New Pond Build - Some newbie questions...

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peterp63

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 13, 2008
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Guys/Gals,

I've been researching a lot on how to build an outdoor, in-ground pond. I drew up a sketch and wanted some feedback before I proceed. I already dug out the outline and the next step is to ditch it a bit more, install the inner form, install rebar/wire mesh, and pour concrete.

My goal is to have 2 bottom drains feeding a settling tank that will also act as a skimmer (sitting directly next to the pond - inground). Within the settling tank/skimmer I will have a basket full of bio media where the pump will take suction within the basket. The pump will return to a waterfall and to the opposite side of the pond to the waterfall. There will be a constant inlet of water from my inside fish tanks where I have a "drip system" installed.

Also, if anyone has any great places to buy bottom drains and recommendations for a nice high flow pump that would be great! What is the typical turnover rate for a large pond. Mine is going to be roughly 20x8x4 ft deep.

View attachment pond.jpg

View attachment pond.jpg
 
The biggest error I see in your drawing is the 2 bottom drains plumbed to a single pipe.This will not work,each drain needs its own pipe and without sharp turns!This and many,many,many more things are going to come up.I advise you to stop building your pond and get in touch with a local koi club in your area.They should be able to answer all your questions and get you moving in the right direction.
 
I disagree with the idea that two bottom drains can't be plumbed to a single pipe on the basis that it's perfectly acceptable to do so provided that they go to a larger diameter pipe that can handle their combined flow.

I would also make the biological filter & return pump a separate entity from the settling tank in order to make your maintenance easier as well as to keep any large gunk from ending up in the biological filter & return pump. The turnover rate will depend on how much filtration you plan on having.
 
Wiggles92 said:
I disagree with the idea that two bottom drains can't be plumbed to a single pipe on the basis that it's perfectly acceptable to do so provided that they go to a larger diameter pipe that can handle their combined flow.

I would also make the biological filter & return pump a separate entity from the settling tank in order to make your maintenance easier as well as to keep any large gunk from ending up in the biological filter & return pump. The turnover rate will depend on how much filtration you plan on having.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. With the relatively low pressures that are seen in a pond setting (especially on the suction side of a pump), the pressure drop across a 90 versus a 45 is relatively low. As for the bio in the settling tank, I was planning to utilize the kaldnes K1 within a basket and having the pump intake pull from within the basket. I'm attempting to minimize the filtration footprint. I may end up using a skippy filter that will feed the waterfall and increase my bio filtration capacity. I'm new to ponds, but not new to fishkeeping. I've bred many types of fish and have some experience, but none with ponds. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Regards!
 
Your plumbing and filter is going to be in-ground?

The best people to speak with about baller ponds is probably Flounder or SSRPrelude on HFB. They both have built some incredible ponds with the Tejas "proper filtration".
 
If I understand right, the pump will be drawing water out of the "filter" area to pump back into the pond.

With this idea that means the two drains will be "force" or "gravity"(for the lack of a better term) fed into the filter area. Sounds like it will be some problems there with either the weight of all the water in the pond forcing through and flooding the filter area and possible pump failure problems if it were to ever stop draining.
 
Yeah, in ground. The goal is to use gravity to your advantage. The bottom drains and skimmer will flow to the "settling tank" at the same rate as the pump puts out since it's always trying to maintain the same level. The settling tank is basically a big spot in the line that allows the flow to slow down and knock out large particles like fish crap. This will be removed to a waste stream on a regular basis. This keep the fish poo from making it to the pumps impeller, which would just mince it up and stick it back into the pond or some bio filter to be overwhelmed.
 
I agree with oldfish, BD should be plumbed separate for gravity feed. Also, many people use the sump as a settling chamber and a single pipe will force the water in at a higher velocity than two. Your pond is roughly 4500 gallons which requires to be turn one time per hour. That sumps going to be pretty big to do what you want. Lack of mechanical filtration will be a problem not to mention no UV.
 
Yeah although direct 90's probably wouldn't cause that much resistance you might end up havign some plant matter or something that could get hung up on a roner and start causing blockage, id at least get some of the big swooping elbows to help with waterflow and help prevent blockage. I only have a 300 gal pond but live in texas and have it in a sunny spot and can say even with only 2 goldfish and plants, and a 900gph filter along with chemical algea control I couldn't keep it from taking over without a UV filter. Don't have to run the UV constant but it comes in handy once in a while and makes a huge difference in the water clarity.
 
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