I bought a new how about 8 months ago, and instead of getting rid of the pond we have embraced it. The current size is about 15 x 13 foot oval and about 24 inches deep. Roughly 1500 gallons. The pond is around 20 years old, I think the liner is also. We did have a leak this summer by the waterfall, but there was enough slack to pull that area up. It has a simple skimmer and waterfall filtration with and aquasurge 3000 pump. I was told at one point it housed 8 koi that were breeding, currently we have 6 fish 7 to 8 inches long.
Crazy me is debating expending the pond. If you look at the overhead picture, I want to expend it along the upper potion around the back of the waterfall, and down the right side. I would also like to go from 2 to 3 foot deep for a potion of the pond. This would mean the pond would be roughly 4 to 5 feet longer, and 2 to 3 foot wider. It should take the pond to around 3000 gallons with the increased depth. So the questions.....
1. Removing the fish and saving as much of the rock as possible. Want to keep them and save my biological filtration. Want to be able to cycle the expended pond quickly, but realize it may take a few weeks to do this, if I do all the work. So would need an adequate temporary pond.
2. Mainly how to handle expanding the filtration. The current waterfall has a 23 inch spillway and measures around 30 x 30 x 24 incges. The skimmer has a 6 inch opening with about a 24 x 24 x 24 inch box. Can I just upgrade the pump for more flow? Use a similar filtration, but just upgrade the entire thing? My other thought was to keep this filter and add a similar second skimmer and overflow? Or since I have it opened up add a second center drain filter system. So yeah lots of thoughts on filtration.
I plan on going to 3 feet, and yes I want a bottom drain, just trying to figure out how to do it. I see some bottom drain compatible skimmers, but they seem to only use 2 inch drains. If I use a separate pre filter that then drains into the skimmer/pump area, is there a suggested pre-filter? Or should I use two separate filter systems? Keep my current skimmer/waterfall and add a second filter. If so which ine?
Congrats on your new home and adopted finny friends.
There is a tremendous knowledge base within the membership here, so I'm glad you found it.
Due to NOT following the most sage advice I found here, I have went through the agony, and expense, of a few rebuilds due to being penny wise and dollar foolish. That said, IMHO start from scratch with a solid build plan that you share here. Educate yourself by absorbing as much as you can in the new construction and filtration sections. OVERBUILD substantially from what you think you can "get by with". You will be thankful later. I would start thinking 4 foot minimum depth with 4 inch bottom drain.
Rather than me restating things that much more knowledgeable members than myself have already posted, I'm going to stop here and offer you a phone conversation. If you think that would be helpful, message me directly and I'll send you my number.
Again welcome, and much success with your new babies.
Last edited by outerbanker; 08-01-2024 at 10:37 AM.
The exact depth and size can be changed and altered. My biggest question is how to handle filtration. We want to keep this as a natural looking pond with plants, etc. So a know I need to keep a skimmer, and want a bottom drain if there is a rebuild. So my biggest question is should I just go with two independant filtration systems or can they be incorporated into one system. I have been looking at the site as well as around the internet and have seen anything that settles this question for me. I also doubt my ability to build some of these filters from scratch, and worry about the time needed for a build such as this. I have 6 healthy young fish that will need housing.
Also, I am not sure how far to go because the pond as it stands works. The water in clean and clear, and has been sucessfully keeping fish for over 20 years, so it is a significant decision to pull that all apart.
The offer of a phone call should be taken up, even if new pond isn't acted on.
What do you like most about the existing pond?
Why do you want to change things? What is the real or perceived benefit(s) you seek?
It's human nature to want to change things. I used to work at a landscape supply. First customer would be seeking boulders, raised beds, trees and features because their yard was so flat and boring. The next customer wanted earth moving equipment to flatten out their hilly or slopey block. Repeated daily. I see a similar thing in my neighbourhood which has acreage blocks with large magnificent forest trees. Everytime a property if sold, the new owner cuts down at least half the trees. Quite sad unfortunately.
Nothing wrong with wanting to build a new pond but it's definitely worth asking why. At very least, perhaps wait a full year to see which way the wind blows leaves and cut grass, how much the sun direction changes and what water temperature extremes you receive. That will help you plan improvements hopefully.
Biggest driver is I like the fish and would like more of them, and I know with the current pond I am limited to 7 maybe 8 of them, if I am leaving enough room for them to grow, move, and be happy.
I do appreciate the phone call offer and I am thinking about taking it up. Do not want ir ro come across as otherwise.
I have lots of experience with fish just not Koi. I away had fresh water tanks as a kid, and more recently had a reef tank that I ran for about 3 years. I am finding taking care of the pond both easier and more relaxing than the salt water tank. Plus, I am finding friends and most importantly the wife, seem much engadged with the pond, then with any of my previous tanks. My wife in fact really likes the fish, when previously she was not involved at all.
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