Paul D Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Seriously considering building a Koi pond ( well getting one built ). Does anyone in the club have experience in building ponds or know of anyone ? ps; Tried JimBob already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjb Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Hi Paul i have got a pond above ground built of brick before i put the liner in i covered the inside with foam sheets and the filter needs to be a pressurised unit if below ground line hole with sand then put in liner pump will then feed gravity filter if fish are true koi don't have plants as they will knock them over and make quite a mess good luck graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted June 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Graham, Thanks for the reply. I am planning a raised pond partly below ground - bottom drain and a gravity fed filter. Pondering ( excuse pun ) as to whether to get block built or get a liner and build up using railway sleepers ( prob be sleepers if doing myself ) or if to get whole job done by someone else. Filtration already worked out ( thinking along lines of gravity fed Nexus unit ) Size circa 2500 gallons. Depth circa 4 ft I am getting a quote but suspect may be too expensive = so looking at DIY options + getting hole dug and concrete in base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjb Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 (edited) Paul i have gone for the pressurised unit so i can hide this behind the end of the pond other wise the filter has to be on show above the pond so mine pumps out over the end wall to filter whitch also has a light to help cleaning and back to a pot on the side so no filter in eye line and i can back wash this once a month for cleaning graham Edited June 8, 2011 by gjb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 POND More expensive than a boat, More work than a boat. Less pleasure than a boat. Get your wallet ready Paul. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Nash Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Not sure I agree with your last post Jim (apart from the wallet bit) I built a small pond, then increased it, and again and again till it ended up being a 6000 gal pond (more like a swimming pool). Bought some 3 inch Koi from Sway Lakes and by the time I moved about 9 years later there were a couple of them well over 24" long. They used to come to the side of the pond and eat from my hands too. I built a smaller (but deeper) tank when I moved but alas my babies didnt survive for long Fantastic, relaxing & rewarding hobby once you get it right. Bul very frustrating, expensive and saddening when you dont. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Try BigMac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mw Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 He wanted a pond not a burger mw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Alan McAvoy has kept Koi for years and will be able to tell you all you need to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted June 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Thanks Trevor - I will sound him out. I did get plenty of useful information from pirky ( Dave ) as well. I am not convinced a pond will be less pleasure - I figure I will have something to keep me occupied when it is too windy to take the boat out - which nowdays is most weekends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinbad Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Or another 'hole in the ground' to pour money down... looking on the bright side of course Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coddy Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Paul You can't claim Koi for the boat species --------------- it's a new rule, anyway you will be on a fixed structure, the trailer! Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 (edited) Nice live bait facility though........... Edited June 9, 2011 by Wedger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dainichi Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 Hi Paul Before you go headlong into building a koi pond I would advise you to come along to a couple of our meetings of Dorset Koi Keepers Society. We have a great bunch of friendly and experienced koi keepers who are more than willing to impart their knowledge, much like our own PBSBAC. We meet once a month on Sunday afternoon and are currently holding our meetings in members gardens. The next meeting will be on Sunday 3 July at my friend Rita's In Bransgore Christchurch, also a member of PBSBAC. You and your lady would be more than welcome to join us and I would be happy to introduce you. refreshments will be served throughout the afternoon which commences at 2.00pm until around 5.00pm You may also see a familiar face. You can contact me via e-mail or Tel. (mornings) 01425 479096 Regards Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted June 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 Alan, I shall definitely take your offer up. Bransgore being not far at all for me either . Will be in touch. cheers Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirky Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 Alan......do I get a chance of a cuppa and a biscuit too ?? I may recognise a few of the faces too !! Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnasher Posted June 11, 2011 Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 if you want any advice on keeping/breeding koi, pm dom. He worked for New Forest Koi for about 7 years and has plenty of knowledge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dainichi Posted June 11, 2011 Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 Dave, You will have to wait and see if you get an invitation from her in Bransgore! Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMac Posted June 11, 2011 Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 Paul, Ive kept koi for over 20 years and they are a very satisfying fish to keep. I am presently collapsing my pond as I feel that they deserve more time than I have been able to give them over the last couple of years. I've got a formal (above ground)pond of 2500 gallons including the filters. I have kept mainly Japanese koi that I used to import with a friend but now only have 6 left after selling the other 25 or so that I used to have. One of them, a matsuba was 26lbs in weight when I sold it last summer. As a result of collapsing my pond, when I have managed to find a home for the remaining 6 fish, I will have some equipment at very reasonable rates that may be of some use to you, filters, pumps, UV's etc. Personally, I would recommend that you cast a concrete base and then block build up out of the ground and above ground level add an outside "skin" of brickwork. This can then be rendered and then painted with a fibreglass type paint. The gravity filter can either be fed by a bottom drain or by a 4" pipe extending to the bottom, if you have a slight slope on the bottom of the pond this would serve your purpose without the hassle of a bottom drain. My pond built in this way just required hoovering fornightly (through the warmer months) to keep the water crystal clear. If you do need any advice at all feel free to give me a ring and I'll help in any way I can. Al As a post script, I have 6 koi for sale all between 12 and 18 inches, a sanke, a kohaku, an ochiba, a goshiki, a doitsu goshiki and one non descript fish that I have had for 20 years. that all need a good home! Not looking for a fortune, about 50 quid each or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted June 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 Al, The description of the pond is exactly the sort of thing I am starting to come around to realising that I need ! ( was originally thin king sleeper etc. but having read up I am changing my mind and going down the bottom drain - block build - render - waterproof paint route. I will give you a call when I am back from London and yes, I may be interested in some of your eqpt for sale ( although have a Nexus filter in mind ). cheers Paul PS: Obviously, will be some time before I start filling pond with fish - dont want to rush putting fish in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted June 14, 2011 Report Share Posted June 14, 2011 Don't be shy in asking when you want some fish moved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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