Tip/Tricks/Advice for a new pond

[DrNic]

I'm beginning to put together plans for a koi pond that I'm hoping to build in the spring and I'm looking for any tips/tricks/advice. In particular I'm looking for ideas to help keep the costs down and avoid rookie mistakes if possible. I think I've got the basics down from my work with tanks but I want to try to avoid any upsizing issues.

At the moment I'm trying to decide between a purchased pond filter or a DIY setup using a water pump and a 20 gallon tub filled with bioballs.

Any thoughts/advice would be awesome!! As the build gets closer and more finalized I'll try to put up some design sketches in my blog. Thanks all!!!

[Crispy]

build a bucket-filter out of a garbage pail. you can fit plenty of floss and bio-media in there. they are huge filters which are super easy to make for dirt cheap. we have one running on a pretty good size pond.

it's hidden behind the waterfall and pumps about 2500gph after head height is factored in.
http://www.youtube.com/user/FoundUnconscious420#p/a/u/1/NGuw4mbDmhc

aeonflame gives detailed instructions on building an easy bucket-filter, just build it as big as you can.
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=60394

hmm.. I hope my video posts up there..

[DrNic]

Thanks for the link. That's almost the same design I was looking at except the one I was looking at was reversed with the water going into the filter at the top, filtering down through the balls, then out the bottom at ground level.

I can't get your movie link to work. Can you put up a link without trying to embed it?

[Scrup]

NGuw4mbDmhc

this work?

Bioballs wont remove the poop, they will just get coated in it, which will become a problem.

[smaug]

I went with the idea of just spending the money once and bought dedicated equipment. The pondmaster line is very heavily built and well designed for longevity and functionality. I have a fairly large thread on the forum with lots of pics and blow by blow comments from me. Everything looks real good so far with my pond so there may be some useful info for you.

[Crispy]

http://www.youtube.com/user/FoundUnconscious420#p/a/u/1/NGuw4mbDmhc

not sure why embedding is not working... hopefully this works.

http://www.youtube.com/user/FoundUnconscious420#p/a/u/0/_KI1ntX5eKc
^^ in this video you can see how we used some well placed plants to hide the filter.

[DrNic]

I went with the idea of just spending the money once and bought dedicated equipment. The pondmaster line is very heavily built and well designed for longevity and functionality. I have a fairly large thread on the forum with lots of pics and blow by blow comments from me. Everything looks real good so far with my pond so there may be some useful info for you.

Do those models hold up to the winter or do then need to be taken in before things freeze?

[DrNic]

http://www.youtube.com/user/FoundUnconscious420#p/a/u/1/NGuw4mbDmhc

not sure why embedding is not working... hopefully this works.

http://www.youtube.com/user/FoundUnconscious420#p/a/u/0/_KI1ntX5eKc
^^ in this video you can see how we used some well placed plants to hide the filter.
That's similar to the setup that I have in mind. I'm thinking 2-3 different depths, with about 3 feet total depth. Did you build this pond yourself or is it a pre-formed pond?

[Crispy]

That's similar to the setup that I have in mind. I'm thinking 2-3 different depths, with about 3 feet total depth. Did you build this pond yourself or is it a pre-formed pond?

this pond was built by me and a few buddies totally by hand and we used a old pool liner. it was a big round one. forget the specs of it... we didn't think we would like the white liner color, but you don't even notice it once some algae and plants take over. the basin at the top of the waterfall was my dads old preformed pond... lol... maybe 100g tops. the bucket filter can easily withstand the winter, I'm in Canada and it's all plastic, so far it's been fine. there's a thread about the build of this pond, check it out.......... hardest part was putting all those rocks in place!

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=63948

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=66395

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=66691