new koi pond filter help

swallowscott · 03-07-2009, 05:02 PM

hi, i am new to koi and am looking to build my first pond

my plan is to build a 1/4 of a circle shape, 2 feet under ground and brick 2 feet above ground and use pond liner. The pond will be 3500 litres

my first question is a bottom drain essential? and what are the main advantages of having one?

Secondly i need help choosing what type of filter to have? i really have no idea on where to start with which filters are best? so all adviappreciated

worthy · 03-07-2009, 05:46 PM

Right firstly have a bottom drain or you will regret it for ever more like i do but my new pond will have at least 1 may be 2 and secondly what is your budget?

swallowscott · 03-07-2009, 06:09 PM

what advantaegs do they offer? i no it is used for removing debri from the bottom, will my filter not be adeqaute? and a bottom drain is not used all the time is it?

i have budgeted £100 for construction as i can do all the brick work and construction my self and £100 for fish.

I was thinking £125 for filtration system? is this enough?

worthy · 03-07-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swallowscott

what advantaegs do they offer? i no it is used for removing debri from the bottom, will my filter not be adeqaute? and a bottom drain is not used all the time is it?

i have budgeted £100 for construction as i can do all the brick work and construction my self and £100 for fish.

I was thinking £125 for filtration system? is this enough?

Well ill tell you about mine all the time im having to sweep or hover the bottom of the pond because debri like alge and poo and im allways finding a build up of crap under the pump so i then made a retro bottom drain wich is a bottom drain conected to the pump in side the pond it works but still not great. as for your budget id add the £100 for the fish to your filter budget and get some fish when money allows the filter is your fish's life suport system and with that much you could get a good maulty bay system.

koimaster · 03-07-2009, 07:30 PM

i run 3325gallons on one bottom drain i have no crap on the bottom of the pond at all

koimaster · 03-07-2009, 07:32 PM

plus i think you need to look at the real price of building and running your pond i think you est's are way out.

£100

i think a liner would take over half that up if not more

swallowscott · 03-07-2009, 07:48 PM

my estimate of £100 was to construct the pond, brick, cement, sand, coping stones etc it didnt include the pond liner

i have seen pvc liner on ebay 4 x 5m which would be big enough for my pond fairly cheap, is something like this ok?

Pond liner 5 x 4 meters on eBay (end time 14-Jul-09 14:57:18 BST)

i no butyl is better, but i only want a small attractive garden pond i dont want some elaborate heavily stocked pond, although at the same time i dont want nothing rubbish that is not going to last.

how easy is it to attach a bottom drain to pond liner??

should my bottom drain be linked to my filter system and filtered back into the water and be permanently on?? or should i just put one in place and use it occasionally when i need to clean the bottom of the pond

koimaster · 03-07-2009, 08:38 PM

a flange fitting fit ring over the top screw and sealer in place easy

worthy · 03-07-2009, 09:20 PM

The way a bottom drain work is the water goes down the drain and then in to the filter so it is the main feed for the filter and then afert the filter you would have a uv light and then the pump to pump it back to the pond Koimaster has a diagram some where ill get him to post it so you can see what i mean

swallowscott · 03-07-2009, 10:17 PM

thank you, i think i get the idea now. i have been doing some reading up and i think i will go for a bottom drain to keep the pond clean.

how essential is it to have a uv light in the filter?

is it possible to construct your own filter, i have a large water tank (rougly 400 litres) which i was considering using and filling with filter media, only thing is it wouldnt have a uv light, i know the purpose of the UV light but is it essential?