Frosty
Koi Lover
Jul 9, 2004, 5:52 AM
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 Hi all
As a new member from Surrey in the UK, I thought it might be appropriate to describe a filtration system that has kept me clear of problems in a 1,000 gallon Koi pond for many years now. I use no external boxes at all, nor do I apply 'treatments'. All 8 Koi have been with me for some 15+ years, and range from 16 - 24" and in good colour. The staple diet for them has been whole wheat bread for many years, as I observed no enrichment to their well-being using high grade Koi pellets. When we're gardening, they get a weekend treat of chopped earth worms, and even snails, which they literally shake out of their shells by the head (Ugh)!
The filtration is aided by a header pool of some 100 gallons, fed from a 1.5" pipe straight up from the filter bed (7' below), entering diagonally in order to create a vortex before returning to the main pond via a 6' falling stream laden with rockwork for optimum turbulence. This concept was based on an old Japanese Koi book I once read, which said in it; "for water to be clear and pure, it should fall at least 4' over stone!" All of the rockwork is either worn limestone or glacier boulders, so PH is on the highish side at 8+. The amount of sediment 'dropped' in the header pool is phenomenal, and provides Madam with great top-dressing for the garden .
Now to the filtration system (patent pending), which comprises a matrix of 1.5" pipe work under a bed of mixed grade coarse shingle and grit of between 4 - 6" deep. This arrives at an 'Oase' (Tm) 15000 pump (3K gallons per.hr.) via a fixed stand pipe up to the shallow area trough where the pump sits (for easy maintenance), and then up via a continuation of the stand pipe to the header pond. Operational time is 24,7,365 uninterrupted, and very low cost. Maintenance to the filter bed is absolute zero! The fish are absolute gluttons, but due to the volume of moving current from the waterfall, are all beautifully shaped due to the exercise they enjoy by swimming against the current.
I have nearly completed a total re-modelling of the pond, expanding its capacity to some 2,250 gallons. I have also added another (slower babbling type) water feature at the new north end, which is fed by an 'overflow' surface skimmer to the north west of the pond perimeter. This clears the surface of ANY debris inside 20 mins! Again, due to their reliability and power, this is driven by an 'Oase' (Tm) 15000 pump, which is attached to a smaller version of the main pond filter matrix (patent pending) under a similarly graded shingle bed. We have yet to re-introduce the original Koi, but having 'kick-started' the old shingle material with a proprietary 'sceptic tank enzyme starter powder', Nitrite levels are dropping nicely since treatment.
I'll keep you good peeps posted on progress, and will happily post photos of the construction (including the 5 metre bridge) if you wish .
Good to be on board
Long-Time Koi Lover
Long-Time Koi Lover
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