Wayne look at this:
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I think in the case U mentioned it is not so much the 4" pipe that can not flow the water and creates a large draw down...it is the media too that affected it in your case...
I need to put my chambers in parallel, or use less restrictive media...
U can flow 13000GPH with a draw down of 10" by gravity...and more if your drop is more...

Found some big rocks....
Got fire wood to break them.
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I would've tried to keep the rocks and include them as a feature around the pond.

Looking good so far Neli

`ll be on cliff with this nice looking rocks to leave in the pond

Cliff wrote:

I would've tried to keep the rocks and include them as a feature around the pond.

Looking good so far Neli

Cliff my Darling,
I have one pond full of rocks...now I want a formal pond...and if I leave them they will have to be covered with steel reinforcement (that is what I did on the old pond) and cemented just like the rest of the pond.
It is such a headache to break them...

vossie wrote:

`ll be on cliff with this nice looking rocks to leave in the pond

Have U seen how many rocks I have in my old pond? They disrupt the flow...and not too suitable for a formal pond...
After I finish this pond....maybe I will break the old pond and do it properly...or just keep my fry inside...
This is my old pond Vossie:
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This are old pictures...now it is planted nicely.

New Project looking Good Neli that is a stunning pond doesn't look very deep though but I agree with you on removing all the rocks for your new pond

JoesKoi wrote:

New Project looking Good Neli that is a stunning pond doesn't look very deep though but I agree with you on removing all the rocks for your new pond

Yes Joe,
It is not deep...most of it is shallow and that is because i did not know anything when I build it and there were too many rocks...
There are some pools 1.5 meter deep but the Koi dont like them...hey are always in the shallow part...
I am breaking this rocks no matter what.

I never said in the pond, I said around the pond.

I agreem with not having rocks inside, however feel they would compliment the top surroundings of the pond nicely if you could get a machine that can remove them?

nelli i see your problem now in more perspectif

Cliff wrote:

I never said in the pond, I said around the pond.

I agreem with not having rocks inside, however feel they would compliment the top surroundings of the pond nicely if you could get a machine that can remove them?

Good idea Cliff,if it was going to be...natural like pond...But I want to make it retro style...with mosaics...a sculpture...formal modern like pond...
Like the one I posted a picture of...I dont think rounded rocks will look very good around it.

And the biggest problem is I can not remove them.

vossie wrote:

nelli i see your problem now in more perspectif

Vossie when U write about my problem U must write it in Caps:PROBLEM it is a big one...managed to break half of two stones today....

Hi Neli.
Nice size pond Neli, hope it brings you lots of joy and excitement. Will your pond be above ground level to? Its always a nice idea because it keeps the unwanted out - like dirt and gras. Makes a nice sitting place to if you make it about 500mm high.

Miya Oki Koi wrote:

Hi Neli.
Nice size pond Neli, hope it brings you lots of joy and excitement. Will your pond be above ground level to? Its always a nice idea because it keeps the unwanted out - like dirt and gras. Makes a nice sitting place to if you make it about 500mm high.

Thank U Tommy,
it will be 60cm above ground...maybe with window...if i find what I need.
Most importantly...it will keep the tods out...I have a big problem with them in the other pond...
They come from kilometers to lay their eggs and call all their friends...
FOR NOW IT IS BRINGING ME LOTS OF HEADACHES...he he he!

Every night I redesign my pond...This in line with what Wayne advised...
This is the latest I have come up with...
This is only half of the filter...My BD will have 2 pipes...I want to put both at the end of the SC...and one of them will bring water into the SC...and will use a stand pipe on it when I want to flush it...the other one will have a stand pipe in it and an airlift at the same time...The airlift will flush it twice a day...the stand pipe gives me an option to flush it manually, if I need to.
Also in case the stand pipe later starts leaking...the water will not be lost...
There are two long basins parallel that are divided into chambers...I want to put one long pipe under each of them...with a stand pipe in each chamber to allow me to flush them individually.
Both will be 4" pipes, coming out of the filters, beyond the outside wall. joining with a bends and a pipe between them outside the pond.
That pipe that joins them I want to put 5-6 4" T...with a reducer to 2" and a valve on each of the 6 pipes...
When I want to flush...any chamber...I put a stand pipe in the BD pipe in the SC, and remove the stand pipe of the chamber I want to flush...and open all 6 valves outside the pond...will that work?
Do U see any problems?
Also the latest change I made is that I split the flow from SC into two mechanical filters...scared my media is too restrictive and if I want to put larger pumps later...it will have too large draw down...
The red pipe from SC is going to the two MF...mechanical filters...then I will pump directly from the last two chambers...of the bio filters...

The diagram of it..
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some progress today after the long holidays...Finished breaking the stones, leveled the pond with my home made level...(air tube filled with PP solution)
and started digging for my DIY BD and pipes...Visitors the whole day...disturbing me...
This is the final design for today...might change by tomorrow...He he he!
dont look at the right filter ...that is version two...it will be mirror of the left filter...each with pumps.
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The rats there in Zambia seem pretty tame!

Looking good!

Darling,
that rat is south african...he he he! Born and bred in Jbg...flown first class to zambia...

Neli wrote:

vossie wrote:

nelli i see your problem now in more perspectif

Vossie when U write about my problem U must write it in Caps:PROBLEM it is a big one...managed to break half of two stones today....

Neli, you get a chemical called "Crack It" that you pour into 40 mm holes that you drill into the rock and leave it overnight. It fractures the rock and makes the breaking process much easier.

Thanks collin!
I dont have it here probably...and nothing to drill holes with...I burned them and I am done now...
Need to ask U some questions...
I am building the walls with 6" hollow blocks, two parallel walls with space between them 10cm...Will fill the blocks with concrete, and the gup between the walls too.
Is that space of 10cm enough?
I am putting inside the space Y12 plus highway mesh...some kind of square hole mesh that looks almost like R6 round bar...
I am putting the Y12 on the bottom at 30x30cm squares..plus the highway mesh...but on the sides at 40cm space...with several bars going horizontally...5 of then at 35cm space in between...Want to reinforce the corners too with pillows with rings...
Should I put another pillow in the center of the long wall? or it will be OK?
Do U see any problems...Starting the concrete in 2-3 days...still fixing the pipes.

Neli, that is one strong wall if you are going to fill the centre of the blocks with concrete and steel reinforcing plus 100mm of reinforced concrete in the centre is extremely strong and there is no need for columns in the centre.

Colin Hunt wrote:

Neli, that is one strong wall if you are going to fill the centre of the blocks with concrete and steel reinforcing plus 100mm of reinforced concrete in the centre is extremely strong and there is no need for columns in the centre.

Thank U my Darling!
I am so scared not to mess up again...have sleepless nights...U have made me to sleep well...I even bought the steel for the columns...will add it as horizontal reinforcement...
I first bought the Y12...then saw someone putting that mesh...what ever it is called...so I went and bought 50m of that as well....he he he! Scared! so now there will be Y12 plus that mesh...dont want it to leak or crack...I plan to make the slab 25cm is it OK or can I reduce it a bit?

Neli, you can reduce it if you wish but do not go less than 100mm. This is the thickness the swimming pool guys go on their concrete or gunite pool.

OK! Thanks...will go down to 20cm...I wanted it at first 30...then reduced to 25 now I will settle on 20...had rocks in one corner...scared of differential settlement...I am a panic mechanic...U should see me gluing pipes in my sitting room since the floor is so horizontal and I dont trust anyone to do it...He he he!