New Pond Construction

[Birdman]

Hi all,
I'm new here and thought it would be great to post photos of my new pond construction as it is being built. I have never raised Koi, but I am familar with aquarium's & fish.
I have done about 6 months of research on how " I hope" to properly build a Koi pond, but look forward to hearing feedback from you all here as the project continues this summer. I think I will learn a bunch here as it will help me to build this pond as well as I can.
First some rough details about the pond plans.
Deminsions: 21x 13 x 6 12,000 give or take on gallons.
Straight edges with no ledges for the first 4 feet.
Strong slope on bottom with 2 floor drains. Also, there will be a 1 ft rise in middle of pond to split the bottom/slopes to both floor drains.
I will have a skimmer with settling tank.
As of right now (pending) I want to go with a Advantage 15 Bead Filter.
2 1/3 pumps.
3 to 4 return jets- 18 inches down from water level.
UV light
3 to 4 underwater lights.
Auto-water filler.
I will have a professional electrician do the electrial work.
I will be attemping the plumbing. :roll:

My choice for the pond is great looking but a very hard place to dig. There where huge layers of hard sandstone that the backhoe just didn't touch. I have never run a backhoe, so that was a task in itself that day.
Here is a photo from the first day.
I will post more current photos of the construction very soon!

[Terri]

!welcome Todd
Looking forward to viewing your progress as this project takes place! Always fun and interesting to watch and share pond builds. Do you happen to have a sketch of your design? Is there a particular reason you are leaning towards a bead filter?

[Jackie Ramo]

Sure looks like an ideal setting. Be sure to have a way to get in and out of the pond. No matter what, you'll have to do that more than you think.

[Birdman]

Hi all,
Here is an update to my pond construction.
So far it's been rough going. I think I have thrown just as much dirt out of the hole as the backhoe did the first day. :roll:
If you look at the photo, you can see that I ran into a large rock that the backhoe just couldn't handle, so I borrowed a small jackhammer. (not fun)
It stuck out over 4 feet along the edge. It's all out now.
Jackie Ramo, I have left a little rock staircase so that i can get out of the pond. Thanks!
Terri, I have not settled on the filter yet. The pond will come in between 12 and 13 thousand gallons. I really would like to "oversize" the filter and flow. I am looking at getting a filter that can take care of a pond with 20,000 gallons and heavy fish loads. I am currently looking at the "Ultima II 20,000 by Aqua Ultraviolet.
I am very open to suggestions here but really want to stay away from homemade filters if I can.
My soil is nasty with it either being crumbly or rocky. I will have to build up most walls with blocks and rebar.
Here is a recent photo taken today.
I look forward to all comments and advise.

[Jackie Ramo]

One just knows that soil is nasty, look at the size of the pickaxe!!! Lots of work there and a hard slug.

[Terri]

Wonderful view!

Which skimmer have you chosen? Just for clarification what do you mean 'skimmer with settling tank' ?

Personal preference on my part, not a fan of Bead filters. I do believe they have their place, just not as the main filtration for a pond, great for polishing water though as a the 'end-stage' to a filter system. I'm sort of a Gravity-fed gal... :grin: I like the fact that the solid waste stays solid for removal ;)

[Birdman]

Hi,
Terri, I am very interested in your idea's about filtration. If you could guide me in the right direction (websites) to learn more about a "Gravity-fed" system, I would appreciate it. I think I have a decent spot where that type of system may work well. I have a sloping hill the the left of the second photo that could have tanks that woudl be level with the pond water level. If this was your pond, what system would you put in.....thats the info I need!
Here are two photos of the "skimmer/settling tank" I was mentioning.
This is where I was thinking I could have both 4 inch pipe drains also connect into before going to any filter system.
Thanks!

[Terri]

You have many options with a gravity fed system.
My personal choice is the Nexus system with Answer. This unit is what we have on our koi pond. I like the fact that I can take a quick peek in the filter and see if it needs a dump, if it does it only takes about 10 mins to do so...

Have a list of sites, will go through them and post later.

[Birdman]

Hi,
Well I took the plunge and orderd some of my pond equipment today.
Here is a list of what is coming.

2 Advantage 10n Bead filters
2 Artesian 1/3hp pumps
1 Emperor 150HO UV Light
2 3" Bottom drains
1 Auto-fill
5 Eductor Jets
6 Bulkhead fittings
1 3 way valves
1 Ball valve assembly
1 Skimmer fish safe liner
1 Cement ABS to PVC

[Jackie Ramo]

Got any more pics of developments???