first pond, some ?s

[dmopar74]

i will be setting up a pond, it is a pallet bin 48x44x25(19" water depth) with two 1.5" overflows merging to a single 2" drain that will be going to a 80g sump, return is 1" splitting to four 1/2" returns. i would like to keep some koi, although i know this will not be large enough for life by far, more of a growout, perhaps 3 koi starting at a small 3-6" size?

so what flow rate should i be shooting for?

should i put a heater in for the winter time?

for the sump i was thinking drain into a filter sock, and having fully submerged bio media for maximum water volume(sump completely full of water and bio).

any other things i need to know, or is it basically the same as indoor tropical aquaria, just colder?

thank you for your time, never done a pond before!

 

[Dr Joe]

Good find '

175g will make a nice growout tank for a few koi.

Looks like you have most of the plumbing done. Is this going to keep the detritus off the bottom?

2x - 3x turnover rate should be fine if the sump is working well. You can plant Cattails in pond pots with course gravel to help filtration too (cheap).
"should i put a heater in for the winter time?" only if you can't wear shorts in the winter .

I'd insulate it just to keep temp swings down, and more so for the winter.

Either spray the return water into the pond or get some heavy aeration in the sump (under the bio-media).

Keep us posted on your progress,

Dr Joe

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[Daviotkern]

Ok for your flow rate a general rule of thumb is your total gallons of the pond per hour a little more or less won't hurt. Your bio material is going to need oxygen otherwise your benifitial bacteria are going to use it from your water i would put a bubbler beneath your boimedia, because of the size you should probably just put a small heater in this should be enough to keep it from freezing in the winter and help in the fall and spring also during the drastic day/night temp changes to keep your water temp a little more stable.

 

[dmopar74]

Good find '

175g will make a nice growout tank for a few koi.

Looks like you have most of the plumbing done. Is this going to keep the detritus off the bottom?

2x - 3x turnover rate should be fine if the sump is working well. You can plant Cattails in pond pots with course gravel to help filtration too (cheap).
"should i put a heater in for the winter time?" only if you can't wear shorts in the winter .

I'd insulate it just to keep temp swings down, and more so for the winter.

Either spray the return water into the pond or get some heavy aeration in the sump (under the bio-media).

Keep us posted on your progress,

Dr Joe

.

as far as keeping detrius off the bottom, perhaps i'll run 2 of the 4 returns to the bottom. i have a rena 400 air pump, i think i'll get a couple large bubble disks for the sump.

now as far as heating goes, what would be the most cost efficient way of doing this initially, i mean as far as buying the heaters? could i just use a couple stealth 250s in the sump? remember im not shooting for tropical, but just a preventative measure. i am also a plumber and have full acess to any plumbing stuff i need, is there something i could rig up, like a small 5g water heater?

 

[Dr Joe]

2 returns at the bottom will be great .

If you can swing limewood airstones they give a finer bubble.

As for heating, if you can swing 3 stealths set one lower than the others so it doesn't come on except in emergencies (either really cold or one heater goes out).

A water heater (20g 0r 30g, a 5g would always be on) can be used (especially if you can get used ones from work ) but you may have to play with the thermostats to get the lowest temp.. It's a little more plumbing (putting the heater inside somewhere) and a little stronger pump to compensate for the extra plumbing.

Plumber huh?! (that's why the work looked so good ) Let's think about a bio-tower...5ft-6ft 12" PVC pipe filled with scrubbies (or if you want to try cheap, lava rock) with a showerhead at the top and drain into the pond.

I'm sure we can think of some other stuff to put on here too .

Dr Joe

.

 

[dmopar74]

2 returns at the bottom will be great .

If you can swing limewood airstones they give a finer bubble.

As for heating, if you can swing 3 stealths set one lower than the others so it doesn't come on except in emergencies (either really cold or one heater goes out).

A water heater (20g 0r 30g, a 5g would always be on) can be used (especially if you can get used ones from work ) but you may have to play with the thermostats to get the lowest temp.. It's a little more plumbing (putting the heater inside somewhere) and a little stronger pump to compensate for the extra plumbing.

Plumber huh?! (that's why the work looked so good ) Let's think about a bio-tower...5ft-6ft 12" PVC pipe filled with scrubbies (or if you want to try cheap, lava rock) with a showerhead at the top and drain into the pond.

I'm sure we can think of some other stuff to put on here too .

Dr Joe

.

yeah i was just thinking bio towers would be great! also i bought the bin already plumbed so i cant take credit for that credit goes to big daves rays.

so for the pump i was thinking quiet one 3000. 3 stealth 250s for heat. and what for pump for the bio towers, or could i t off the 3000? cheap is best, but not crap. perhaps i could do something from harbor freight? plants i do want to do, perhaps in the sump to keep the pond open.

and dr. joe is it ok to use abs? i can get all of that free, i dont work with pvc often but can buy it.

 

[Muske]

Looks like a fine grow out. Heaters really depend on fish species. With koi I would think the stealths should do fine. If you have access to a 5gal. heater do it. I'm sure you can rig it to work and look good.

 

[Dr Joe]

yeah i was just thinking bio towers would be great! also i bought the bin already plumbed so i cant take credit for that credit goes to big daves rays.

so for the pump i was thinking quiet one 3000. 3 stealth 250s for heat. and what for pump for the bio towers, or could i t off the 3000? cheap is best, but not crap. perhaps i could do something from harbor freight? plants i do want to do, perhaps in the sump to keep the pond open.

and dr. joe is it ok to use abs? i can get all of that free, i dont work with pvc often but can buy it.

Hmmm Honesty... Is Big Daves rays on here too? :j/k:

The 3000 will give you about 3x turnover and drop quickly so use another pump for the bio-tower.

This one will work http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47138

But for the $20 difference you may just want to get another 3000 (maybe a discount for buying 2?). This would keep the plumbing simpler (same) and you could alway use the bio-tower pump as a backup for the pond.

ABS is fine for this. How big of ABS pipe can you get?

Dr Joe

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