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Pond Construction and Pond Build DiariesPost all Pond construction Topics here. If you are starting a new project start your own pond diary.
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Hi, We are building a pond at the base of a waterfall we constructed for a customer a year or so ago, at the moment the water goes into a tank sunk into the ground which is controlled with a ball valve so that the waterfall never empties.
Other than fit a tank (using the same system) outside the pond, is there any way to have some sort of auto top-up system fitted in the pump?
Andy
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Firstly, what a splendid natural looking waterfall!
A few questions, as I'm groping in the dark here.
I guess this is to be a natural pond without filtration, no bottom drain arrangement?
Presumably, the waterfall will be falling into the pond?
Is the pump a submersible in the sump?
Will the original sump and ball valve arrangement have to be removed to construct the pond?
If so, you could connect the pond to a new small sump with a pipe, as long as the level of the surface of the water in the pond is to be the same as the water in the sump the existing arrangement would be suitable.
If you want to retain the sump, I've a similar arrangement. I've a 4" pipe from a bottom drain to this sump which is a 40gall plastic water but set in concrete, a pipe from this supplies my filters in the adjacent garage. The only visible evidence of it is the original lid to the butt.
Most koi keepers with small waterfalls, just rely on a slow 24/7 trickle of water in and out to waste to effect water changes and keep the water level topped up.
There isn't ever a rapid loss of water, due to evaporation, only if there's a leak somewhere.
Alternatively, you could dispense with the sump and just rely on a 24/7 trickle change, but you'd still need to put the pump somewhere, retaining the sump or repositioning it seems possibly the best option if you want to continue using the ball valve arrangement.
__________________ "I don't mind if you don't like my manners!
I don't like them myself, they're pretty bad,
I grieve over them on long winter evenings."
Last edited by Doghouse Riley : 08-12-2011 at 10:57 AM.
Hi Riley,
Right on all questions, the waterfall will not have a filter (no fish) although we did fit a UV light between the pump and the top of the waterfall which has been successful in keeping it clear, there is quite a volume of water flowing and in the summer I can foresee quite a lot of evaporation which is why we fitted the ball valve system in the tank. There will be no drain just a natural pond and the pond will be situated at the base of the waterfall where the present tank is situated so the tank will have to be removed.
I was wondering if there was any other way to top the pond up automatically other than an exterior tank because I am nervous about coming in through the liner which we would have to do to keep the feed below water level, I am scared of any leaks developing in the future around the entry and would like to avoid that route if possible. Didn't know if there was some sort of Demand Valve which could be used in ponds.
The client is quite solvent so the cost is not a priority.
Watch out for those conifers, they will get quite big quite quickly!!!!!!!!
Andy
Last edited by andersonec : 08-12-2011 at 03:07 PM.
Reason: Addition
Hi Andy, you might want to look through the; Pond Construction and Pond build diaries; section. There's the description of many different ways of doing the job which you might be able to adapt.
If it's a liner pond there are several considerations.
As for going through a liner with pipework, most koi-keepers with bottom drains have a 4" pipe connection through the liner at the bottom of five or six feet deep pools where the pressure is the greatest.
I've such a connection plus a 2" connection through the liner to a house drain.
I'd recommend constructing a 4 " or 5" thick concrete collar for the pool before fitting a liner.
Those little conifers were only a temporary measure, that photo is 25 years old. There's been ground cover plants there well for over 20 years.
Everything is still working well.
__________________ "I don't mind if you don't like my manners!
I don't like them myself, they're pretty bad,
I grieve over them on long winter evenings."
Many thanks for the advice, it has all been taken on board and well digested, I will have a dig through the diaries as you say.
As for the conifers, I was always a few years behind...It,s just that the Garden centres sell these things as 'Dwarf' conifers but the 'Dwarf' bit is in comparison with Scot's Pine and such like.
Pond auto top-up 
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