Simply Koi and More Koi

Ok so I have decided to make a start on upgrading my pond.

Used to have a liner in, pump fed to Genesis3500 Filter. I plan on changing to gravity fed via bottom drain. The pond will then be rendered & painted or GRP, but will need a proper quote, not a guesstimate!, (I have to run all budgetry pass to guvnor!)

My plan is this;

To dig out the bottom approx 6-8 inch's, then place the BTM drain and pipe work. I thought maybe I could run the pipe in the corner (see photo) up to the level req then core drill wall and run pipe through. Then pour the base to the previous level. I will also add another block to the main wall, this should then give me approx 4ft depth.

To hide the pipe I plan to cut blocks at about 45degrees and sort of box in this section, then backfill with concrete.
How does this sound? also whats the best way to bench the base? should this be done with the concrete pour, or do this when rendering?

Why won't my photo's upload?!

Ok think I've sorted the photos!!!

Hi
If you want you can bench the bottom..but if you use a airated bottom drain you don't need to,I know they cost a lot more but you won't regret buying one..it wouldn't cost much more to add a couple of layers to your wall and well worth it for the extra gallonage,

It would be better to go straight to your filter in one go instead of having bends in the pipe work..it's a lot more work but then again well worth getting it right,hope that helps a little.

Geoff

Hi fisherboy,

I can't see any problem with your idea for boxing in the 4" pipework to the bottom drain as it will give a nice rounded corner
as for the benching of the base i dont feel this is really needed as the pull through the B/D especially if aerated should clear the base without any problems so you could get a good finish by just floating the base

ah i see geoff just beat me to this post

Thanks for the replies!!!

How would you recommend running the pipework to cut down on bends?

You can get swept bends and also 45 so this helps reduce the restriction.

Fisherboyfishy,
why not core drill at the bottom of the pond and trench to your filter bay with 1 swept 90 bend straight to your filter, then lay your base over the pipe

Doing it that way I will have 2 swept bends, The way I plan I will have 3. Do you think that the extra bend will make that much difference?

I worry about drilling & digging around foundations, don't want any accidents!!

What everyones opinion on render & paint?

Hi Fisherboyfishy,

It is always best to have as less bends as possible so you get the best flow and less chance of any waste being left in the pipe.

Render/paint i am nor 100% sure on what type paint but there have been people in the past who seemed to have trouble with some of these have you thought about fiberglass

fishboyfishy wrote:What everyones opinion on render & paint?

I've used G4 over fibre-reinforced render and it was a pig to get on there (very sticky!!!) but has done a great job (touch-wood) for the last 10 years.

When I recently re-did my filter in concrete I used "another pond paint" that was a two part formula and it was horrendous. It went on much more easily but then it ran straight back off again and never set! And this was mixing up using full quantities so I know I didn't put the wrong amounts of the resins together. They sent me another tub from a different batch that was better but IMO the finish is nowhere near as good and there are some points where water has got under the paint and bubbled up underneath.

Basically I'd use G4 again but not the other stuff, but for the money I'd probably put foam and then fibreglass it. Much quicker and much better finished.

If I did use G4 then I'd be tempted to get a plasterer in to do the rendering as the finish of the render is so important to the final finish. Mine isn't as smooth as I'd like!

Would very much like to have it fibreglassed, but have yet to have a quote that was on this planet!!!

Does anyone on here have DIY experience, cos I can buy a DIY kit for £250?

I think Bob Hart on here does it.

pond fibreglassing is a big job and unless your pretty handy with a tub of resin and a roller i would get someone else to do it as if it goes wrong its a real hard job to put it right.

£250.00 for a diy lot for a pond sounds very cheap. unless youve a bath-tub sized pond..