HI ALL
LOTS OF WORK DONE OVER THE WEEKEND. WILL START FILLING POND WITH WATER TUESDAY NIGHT. HOPING TO ADD THE KOI OVER THE WEEKEND COMMING. ONLY A FEW PIPE'S TO BE COMMPLETED.

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Very nice, I like it.

Hi all
Some more progress over the weekend.

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Very nice David

Looking better and better, almost there.

Looks great well done

Hi to all
Pond completed and fish in on christmas day. All running well. Filter set up needs some final touchup's.
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Nice work David ... sure koi will be very happy!

Thanks Jona
koi very happy

A job very well done and thanks for taking the time to post photos of every aspect of your pond. It enable viewers to learn.

Is there anything you would have done differently now that you went through the process?

YES. With the bottom drain lines i used the 110 mm fittings with rubber seal ring. It was a worry at the time.I should have used the fittings with glue??
Over the weekend noticed water level drop. I have checked the filter side
of things all looks ok. I think my problem is with one of the bottom drain lines. I have made a rubber plug to block of the bottom drain one at a time to check if it is leaking. Then i will check the return lines if it is not the bottom drain line.

Had the same worry, and actually went and bought ones that can be glued. Also went and put the 110mm bottom drain pipes in concrete then did the floor over then. Before starting any additional work filled all 3 drains with water and watched for a week. No leaks, then continued building.
Made the mistake at my previous house on a 2500l pond, did not test the bootom drain, finished the pond and then it was leaking there. Had two options, either dig all up, or just work withoutout a bottom drain.....went for option two, and closed the leaking one with concrete.
Good luck in finding that leak!

Very attractive pond!

I cannot see to accurately from the pictures but one observation, for what it is worth: The top of the standpipes in the settlement chamber should be as deep as possible under water level to have the max effect when draining these (suggest 40 cm plus). My impression is that yours can be cut off deeper under water level.

I tend to agree with Jan. Some of the gunk is going to be sucked in directly without being able to settle, as the suction pipe is very close to the point of entry?

Lovely pond, thanks for the updates

Leak found in one of the bottom drains ???. last night pluged one of the drains.
fitted standup pipe in settelment chamber filled pipe above water level
the result no water loss this morning. This morning pluged the other drain and fitted standup pipe within a few minutes water droped below pond water level. I have left the plug and pipe in place to see how low the water level will go. Thanks for noticing the standup pipes i will cut the one that is not leaking as low as possible and block of the other.

Nice pond David

With a leaky bottom drain and the pond already filled with water and fish you dont have many options.

I will suggest you go and get some prattly patty (not the quickset) from the hardware shop. Role into a "wors" (so mix it first) put it in a plastic baggie and dive down and try and place it over the join of the bottom drain and the 110ml pipe. (If that is where the leak is) The regular prattly patty can be used underwater. (bonus )

You can then afterwards try and put some montmorilite clay into the water aswell. It will help to go into the little holes and hopefully block it.

If the leak is in the concrete or bricks you can use salt on a regular bassis. It will also stop the leaks as the salt cristals will accumulate in the leaky areas.

I have a friend in the southern suburbs of cape town that had small little holes in his fibreglass (very small). With the use clay and with algea on the walls the holes filled with "junk" overtime and the leaks stopped....not a very elegant way but sometimes there is just no easier way.

Thanks wayne for the advice will keep the prattly patty option in mind.

Hi all
Update on pond leaking.
Tried pluging one at a time.
1, Pluged both bottom drains
2, Emptied settlment shamber
3, pluged both inlet pipes
4, All valves turned of
All at the same time. Result pond leaking have my QT pond ready will move koi on the weekend and drain pond to find leak. pond drops 25mm per night + - 250L ???

Shortcuts to try and find leaks in a pond

Hi Wayne

I have done all the plug / pump / chammber / fillter tests.
Now i am doing the pond tests
1, droped water below skimmer water still drops
2, I have two mid inlets will drop water level on friday ?
I have been following your write up on leaks all the way it has helped a lot thank you.

Hi all
Pond still dropping after mid inlets.
suspected leak around bottom drains. pond totaly drained .
I am going to seal around the bottom drains tonight with membrain and sealer. Then i will fill the pond up to the mid inlets and see if the water still drops.

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ALL FIXED NOW
FOUND SMALL HOLE UNDER ONE OF THE MID OUTLETS, SEALED AROUND ALL INLETS AND BOTTOM DRAINS WITH MEMBRAIN CLOTH AND SEALER (WARTERBLOK). ALL LOOKS OK NOW. NEW WATER HAS BEEN RUNING FOR ABOUT TWO WEEK NOW WITH TO KOI IN. NOW DROPING WATER LEVELS SO FAR HOPPEING TO PUT ALL MY KOIS BACK THIS WEEKEND

Hi David, Im glad you have found the leak. I thought you said it was on the floor.

HI WAYNE
YES I THOUGHT IT WAS ON THE FLOOR. AT FIRST I ALLSO THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THE BOTTOM DRAINS. AFTER PLUGING ALL THE INLETS AND BOTTOM DRAINS. I MACHINED A RUBBER PLUG WITH S/S WASHERS FOR BOTH DRAINS IT WORKED VERY WELL. ALSO MACHINED NYLON PLUGS FOR THE INLETS. SO NOW WATER IN OR OUT.
1, FILLED POND TO TOP. WATER DROP.
2, DRAINED WATER JUST BELOW SKIMMER. WATER DROP
3, DRAINED WATER JUST BELOW INLET PIPES. WATER DROP STOPPED ABOUT 50mm BELOW THE INLET.
4, DRAINED ALL THE WATER AND INSPECTED AROUND THE PIPE WORK COULD NOT FIND ANY CRACKS OR HOLES. LEFT POND EMPTY FOR A FEW DAYS. I NOTIST A WHITE PATCH JUST UNDER ONE OF THE INLET JETS ON INSPECTION IT WAS SALT COMING BACK THROUGH THE WALL. I THEN RESEALED ALL THE INLETS AND BOTTON DRAINS WITH CLOTH MEMBRANE AND RESEALED THE HOLE POND. AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS NO WATER DROPPING.THANKS FOR YOUR HELP I THINK I HAVE FIX THE LEAK.