| If you follow any of the suggestions here it will be an improvement but without a major overhaul it will never be the "purists Koi pond" nor does it need to be. I've redone a few of these "Landscapers pond in a day" specials and can offer you some low cost suggestions to improve what looks like a typical AS pond.
Most important is the removal of the rocks from the bottom except for a few fist sized or larger pieces. This will increase water circulation substantially as well as filtration.
The skimmer needs to have a well fitting filter pad to prevent the pump screen from clogging and reducing the water flow. This pad should be at least 1" preferably 2" thick and should be serviced once a week on average. The pump screen should also be cleaned frequently.The net result again is better circulation and filtration.
The filter fall usually contains 1 1" filter pad and some Lava rock. I've found that increasing the pads to 6 1" and replacing the lava rocks with nylon scrubbies or any other large surface area media, will keep the pond crystal clear. Regular maintenance maybe every week or two weeks depending on the feeding schedule and stocking density, is needed for the filter pads.
A Tetra retrofit vaccum drain can be added without compromising the liner, although with the right maintenance schedule leading to better filtration and circulation the benefits of such an addition are not very cost effective or make much of a difference.
Other things i.e. larger pump, airstones, addl skimmers can be added later as the fish load warrants.
__________________
Werner
Pond-On (tm)
|