I could "go it alone," but I'm not quite that stupid!! I'm not after any labour (can cope with that!) but I do lack the expertise that I need to get it right the first time!
I've already mailed B.Scott for some help on a liner based pond but would be grateful for any local help as well.
Mind you, if the weather doesn't improve we could be looking at next year!!!
Louie

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:01 pm

Louie,

Ask away, advice is easy, help isnt quite so easy!!!!

BobTheBear@blueyonder.co.uk

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:35 pm

Hi Louie,

Well Bob will be your man i think he has a fair bit of experience when building ponds as he has done a few now

4-5000 is no small pond this is one of the first things i say to people the bigger the pond the more the costs not just to build but to run

Everything costs more from equipment and filters to water,pond additives and treatments and also if you going to heat or not.

You are better to have the very best quality filtration and equipment you can afford on a small pond than an undefilterd large pond which you cant afford to run

Taggy · Post by **Taggy** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:50 pm

Agree with Gazza,who i am sure will agree 4000 gallon's very managable,and wioth what you save can spend on equipment or a quarantine system!!!!!

Bob's your man he helped build my pond for me!!!!! Well most of it now i think of it

Pergola & Filteration designed and built by Jules Of Jewels Ponds & Gardens

Graham

[img]http://www.koivista.com/files/Taggy/43543_DSCF3036.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.koivista.com/files/Taggy/43545_DSCF3039.JPG[/img]

MattyS · Post by **MattyS** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:53 pm

Very nice pond mate

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:12 pm

Hi,

Bob's definately your man! He fibreglassed my pond today-did an amazing job even though the rendering was terrible! He has built some amazing ponds and he is a jolly nice chap as well

Have you got any plans yet-if so this is the place to ge ideas and advice!

Cheers Andy

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:32 pm

I did have some plans but they're being revised as I get more info!
B.Scott explained that if I have soft soil (mine is fine sand) then I'll need to shore up the sides if using a liner in conjunction with blocks.
With that in mind I think I'll now go for the 8" strengthened base, rendered and glassed breeze block sides with 4 and a half inch decorative brickwork on the outside. One bottom drain feeding a Nexus Easy and a skimmer feeding an Eazy Pod.
My biggest problem is figuring out the layout of filters in relation to pond level. If I want a gravity feed then I take it that the top level in the filter needs to be a couple of inches below the top level of the pond itself? Is this right? I shall also put in a 55Watt (?) UV unit and maybe toy with the idea of a sand/bead/fluid filter if it will be of any real benefit. I'd like a window too! And wouldn't it be stupid to go to all those lengths and NOT put in underwater lighting??!!
All subject to change, of course!!
Louie

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:42 pm

Louie,

Concrete block walls, not breeze blocks! If you are on soft ground, I'd tie the bace into the walls via rebar of sorts. I have used the mesh in the floor and bent it up the sides, then backfill with concrete (after constructing the walls) to tie it all together.

Put the UV on the skimmer line

The Nexus units have instructions as to the water level, but roughly the water level will be nearly the same as the pond water level when setting up.

No need for sand filter, you'll have the static K1 removing fines in the Nexus and pod.

Window yes

Underwater lighting, you must be kidding!

What size will the pond be?

Lots of room for filter maintenance, dont make the area too tight

Double union ball valves on everything going to waste, no slide valves.

Taggy · Post by **Taggy** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:09 pm

Side drain alway's handy!!!!!! you just never know when you are going to put a add on to the pond.

Graham

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:37 pm

Obviously underwater lighting is a big no no? Fair enough! Concrete blocks tied into the base...ok. There wont be any extensions (unless a lottery win comes along of course!) How about incorporating the air into the BD? Seems like this splits a few opinions?
Pond will average 6' width, (it's an irregular shape on one side), 10' length and about 7' deep. Thats 4 and a half feet below ground and about 2 and a half above.
Louie

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:01 pm

So roughly 2600 gallons eh, not the 4000-5000 you wanted?????

Aerated bottom drains would get the nod from most people, you just need to think about how to get the air to them? Do you fit in a seperate air pipe into the base? If so do you put a pipe through it, or use the original seperate pipe as the air pipe (better). You could of course put the air pipe down the 4" bottom drain!

Nexus 200 I assume for this size pond? Have you seen the fitting instructions? - http://www.evolutionaqua.com/nu_pdf/Eazy%20 ... %20web.pdf

Taggy · Post by **Taggy** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:08 pm

Though should you put the airpipe down the drain,so not in the pond as such,WHEN you get the B/W bloom will that possibly be a pain with the weed??

Hence my airpipe in the pond weighted with some stainless steel.

Graham

kimr · Post by **kimr** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:50 am

Hi Taggy

I can see why you would have reservation's about running an airline down the main 4" pipework but I read a post sometime back that this had been done and even when the b/d had problem's the airline made no differance. I wished I had incorparated it into my pond, when I build the next one I will deffinatly have it running down the pipework.

Hi Louie

Bob also built my pond and he did a fantastic job of it, he also know's how to fit window's and one piece of advice I would give is to have at least one window you will never regret it as you will get hours and hours of pleasure from it. Under water lighting is not a good idea as it can be dangerous for the koi, if you build a pergola have light's on that directed into the pond great affect and you will still be able to see the koi.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:14 am

Thanks for all the advice!
I've cut down on the size so that I can incorporate the filters into my existing space without losing my decking. I think that the gift of a newer model Renault Scenic might well twist the other halfs arm enough that she starts to see things my way though!!

And I'll only wish I'd made it bigger if I don't do it!!
I really dont want anything in the pond other than fish so would definetly prefer to run the air pipe down the 4" pipework. Is one aerated B/D enough?
Louie

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 1:00 pm

Louie,

Dont run the pipework down the bottom drain pipework.

Put in a seperate pipe for the aeration, which appears alongside the bottom drain pipework in the bottom drain. These can be bought, or alterations made to bottom drain to take the pipe.

This seperate pipe is then taken back to the filters and used there as the aeration feed pipe.

So waht size/gallonage is being planned now?

What turnover of water through the bottom drain?

Simply Koi and More Koi

Kent Pond Builders?

Kent Pond Builders?

Plans?

Hmmmm

Thanks Again!