positively...a koi pond

[JasPR]

Stucco, Bucko! JR

[luke frisbee]

Quote: Originally Posted by JasPR I say, paint the friggen house first! JR

Stucco
ain't paint

[Birdman]

This is not only what i think a min. but all in all a good sized managable pond..
Oval shaped, between 8 by 16 to 12 by 24

5 to 7 foot sides sloping down to 6 to 8 foot deep at BDs

two 4" aeriated Bottom drains, gravity flow to a 500 gal settleing tank, gravity flow to one or two in parallel fluid bed filters with 20 cubic feet bio media, to a 5 to 8000 gph pump to some kind of fines filter then to three 2" TPRs as in drawing.

Skimmer with strainer to a 8000 gph min. pump to a 4 tray shower to pond or water fall.

[luke frisbee]

Quote: Originally Posted by Birdman This is not only what i think a min. but all in all a good sized managable pond.. Oval shaped, between 8 by 16 to 12 by 24 5 to 7 foot sides sloping down to 6 to 8 foot deep at BDs two 4" aeriated Bottom drains, gravity flow to a 500 gal settleing tank, gravity flow to one or two in parallel fluid bed filters with 20 cubic feet bio media, to a 5 to 8000 gph pump to some kind of fines filter then to three 2" TPRs as in drawing. Skimmer with strainer to a 8000 gph min. pump to a 4 tray shower to pond or water fall.

so Bird man
any thing less than that would be not fit for koi?
yeah the man is asking for the acceptable minimum...not a righteous pond

[The Pond Digger]

I'm liking the direction of this thread. Might I suggest we move it to the Pond Construction Forum.

I have consulted with several koi pond designers on this topic and ONE (well know) Koi pond specialist delivered to me perhaps the most valuable piece of info. That is:

All Koi Kichi people will agree on three mandatory requirements in koi pond construction and debate for days, weeks, years or forever on the best way to accomplish them. In my travels and research I have found this advise to be absolute.

The three mandatory koi pond design elements.

1. Get everything out of the pond. Fish waste, wind blown debris, etc.
2. Settle solids
3. Nitrify the water and return........

Here is my opinion for minimum American Traditional Koi pond construction using these fundamentals. Mind you I am in Southern California so we will not deal with extreme winters. However we experience triple digits summers so the air drain and aerator are mandatory in my book.

10' Radius x 30" to 36" sides tapered down to 48" in the center.
One Bottom Drain with Diffuser
One External Pump
One Settlement Tank with Static Pre-filter
One TPR
Pond Skimmer (Ran into the settlement tank)
Biological filter
U.V. Clarifier
EPDM Liner
Aerator

This will be approx. 3000 gallons. Allowing 500 gallons per Koi will give a conservative stocking rate of 6 koi fish however I suggest stocking the pond with and odd number of fish. The daring could stock the pond with 7 koi or hold back and stock it with 5 koi.

I will look forward to the debates on how to accomplish the three fundamentals listed above to broaden my horizon.

The Pond Digger

[Birdman]

Quote: Originally Posted by luke frisbee so Bird man any thing less than that would be not fit for koi? yeah the man is asking for the acceptable minimum...not a righteous pond

Well, I don't think this a "righteous" pond. Actually pretty simple and basic if it's all DIY-ed. Like lava rock or feather rock for the shower. And while it might be more than min some what, He did say he wanted something good for koi. So that is what I would do.

[Birdman]

Just went back and re-read Mitten's origional post, and he did say absolute min. So forget my design I guess, or just cut it in half.

Go 4 foot deep, one 4" BD to a 250 gal settleing chamber with the skimmer tied into it. Gravity fed to one fluid bed filter, then a 5500 gph pump, to two sand/gravel filters in parallel and back to pond via two tprs and/or water fall..

[The Pond Digger]

Quote: Originally Posted by The Pond Digger I'm liking the direction of this thread. Might I suggest we move it to the Pond Construction Forum. I have consulted with several koi pond designers on this topic and ONE (well know) Koi pond specialist delivered to me perhaps the most valuable piece of info. That is: All Koi Kichi people will agree on three mandatory requirements in koi pond construction and debate for days, weeks, years or forever on the best way to accomplish them. In my travels and research I have found this advise to be absolute. The three mandatory koi pond design elements. 1. Get everything out of the pond. Fish waste, wind blown debris, etc. 2. Settle solids 3. Nitrify the water and return........ Here is my opinion for minimum American Traditional Koi pond construction using these fundamentals. Mind you I am in Southern California so we will not deal with extreme winters. However we experience triple digits summers so the air drain and aerator are mandatory in my book. 10' Radius x 30" to 36" sides tapered down to 48" in the center. One Bottom Drain with Diffuser One External Pump One Settlement Tank with Static Pre-filter One TPR Pond Skimmer (Ran into the settlement tank) Biological filter U.V. Clarifier EPDM Liner Aerator This will be approx. 3000 gallons. Allowing 500 gallons per Koi will give a conservative stocking rate of 6 koi fish however I suggest stocking the pond with and odd number of fish. The daring could stock the pond with 7 koi or hold back and stock it with 5 koi. I will look forward to the debates on how to accomplish the three fundamentals listed above to broaden my horizon. The Pond Digger

Face it. Once you build this pond and fall in love with raising koi, then you build a larger koi pond and this one becomes your quarantine tank, right! That's the addict in my talking.

The Pond Digger

[koiczar]

A BARE MINIMUM - How about this:

5' X 10' X 4' depth = 1500 gal. pond. 150 gal cone bottom settlement chamber > 150gal moving bed K1 filter > 150gal fine particulate chamber with 6" round grey Matala matting > 1/8hp pump @3600gph @4' head > 2 tprs . One 4" aerated BD. A Savio basic 8" weir skimmer > 1/8hp 3600gph pump > Ultima 2000 pressurized filter > 2 TPRs and waterfall. 40watt U V light rounds out the system requirements. Total = +/- 2000 gal system for 4-6 fish.

The pond would be constructed of 4X4 and 4X6 posts and 2X12 planks for walls. All wood is pressure treated. Cover the wood with Berber carpet underlayment and install EPDM liner. This pond is constructed 2 1/2' below and 1 1/2 ' above ground. Face surround/coping with cinder block covered with stone of your choice. Cover the liner with the stone coping on top to finish it off. Now, you not only have a very nice smaller pond to enjoy, you also have additional patio/garden seating to entertain your guests and show off your workmanship and eye for the distinguished fish swimming in the crystal clear water. ENJOY!!!

Mike

[Russell Peters]

How about a bucket and an airstone?