how deep?

[hayden]

how deep is considered pretty deep for a completely above ground pond?
i am thinking about building a pond on the patio under my deck it is shaded and i can walk out from my bed room to look at it. i was thinking an 8x8x2 square or the same dimensions only octogon.

 

[Wolf3101]

I've built quite a few ponds over the years and I usually stick with a maximum depth of 5 feet. You can go deeper if you like but it gets difficult to maintain and very hard to see the fish. Most ponds...even the large dia. ones... are between 3 and 4 feet deep. I live in the desert southwest and the extra depth helps stabolize the temperiture. (Oddly enough our main problem here is COOLING the water...not heating it...)

 

[hayden]

well i live in cary nc so it gets over 100 in the summer and bleow freezing in the winter i was thinking about burying a coupe hundred feet of hose and constantly circulating water through it if my mom does not care that i.

 

[hayden]

dont mean to double post but, what dimensions would be need to keep 4 or five koi? what should i do about filtration? how much would that cost about?

 

[Wolf3101]

I usually build my own filters and would certianly be willing to assist you if you'd like. You mentioned an 8 foot by 8 foot pond...at 3 feet deep or so you could keep 4 to 6 adult koi without bieng overstocked... 4 would be better but 6 is possible with good filtration.

I usually build a screen box to hold a submersable pump... The reason I use them is because the heat energy of the motor is used in the water and not lost, making it more efficiant.

The filter itself is built out of a pair of laundry room tubs that you can pick up at your local home improvement place. the top tub contains the mechanical filter pads and drains down into the secound one below it. The secound tub has a plenum chamber for added media and a section of ceramic Bio-media.

The set up is very economical...reliable...and ones like it are keeping several ponds crystal clear in AZ at the moment.

 

[hayden]

okay so how much should i expect to spend total under 1000 bucks? i need to get a truck soon and i also need to maintain the truck and fish tanks. i would like to keep it as cheap as possible.

 

[Wolf3101]

A lot will depend on how you line the pond...a good pump will run 150.00 and the filter materials about another 150.00. I usually go with concrete but I've done a couple of nice liner ponds. Clay is another option if there is any available in your area. All together your probubly looking at a tad over your grand budget but that could change with a few good deals.

 

[hayden]

alright well i start work making 10 dollars an hour next week end its not consistent work but i should work lots of nights and week ends. so some time near december i should be able to start if all goes well, and maby i can get some parental funding since my mom does want a koi pond and it is her house.

 

[Wolf3101]

If she wants something a bit nicer and more perminate then talk to her about cement. Let us know when your ready and we can help you iron out your plans.

 

[hayden]

okay thank you for the help