New 8'x5'x4' Pond Build - Need Advice

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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peterp63

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 13, 2008
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On a boat!
Originally was going to stick a couple of poly totes in this hole.... well, plans change..... Bigger is better, right????

Planned stock for this pond will be about a dozen goldfish and a few koi. I will have about 250 GPD constantly dripping into this pond from my indoor tanks' drip systems. I'm attempting to keep the filtration as cheap as possible yet as efficient as possible. Please help with any suggestions. This is my first pond build. Thanks MFK!!!

Yesterday - 2 ft deep
View attachment 859630

Today - 3 ft deep
IMG-20121217-00307.jpg

IMG-20121217-00307.jpg
 
Quick thoughts on filtration.....

One submersible Laguna Max-Flo 2900 or 4200 on the bottom of the pond to pump to ?????.
Another Laguna Max-Flow 2900 or 4200 sitting in a skimmer box to pump to a ???????

Trying to avoid adding a bottom drain... thoughts are to use a submersible pump at the deepest point in the pond and pump to some sort of filtration and then back to the pond. Skimmer is hard to get around though.... so, I would stick another sub pump in it and pump it through some sort of filtration and back to the pond.

Thoughts on how this would work and what type of filtration????
 
You may want to go a bit deeper if you live where the pond will freeze in the winter. I live in Buffalo and have a koi pond, mine is 4.5 feet deep and all the fish survive the winters. Good luck
 
It gets into the 20s a few times per year, but that's about it.

My main question is filtration. Trying to keep things simple, so I don't have to mess with it too much (my inside tanks take up enough time!). I was trying to avoid a bottom drain, but people are telling me that is the only way to go. Where would you route the bottom drain to to collect the solids???

Skimmer box to some type of bio filtration makes sense to me.

Bottom drain to bead filter???? Vortex chamber then back to pond???
 
If it were me I would make it bigger, it's only a matter of time before you will wish it was bigger.

If you are going to do cinder block sides you could also put do a concrete floor and water proof it with RuberizeIt, instead of using a liner. Seems like the product is working well from the threads I have seen on Kiophen.com

http://www.rubberizeit.com/

You could use a laguna filter skimmer and then add on a Laguna powerfalls filter later when you need more filtration.

You should definitely go to koiphen and ask questions. Lots of pro pond builders there who can keep you from making costly mistakes.
 
I'm down to 3 ft deep at most areas now. I'm going to keep digging until you guys say stop lol.

Plans are to install a bottom drain and skimmer. The bottom drain will run to a settling chamber and one large pump will pull suction from both the SC and skimmer. The pump will feed a bio filter (possibly a skippy) and be routed back to the pond.

Now, my question.. What is the best way to build a 10" or so wall above grade to conceal the liner and keep dirt, leaves, etc out?
 
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