Simply Koi and More Koi

Hi.

Can not find anyone local to bulld my new pond so thinking of a few changes on my 1500 gallon pond.
pond is filtered by nexus 200 pump fed. would i gain anything by useing an airated portable bottom dome and useing a dry pump.
if useing dry pump will it still nead to be installed before uv light.
also can a reducer be used on return pipe to pond as at the moment it has a large pipe going over pond wall [a bit unsightly]
would like return about 12" below water surface.
thinking of a aquios surface skimmer what size pump for this and which would be best filter on it.
would be very gratefull for advice.
taxikoi

i am surprised in the present climate that there are no brickies out there to do the job for you.

as to your questions, why if you are modding it not fitting a proper bottm drain? then the nexus would be down level with the pond.

if staying pump fed then an aerated BD will be better. you could dry mount a pump, but everytime you turn it off you will need to prime it again. unless you feed it through a bulkhead fitting in the pond wall, as it needs to be below the water level.

you could reduce the return from the nexus but this will depend on your pump, too small and the nexus will overflow. not sure if you can gravity return below surface efficiently. you need to go gravity fed for this.

if you have access to the pond wall then you could put a drain in the side, then you can be gravity fed. only downside is you will still get muck on the floor that will need vaccing out, but i have heard reports that this is better as you dont get the big muck into the filter.

I bought a portable aerated bottom dome. The bottom dome was brill, the aerated part was rubbish, it blocked up frequently and you could only put a wisp of air through it. I finished up putting an airstone back in.
Alan