Simply Koi and More Koi

im going to go down the route of a poly pond 12ft by 5ft circle half below ground and half above, airated bottom drain ,what i want to ask is will it be ok with a flat base with a spindrifter on and lots of air or do i need to have it benched ??

Hi,
As everything to do with koi you will get different opinions.
I have a pond which base is approx 5mx2m. I have not benched mine and with 120l going through a b/d I have no problem with any settlement.
It works for me
Paul

If i remember right i'm sure Gazza's pond has a falt bottom and he has no trouble. Mine is flat also.

I know a girl with a flat bottom.

brother of feeeshpond wrote:I know a girl with a flat bottom.

Only one

Getting back to the subject, I would bench the bottom towards the bottom drain. I think it definitely helps to draw all the crud to the filters, assuming you don't have a foot long blanket weed.

how far down would you set the returns , what is the best type of skimmer to buy?

Certkin Flap weir skimmer. Not the collar type they are crap! The Certkin allows for a 2 inch and a 1.5 inch threaded outlet so you can if you choose have 2 seperate sytems runing from 1 skimmer. Overkill I now but the option is always there

Returns? I rarely place them below 12 inches from the final water height. Not a big believer of lower/closer to the pond floor retrun type of guy. What you will find is that as you are returning your water because it is a round pool any way it will create a "natural" flow which will help with the aid of a spin drifter to clean your base.

Good luck.

Jules

boogatee wrote:

brother of feeeshpond wrote:I know a girl with a flat bottom.

Only one

I know a couple with very nice bottoms! (Not sure how the waste would settle though....)

Seriously, I can't see why you wouldn't bench the bottom slightly as it can't hurt and helps the wastes settle out near the bottom drain. Adding air to the bottom drain certainly imporves the draw of waste to hte drain though too.

Hi jules the only worry i have is putting the tank in place (getting the bottom drain in the correct place it going to be placed on a sand base and underneath is clay? any tips?

Yes i do have a relatively flat bottom as i think the air from the bottom drain helps with pulling the waste down the drain.

i think its just what method you prefer some like benching

hi gazza how far down are your returns?

I have one about 12"-18" and another about 2-3ft

i was looking at 2 returns one from drain-filter-pump-return and the second from skimmer-pump return should i put the filter ruturn as the low one or will it not make any difference ?

It will not make any difference because you are creating a current and directional flow in your pond. This matters none if it is clockwise or anti clockwise. If you add an airated dome this will assist in keeping your bottom clean, not that you probably have any issues there either

Are you raising th epond up? If you are I would place the returns below the soil so you have no unsightly pipes sticking out of your pool and making it harder to brick round. Just an idea?

Jules