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MY POND

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smithy
Koi Lover

May 29, 2006, 1:13 AM

Post #1 of 28 (2216 views)
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MY POND	Can't Post

Hi all im new to koi keeping- i have a pond in me backgarden. Just wanted to post it and see what youse thought. In total the new pond carrys about 900 gallons. I no it isnt huge, but i plan to build one myself when im old enough to get a house
I have a pump in the bottom pond which powers water up to the blackbox which contains a UV light bio balls and then filter matting. It then passes via a outlet to my top pond which in turn runs down to the bottom via the water chute. Im only 17 years of age and it was built just as a garden decoration and then i got interested in keeping fish.
Recently i have added a new pump, this pumps over 1000 gallons per hour, so my whole water cycle is less than 1 hour. The old pump i have put in the top pond which is attached to a tube, so there is a small waterfall when turned on. One thing i do regret is not having a bottom drain. However i clean my pond out and do water changes every few months
Please give me your opinions etc p.s The picture attached was took quite early in the year before the spring clear out hence all the blanket weed and algae. Its back under control now and is fairly clean

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/22/picture0028uz.jpg

smithy
Koi Lover

May 30, 2006, 12:53 AM

Post #2 of 28 (2169 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

will someone reply?

zoul
Member

May 30, 2006, 3:57 AM

Post #3 of 28 (2163 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dear smithy

As it's your first pond i'm immpresed. My first pond was only about 300 gallons,,,, Frown

I was 4 then...

Now i'm 41 and only 2 things get my attention and one of them is fish....

I've been keeping koi now for 35 years, and i'm still learning.

But as first ponds go that aint to bad dude. Cool

Koi38
Senior Member

May 30, 2006, 7:27 AM

Post #4 of 28 (2154 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi smithy,

Can you give us more info about your pond. What is it made off, size of your pond like L x W x D, filter media and filter size???

But I can say good on you mate, good show Wink

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

smithy
Koi Lover

May 31, 2006, 2:05 AM

Post #5 of 28 (2116 views)
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Re: [Koi38] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Cheers guys. AS i say it was built as a garden ornament and as im learning now theres so many things i would have done differently if id known. I had the pond dimensions wrote down but iv lost them- the top pond is about 260 gallons and the bottom around 650- that might give you a better idea. The deepest bit in both ponds are about 3 feet deep. The filter media in the box is bio balls, and then filter matting above that. Its all standard with the box.
However mate i checked out your DIY simple drum filter and i am going to build one of them. Iv been out with me dad today to get the piping. So starting tonight. Im not sure if im going to keep the black box and add the barrel after it in series yet. Depends if my pump can handle it and give the pressure required to create the votex swirling effect. The liner is flexible PVC.
Some of the things i would have done differently if id known when building
Make the pond deeper
Install a bottom drain
Rendered the whole pond then sealed- as had to drain it last year due to a few punctures.
Orginally all that was there was the top pond and we added the bottom pond about 2 years later. So now i dont feel that black box is big enough for the filtering required it needs cleaning alot- Hence the DIY barrel filter as it is so much cheaper than these 4 chamber fibreglass filters.
Please get back to me

(This post was edited by smithy on May 31, 2006, 2:09 AM)

Koi38
Senior Member

May 31, 2006, 6:40 AM

Post #6 of 28 (2103 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Smithy,

I'm back Tongue

Mate can you give us more details of this filter box of yours. You maybe able to recycle it don't chuck it away yet. With the drum filter, you should get the vortex effect even with smaller pump Wink

What's your pump size again???

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

smithy
Koi Lover

May 31, 2006, 7:00 AM

Post #7 of 28 (2101 views)
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Re: [Koi38] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

dont worry im not gona chuck it away- My pump is submersible and pumps up some clear hose pipe to my filter box as you can see on the pic- The outlet from this box is black flexible hosing 1''3/4 in diameter. This is currently going into the top pond. I dont think that there will be enough pressure if i add the barrel filter onto the end of this system. I dont think the water will have enough pressure to allow for the swirling effect. So im thinking about installing the barrel filter first so this gets better pressure, so a better vortex system- then put the filter box after the barrel. That make sense mate- basically just changing the order so the barrel gets pump fed then this outflow leads to the filterbox then back into the top pond
My pump is a Bermuda 6000L erm its about 1300gph if my conversion is correct- Iv never heard of bermuda before but it was cheaper than names i did no for similar output so i thought what the heck. It seems pretty good tho.
ALmost completed the barrel filter tonight- the drain and tee with the 2 90 degree angles are in place just need to put the outflow and inflow pipes in.
Please get back to me

Koi38
Senior Member

May 31, 2006, 7:09 AM

Post #8 of 28 (2099 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi smithy,

thinking about installing the barrel filter first so this gets better pressure, so a better vortex system- then put the filter box after the barrel
Sounds good to me. Your existing box filter can be converted to biofilter since the drum will be your settlement/prefilter/biofilter too. Just a tip, dont use any glue or solvent inside the drums plumbing just incase you want to do some mods. Also avoid using bends, elbows in your pipe your(pump to filter) this will create water flow resistance Smile

Keep us posted on your project Wink

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

smithy
Koi Lover

May 31, 2006, 7:15 AM

Post #9 of 28 (2098 views)
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Re: [Koi38] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

yea- erm im goan put some meshing or some sort of media plate above the elbow/tee joints Inflow) then have the media ontop of that- as that way theres no way of any media going down to the bottom and trapping the drain pipe. What do you think the best media is to use in the barrel? and how much is needed for the barrel? I also have an air pump from an old fishtank- its only small and produces 10 litres per hour but im thinking i should inclue this. What are your suggestions for media and wher to put the air pump. P.s should i keep the media the same in the black box as it currently is?

Koi38
Senior Member

May 31, 2006, 9:29 AM

Post #10 of 28 (2089 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi smithy,

im goan put some meshing or some sort of media plate above the elbow/tee joints Inflow) then have the media ontop of that- as that way theres no way of any media going down to the bottom and trapping the drain pipe
No need to. Japanese matt roll will sit on top of the inflow. I will use jap matt but can't remember how much would you use, sorry but the tighter the better of course Wink

No need to add air, just have your air pump in your black box instead. What sort of media do you have in the box again???

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

smithy
Koi Lover

May 31, 2006, 6:38 PM

Post #11 of 28 (2064 views)
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Re: [Koi38] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Oh ok- but doesnt jap matting need air for the bacteria to grow? I thought about putting K1 or something in the barrel with some jap matting ontop. As this would work as a better biofilter as its bigger area than my current box- The media in the black box is like flocor stuff- its black plastic and ribbed also has like bits of plastic in the inside- its sort of a cross between flocor and K1 but flocor size.

What is the difference between pre filter/settlement/ biofilter/ mnechanical filter etc- i think i no but just clear it up

smithy
Koi Lover

Jun 1, 2006, 4:35 AM

Post #12 of 28 (2040 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

I completed the barrel filter tonight- It did it differently to yours. I used 1''3/4 for the solvent weld pipework. I hooked it up to the pump and it gives a great votex effect with the pipe being smaller in diameter. However- i used 1''3/4 also for the drain and this connected onto a reducer outside the barrel and 3/4 inch piping took it to the pond. However the outlet couldnt get rid of the water quick enough so the barrel overfilled. I have some 1''3/4 flexible hose so im hoping if i attach that rather than the 3/4 inch clear hose it will get rid of the water quicker and stop it overflowing. I now have a problem- the T joint valve in my bermuda 6000 pump snapped and the bit which snapped is trapped in the thread in the top of the pump. I cant get it out. So this pump is now nackered unless i can get a new assembly and replace the top of the pump. But i cant find bermuda company online- and theres nothing on the box or anything to tell me. Frown

So for now iv had to to put my old 3000 litre pump back in use- so this is now powering my black box filter. Using this pump will probably not make the barrel overflow which is something im going to try tomorrow- but it wont give as good a vortex i feel. I also bought the media today while i was getting some other connectors- i bought a bag of flocor and some jap matting. Iv put some mesh down above the tee and 90 angles- and the idea is for the flocor to sit on top of the mesh and then have 2 discs of jap matting ontop. I would of done what you did and rolled it up- but it was too expesive for me to buy all that at once. Just an update. Please can you answer to the post before about settlement/prefilter/mechanical bio etc koi 38? ]
Heres a pic of my barrel filter /media
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/4330/picture0041hc.jpg
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/6668/picture0052nc.jpg

(This post was edited by smithy on Jun 1, 2006, 4:38 AM)

Koi38
Senior Member

Jun 1, 2006, 7:02 AM

Post #13 of 28 (2023 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi smithy,

What is the difference between pre filter/settlement/ biofilter/ mnechanical filter
Settlement is the very first filter(chamber) where the solid waste settle get collected then flush(drain), no media here. Settlement normally has cone bottom with bottom drain for easy cleaning.
Prefilter is the 2nd filter(chamber) which filters the suspended waste that do not settle. Some ppl uses brushes and some use static media.
Biofilter is the heart of your pond without this our pond will not fuction at all. This is where the benificial bacteria colonise. They are the one that process the fish waste which maintains the clear good water. Rule of thumb "the bigger the biofilter the better"
Mechanical filters are the above Smile

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

smithy
Koi Lover

Jun 1, 2006, 7:06 AM

Post #14 of 28 (2019 views)
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Re: [Koi38] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

k thanks- what you think of the barrel and media. is this ok? I was going to put air in the barrel- but this would stop me having a settlement filter. Is this a big problem?

Koi38
Senior Member

Jun 1, 2006, 7:13 AM

Post #15 of 28 (2019 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi again smithy,

If the vortex effect is too strong the solid waste will take a long time to settle. Like you said the reason why it overflowed was coz of the outlet was too small. Try to use same size pipe or larger for outlet to reduce water restriction flow.

I now have a problem- the T joint valve in my bermuda 6000 pump snapped and the bit which snapped is trapped in the thread in the top of the pump. I cant get it out
If can post some pics of the pump and the bit that can off I think I might have the solution to take it out Wink

I will still have the jap matt above the mesh. This will trap the solid waste, if you have the flocor then the matts some waste will be trapped in the flocor which will create foul water. Just a thought Smile

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

smithy
Koi Lover

Jun 1, 2006, 7:20 AM

Post #16 of 28 (2015 views)
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Re: [Koi38] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yea im going to put the same size flexible hose as the outlet pipe and try tomorrow- i dont think it will be a problem now as im using the older pump. Any chance i can have ur email addy and i can send u the pics. I will get them tomorrow as its midnight here lol. The idea is to have the flocor ontop of the mesh so when i drain the barrel it isnt sucked into the drain outlet, and then the jap mat ontop. I will shake and drain probably every week so will foul water be a problem then? Where should i put the air pump. I was thinking about putting it in the barrel and have the air stones on top of the meshing?

Koi38
Senior Member

Jun 1, 2006, 7:32 AM

Post #17 of 28 (2011 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi smithy,

The thing that worries is that some solid waste will travel all the way to the underside of your jmatt evetually get trap there. Now when you drain your drum some waste will be trapped on jmatt and flocor that the other reason why I don't advice air too.

rgds,
Jon

PM sent for emaill addy

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

smithy
Koi Lover

Jun 1, 2006, 7:43 AM

Post #18 of 28 (2006 views)
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Re: [Koi38] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

pm replied

smithy
Koi Lover

Jun 2, 2006, 12:19 AM

Post #19 of 28 (1947 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Managed to get the barrel filter working. The pump is sort of fixed manged to put some pipe inside the broken bit and then attact a new t valve- so its ok. This is pumping water into the barrel and the other older pump is pumping into the black box. Im adding the air pump in tonight- but as you said koi38 im going to put the air stones above the jap matting so it only moves the flocor. Also will put one in the black box- SO in effect i will have a prefilter/settlement/ biofilter and another biofilter. The barrel will take time to mature but hope to see some effects in the next few weeks. I mite try and use both boxes off one pump i will just have to have a go and see what happens. Thanks for the help koi38 i will get some pics up on here to show the changes. ASAP
Cheers Wink

Koi38
Senior Member

Jun 2, 2006, 12:44 PM

Post #20 of 28 (1930 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi smithy,

No worries mate, that's what koi keeping is all about. We share and learn Cool

Your new filter will take at least 4 weeks to kick off so try to feed a lettle to avoid ammonia spike. Once you've detected nitrate it means your biofilter has started or kicked off Smile

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

smithy
Koi Lover

Jun 2, 2006, 4:12 PM

Post #21 of 28 (1913 views)
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Re: [Koi38] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Manged to get both boxes working off one pumps- took a while to get the flow correct though because sometimes the barrel would overflow before the black box had time to balance- Theyre both working now. So the barrel is feeding the already established box biofilter with UV and thats feeding the pond. Got the air pump in aswell its only a small one but i suppose any increase in dissolved o2 will help things along. The old pump i have on the floor of the pond which is churning up any dead spaces of water in the hope they will get filtered to- bit mucky at the mo but i expect things to improve fairly soon. Yea cheers mate youve been a god help- Theres a few water droplets leaking from some of the outlets of the barrel so will probably seal with again with some silicone. I will get some pics taken to show the new setup once the water clears up a bit.
Thanks once again

Koi38
Senior Member

Jun 2, 2006, 4:32 PM

Post #22 of 28 (1910 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi smithy,

I'm glad everything is working for you now Cool

.

Just keep an eye on the water clarity and quality and take note of the changes. Check water parameters regularly Smile

Remember feed few pellets per day only until the new added filter has kicked off Wink

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

smithy
Koi Lover

Jun 3, 2006, 5:32 AM

Post #23 of 28 (1881 views)
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Re: [Koi38] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi guys, thought id post a pic of my setup at the mo. I am hoping to post some more once my water clarity has improved due to this new barrel. These will be of the pond. I also posted my pic of my barrel for the guy who needed alot of things answering in the other topic- this may help him just to see another version of the barrel filter but in real life. AS you can see from the picture the barrel filter is pump fed and then the outlet pipe from this flows into the other uv/bio filter. It then returns to the pond. I have also added the small air pump to the barrel filter in order to help the bacteria along- ideally it needs to be a bigger output as this one is from an old aqaurium and only pumps out 10 L/min. But this will be an upgrade for the future. This top pond now has all the plants in it.Previously i had them dotted around both ponds. But decided to keep my bottom pond clear apart from the koi in it. Hoping these will take out some nitrates before the water flows down the chute into the bottom pond now.
As i say more pics to follow once the water clears up but thought this pic showing the setup for me may help others.
Any comments greatly aprreciated.

http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/8140/picture0049ws.jpg

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6066/picture0064xy.jpg

smithy
Koi Lover

Jun 6, 2006, 6:35 AM

Post #24 of 28 (1804 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi guys. just another update. I added another outlet to the barrel filter. I did this because the pump was only half on and i thought it was better to run it at full. So now i have one outlet running straight into the top pond and the other going into my Uv. The outlet into the pond is creating lots of bubbles because of the O2- which is good. I also bought a bigger airstone which is in the top pond. Also because there is better flow out of the barrel filter it means more water is going into my top pond which means water has to flow down the chute quicker inorder to maintain the balance between the two ponds. This is also adding o2 as the water is travelling down the chute faster and more at once. So this should be helping my dissolved 02 amounts greatly. However over the last few days iv noticed alot of foamy bubbles. Im notsure if this is just because of the air bubbles coming to the surface and joining up or if it is something more dangeroud such as the proteins or something? i will try and get some pics to show you. it isnt bad but there are a few foamy looking bubbles round the perimeter of the pond. Any first ideas anyone why this has suddenly appeared and is it bad or is it just because of the 02 enrichment? Will follow up with pictures probably tomorrow

Koi38
Senior Member

Jun 6, 2006, 8:06 AM

Post #25 of 28 (1798 views)
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Re: [smithy] MY POND [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Smithy,

What you having now is DOC(dissolve organic compound). This is harmless is just unsightly. If you want to get rid of this you'll need a protein skimmer. Check the DIY section again coz I made one myself Laugh

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

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