Good day everyone,

I’d like to get some advice, please! So please bear with a newbie to the hobby!
I’d like to improve my koi’s living conditions (and get a bigger pond ), without breaking the bank, while I save up for a proper pond. Our current pond is very small (<2,000l), and shaped like a “P”. Would I be able to use a portapool as an interim solution?
Can I use a portapool that you would typically find at Game, or are there stronger alternatives? What are show ponds made of, and where do you buy them?
Can these pools be treated to withstand the sun the better? It’ll be standing under a carport, but will still catch some afternoon sun.
Can the filtration pipes be taken through the wall and sealed without it tearing under the weight of the water?
Any ideas what to use for filtration? I’m not really the DIY type, but thought that I might try my hand at the filtration to keep costs down.

Any and all ideas and advice will be appreciated.

Thanks!
Gerhard

Gerhardt

The answer to most of your questions is YES you can.
I know of someone close to me who has been using a large portapool for the last 6 or 7 years. Many others do.

You just have to try and get one that is deep enough. It should be at least 1,2 meters deep, so fill with water to about 90Cm and you should be fine.

The show type ponds are very strong and will last a long time as well, a bit pricy though.

I like the type that has the steel frame at the top.

if I am correct they all have drains to empty them but it would be fine to put a slotted suction pipe over the side and have an above water return.

they come in many sizes.

Hi Gerry
I have a portable pool -like the show vats- that I use as a quarantine facility. It is made of tarpaulin material, and I believe it to be stronger than the general portable pools. It is available through Minurphy Tarpaulins in Pinetown / Durban. Google them. I ordered, and after payment the package was delivered to my doorstep (Pretoria) the next day. I used a 50mm 'tank connector' to draw water from the bottom side of the pond to the filters. For filtration I used 4 x 210 litre drums running on an over/under system.
Unfortunately I cannot comment on how long it will last, but I'm sure you can protect the tarpaulin material from the sun with a shadecloth cover around the sides.
The smaller vat cost about R2500 (2,5 m diameter) and holds approximately 2450 l. The 3m diameter one is sold for closer to R3000. It aslo comes with clip-on net cover. Very neat set up. Delivery was about R280. This was in May this year.
Ultimately it would depend on the number and size of the koi you want to keep in the temporary pond.
Regards
Jack

Thanks for the replies!

Jack, thanks for the info on Minurphy Tarps. The friendly lady will be sending me some more info shortly. From what I understand some of the ponds already come supplied with a side drain, so I don't need to cut up a perfectly good pond!

Please expand further on your 4 drum filtration setup, because that was what I had in mind.

Thanks!
Gerhard

Hi Gerhard Welcome to the forum!!

Go to search and search for koi dam and jou wil see my setup of my portapool that holds 5000L of water

and cost R600.00 intex pool

let me know what jou think?


Deon and lady