Growing on pond under way at last!

vippymini · Post by **vippymini** » Mon May 28, 2007 6:51 pm

andy, if you get stuck for a small drill then just cut the head off of a small nail and use that. hubby says youd be surprised how easy it cuts through the pipe, and doesnt snap so readily. then clean off the burrs with a stanley blade as usual.

p.s. great bit of DIY you done there... a true koi-quester...

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Mon May 28, 2007 7:00 pm

Thanks Jane,

Will try that-am bound to break loads of small drills if not!

Cheers Andy

Post by **B.Scott** » Mon May 28, 2007 7:09 pm

Hey snow dog, Homer Simpson slippers ROCK!

B.Scott

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:07 pm

Hi,

It finally stopped raining long enough to get outside and get a picture of the base of the pond today. Unfortunately the rain had stopped but the wind had started as the gazebo shows!

Cheers Andy

Post by **B.Scott** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:10 pm

But your Wendy House is still standing!

B.Scott

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:14 pm

Hi,

Amazingly the wendy house remains- that side of the house is open to hte sun all day but also to the strong winds! Seems to work as it keeps the wind of the shower and stops to much cooling but catches the sun to help warm the water! Touch wood-will probably find it half way up a tree in the morning!

Cheers Andy

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Mon May 28, 2007 10:21 pm

Looking good Andy and look at that nice water pipe which will be handy for you waste

JohnC · Post by **JohnC** » Tue May 29, 2007 7:04 am

Yes Gazza, but not if it goes to a soakaway! Regards JohnC.

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:49 pm

Hi,

Some progress at last! Now have 2 layers of blocks complete-just three more to go!

My next dilema is do i bench the base or not? Internal dimensions are 7ft by 4ft,with a bottom drain in the center- there will be no returns to create a current as both returns will be fed over a shower. Not sure if benching will make much difference on such a small pond???

Any comments or ideas welcome!

Will post some pics tommorrow when the third layer is laid!

Cheeers Andy

GERRY5 · Post by **GERRY5** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:40 pm

andy...i would bench it regardless of what filters you are gonna use now , you might change later down the road , also it wont leave any corners or creases for nasties to play in ..good luck

Dazzle · Post by **Dazzle** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:38 pm

If you are going to all that trouble alittle benching won't take much more time and its always worth it in the long run.

Nice Base, Nice bottom drain - its crying out for alittle benching.

You know it makes sense Rodders.

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:01 am

Andy,

If you are going to use showers then you could put the drain at one end and the showers at the other and have a slight slope which will help with waste removal

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:17 am

Hi,

Ok looks like we will need some benching then! Im planning on insulating with kingspan so will i need to leave a flat on the edges so it will fit better? How much benching do i go for?

Gazza-should of fixed shower at one end and drain at other but drain is now under 6 inches of concrete

I may well use on return below the water line to creat a current although i would prefer both aqauamax 6500 going over the shower for a good turn over. Dont suppose anyone knows if the BHM has arrived in the country yet???

Cheers Andy

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:08 pm

Andy,

Dont go mad on the benching, just a couple of inch fillet in the corneers to stop anything getting stuck in there. You'll have a fast turnover and Koi in there, it's unlikely that much will stay still for long.

At the opposite end to the shower, put a curtain of air using some of that aeration hose, weighted with SS bar. Then you'll get a rise of bubbles the opposite end to the shower entering and a great current for the Koi to swim against. I often watch my Koi swiming in that current and it will mean they will keep a good bidy shape when you are feeding heavy.

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 9:09 pm

HI ALL,

Well today finally made some progress! Its rained everyday ive had off work for the last few weeks, luckily today it was dry so i got on with some more dodgy brickwork! Only one more layer to go which will be done tommorrow once the skimmer has set (fitted after picture was taken) Just waiting for renderer then! Should be 570 gallons without filters

Cheers Andy