Koi Cymru

A Guide to Modern Koi Pond Construction Getting the levels correct
You are now well into digging out the hole, and you now have to start thinking about levels.
	The first thing to consider is at what height you want the final water level of the pond, and every measurement will be taken from that point. It is a good idea to get a length of 2" x 2" timber at least 8ft long, and drive this into the ground close to the outer limits of the foundation. (a). Mark with a pencil the desired final water level. (b). Mark the level of the top of the pond edging. The area in between the two marks can then be painted yellow, or any colour you prefer, as shown in the photo. (c). Now mark the level which represents the depth of the pond. (d). Mark below this the depths of the concrete foundations. Again you can paint the area between these two marks. You now have reference marks to dig out the hole.
	Using a long spirit level and straight edge is ideal for setting up the general levels, but it is difficult to be completely accurate over a very large pond.
	The method shown in this photo is commonly used in the building industry. The container is put in one place, and is connected to the marked rule with silicon tubing. You can then take the rule around the excavation, and mark off the levels in line with the liquid in the tubing. The unit shown in the photo is available from builders merchants for about £67, but it is quite easy to make one yourself.
	In this photo club members are using a similar idea, but in this case they are using airline tubing, and marking off the levels on the uprights. With both these case it is important to make sure there are no air bubbles in the tubing.
	In the last few years the price of these laser levels has come down and now can be considered when you are building your pond. They can be obtained from stores such as B&Q Warehouse or Screwfix.
The next step is looking at the concrete base

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