Alan went to the home of a local koi-keeper on business
and was very impressed with the large koi pond he saw there, and decided
he would build one.
His first pond was a fairly large ready made fibreglass pond, but as Alan's
interest in Koi increased and his collection of fish also expanded he then
decided to have a larger pond.
The pond described here is his third pond, and is very well laid out in a small
garden.
The base of the pond is 6 inch thick concrete and the walls
have been built using 18" x 9" x 4" concrete blocks
laid on their side so that the wall is 9" thick. Above ground
level the blocks used were 4" thick and faced with bricks.
The top of the wall is then finished off with bricks laid on
their edge, and for the main part this is 12" wide. The
wall was then rendered internally, and fibreglassed by Bob from
Pentwyn.
The brickwork has been continued around pass the
pond so as to incorporate the 36" diameter vortex chamber.
The pumps, valves, and some of the pipework are situated in a
void space between the pond and the vortex chamber.
A 0.33hp ITT Marlow pump is used
in the summer, and pumps water from the filter to the venturi,
and a power skimmer is included in the suction side of the
pump.
There is also a grundfoss 20/45N stainless steel pump which
pumps directly from the filter to another venturi. A 30 watt
UV unit is connected to each pump.
The wall at the side of the garden
is the same brick as the pond walls, and this is complimented
by brick pillars, and a wooden pergola spans between the wall
and the pillars. Two ornaments on the pillars are connected
to the mains water and are used to top up the pond
The filter unit consists of a three bay fibreglass
unit, and a brick wall is surrounding this with removable wooden
covers over the top.
Each bay has a bottom drain and this is led underneath the
unit to the discharge box where each pipe is fitted with
a valve. The first bay of the filter is the settlement chamber
and is half filled with filter brushes. The second bay has
Flocor, and the third bay has 24 brushes, Japanese matting,
and finally one row of brushes.
The pond has one four inch bottom
drain and this feeds the vortex chamber, and then passes to
the first bay of the filter. There is also a 4" diameter
mid-water feed connected directly to the first bay of the filter,
and bypassing the vortex chamber. Both pipes are fitted with
gate valves so that the mid water only feed can be used in
the winter.
Pond
details
Gallonage
Dimensions
Construction
Shape
Bottom drains
Filter feed
Year completed
Time to complete
4,000 total.
13ft x 9ft x 7ft deep.
Concrete blocks, rendered, & fibreglass.
Egg shape.
1 x 4ins.
Bottom drain to Vortex + mid water.
1994.
12 months
Filter
details
Gallonage
Type
Media Bay 1
Media Bay 2
Media Bay 3
Settlement chamber
Aeration
500.
Fibreglass unit.
Brushes.
Flocor.
Brushes & Japanese matting.
Vortex.
Hiblow 40
Pump details
Type, make, etc
Pumping capacity
Location
Water return
ITT Marlow 0.33hp & Grundfoss
20/45
2,700 g.p.h.
By vortex chamber.
Venturi in wall.
UPDATE 2004. Alan
& Margaret have now moved house and do not have a pond in their
new house.
This website started with a
booklet which I made up originally for the help of those members of the BKKS
- South Wales Section who were intending to start building a koi pond, and as the website has expanded more information and articles from other people have been included. This
is for general guidance only, and we do not take any responsibility for problems
that might occur by following these ideas. It is important
that you check out everything in your area, and check on local laws and rules
that may apply.
