help me out please

[chris & suzi]

Hi to every one.

This is my first post, so please baire with me on this, I'm very new to koi and ponds.

I'll start form the begining, I started with a small pond and purchased some fish (golden orfe, ghost carp, shubunkin) this pond was fine at the time!!! but I was always fastinated with koi, but was always put off with the work involved with keeping them ie pond size and depth, filter treatment aso.

Well as it goes I took the plunge and built a 2500 uk gal pond and bought my first koi which I call Marvin ( suits him a treat lol) since I bought Marvin I started reading up on koi and to say the least my eyes are blood shot with all the reading lol.

Now for the questions, I'm planning on making my pond bigger, roughly 6000 uk gal which will be in a kidney shape, and will be 6ft deep. The problem I have is filter!! which one do I go for, do I go for a multi bay filter or a beed filter? the pond will be a butyl liner pond, but do I go for a bottom drain system or pump? and if I go drian can I use a bead filter? the reason I would like to go for bead is you get more for your money (as budget isnt the best but I do want the best for my fish), the next thing is the pump once I started looking at this it overwhelmed me with the choice of pumps. Also I'm I best getting an airrator?

The set up I have at the moment is perfect, my water is crystal clear and all my pond tests are coming in as they should be, I use a water purifier for water changes and top ups, and I have a 55w uv setup.

I would really appreciate any info and and on this please.

Thank you
Chris & Suzi

[MikeM]

Before you undertake this adventure, you will need to do even more reading. I assume you are in Britain? ... If so, you are where the greatest advances in koi pond design came first. Get the book Koi Kichi. It is dated in regard to the latest filtration equipment, but it is on target in every respect... far better than so many so-called 'complete' books on koi. You will love a 6,000 gal (UK) pond if done right. You'll hate it if done wrong.

Short answers: Absolutely essential to use bottom drains. Bead filters are best for capturing fine debris after water has gone through 'something' to capture the algae glarf, leaves & such that will clog the beads. A vortex settlement chamber prior to other filtration is recommended. Need a skimmer to filter out buoyant debris. Best to have 'gravity fed' filter system. If you are not familiar with the concept, then all the more reason to read Koi Kichi.

For 6,000 gallons in kidney shape, I'd do two bottom drains... slope pond bottom toward drains (2 saucers). Water from bottom drains would go to vortex settlement chamber(s), and then to Nexus filter with EAzy. One skimmer, with a filter mat, leading to bead filter. Turn over pond volume every hour. ...I'm sure others will have their own ideas.


Good luck!

...and Welcome!!