Build Thread "My Wife's big hole in the ground" (her idea for the title)
Mod's can change the title if found offensive......I thought it was quite funny. She didn't think I would use it, after just shy of 20 years of marriage, you would think she would know me better than that
I almost didn't start a build thread but the wife pointed out how much I have enjoyed reading others and how much I have learned from reading others so I saw the light.
I had to rebuild my upper pond because it was basically a water garden. We were discussing it over an adult beverage one evening and she said "go big or go home" well it's big for us and our yard anyway. It is also what we can afford right now. She saw our Koi guys personal fish and how big they were and I told her ours would probably not get that big in the little pond we had. Also Brady's old girl had a lot to do with it. If he reads this, he will know which one we mean, and those that have visited Brady will likely know.
I have moved the fish to a 12' Intex pool and ripped out our two small existing ponds. The back yard looks like a tornado hit it. I don't have any pictures yet but will get some in the coming weeks. I just went back and looked at the pics of what we had, I'm almost sad as it was looking so nice. But that's progress I suppose and the fish will certainly love it.
I hired a contractor today to at least dig the hole. He is quoting me on the block work etc. as well. He should be able to start by next Saturday. I should have a quote for all of it by Monday. So he says..... He has a few concerns with the house foundation so we may have to move it a little but will cross that road when we come to it. As we were discussing things, he said he could quote the plumbing and all. I told him I would do the plumbing, he asked if those were 2" lines coming from my bottom drains and I replied "that is exactly why I am doing the plumbing, those are 4" lines" He grinned and said "Holy cow, your moving some water".
He will at least get the hole dug, tamp it, lazer level, bottom drain line trenches, etc etc. We will wait on the quote for the rest. I would really like to have someone do the block work to speed up the build and help save my already bad back.
The new pond will be 10'x20'x6 and a linear flow design. I have worked out a lot of the plumbing details with Birdman and have most of the equipment already. I lack one pump as I decided to add it after my order. I plan on 2 bottom drains each on it's own circuit and two skimmers on their own circuit. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 9k gallons and moving roughly 15k gallons an hour, 3" returns. I can't afford Cetus sieves right now and build the pond so I will add them later and use two 275g totes which I already have. 2 s/g filters on the skimmer circuit that will feed a large weir. (I hope, haven't worked the details out on that yet).
The plan is to get everything functional this year before fall. Next year we will work on aesthetics. I really want to get the fish in it this year so I can use the Intex pool for a Q/T. My wife says "No more fish until the new pond is built" which is probably a good idea. No Rainblood, she doesn't wear the pants in the family, she is just driving me to actually finish my pond.... All the filtration from the previous pond was moved to the Q/T.
It's funny to think a couple of years ago we built a "water garden" and she didn't want any fish. Well she has seen the light and enjoy the Koi as much as I do. She just remembers the large fish tanks we used to have and the maintenance involved. She hasn't had to touch the pond much and everything with the new build is built for ease of care as best I can.
We are both very excited to see this project get started. I'll stop boring you guys with my idle rambling. I'll post more as it happens and get some pics and/or a plan up. I do have some drawings but not in jpg format at the moment. I hope someone else can learn as much as I did from the build.
Last edited by Sp00ks; 03-04-2011 at 07:28 PM.
Jerry
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
- Thomas A. Edison