Eric's Koi Pond Page

Pond Schematic


Backyard Plan
This was the plan for our backyard.  It was ambitious but turned out great.

I wanted a peaceful and relaxing backyard so a big Koi pond sounded appropriate. I know enough about ponds to understand that 99 percent of all pond builder's only regret is that they didn't make the pond larger, so I simply designed the largest pond that would barely fit. We started with a blank dirt backyard so anything goes. The plants and trees near the pond were chosen to be clean, so as not to deposit leaves into the pond. Of course if you have a pond, you need a bridge. If you have a bridge, you need a path. A path has to go somewhere so I lead it to a small plateaued second patio in the extreme rear of the property. The last seven feet of the yard slope upward four feet high so two retaining walls will make for tiny patio, accessed through an arbor, and not providing a well-defined boundary at the back wall of the yard.

The other design consideration was no rear lawn to mow. I didn't want a tiny patch of grass so it's all brick, concrete, plants, or water.

Biofilter Schematic

Biofilter Schematic


Stanley London Solid Brass Medium Pocket Compass $20
Stanley London Solid Brass Medium Pocket Compass $20

Biofilter progress Here's a picture of the combination upflow biofilter / retaining wall prior to filling the cells with mortar, stuccoing, and sealing. It's made from steel-reinforced 6" concrete blocks. It currently holds 300 gallons of water and biofilter material. The top rim of the filter and adjacent retaining has been capped with used brick.

I originally planned to use plastic bio balls but they priced out at $1040 for the 200 gallons required. I thought about lava rock, but recently decided to machine my own PVC ribbon. Look at my Biofilter Page on details of the biofilter and making plastic media.

Biofilter with Stucco
This is the biofilter after being capped with bricks and after stucco was applied.  Before the pond was ready, the Koi lived here.

Meet Paco, the newest Yorkie puppy on the block
¡Hola Paco! ¿Qué tal? Come meet Paco, the newest Yorkie puppy on the block.

Decomposed Granite on Pond Bottom. Loose Waterfall Rocks to Left
Decomposed Granite on
Pond Bottom. Loose
Waterfall Rocks to Left
Loose Waterfall Rocks with Prefilter and Pump Housing to Left
Loose Waterfall Rocks
with Prefilter and
Pump Housing to Left
Waterfall Rocks Mortared and Rebar
Waterfall Rocks
Mortared and Rebar
Pond Bottom with Waterfall Rocks Fully Mortared
Pond Bottom with
Waterfall Rocks
Fully Mortared
Laying Out the 60-mil EPDM Pond Liner
Laying Out the 60-mil
EPDM Pond Liner
...And Around the Waterfall
...And Around
the Waterfall
Install Two Bottom Drains
Install Two
Bottom Drains
Both Drains Installed
Both Drains
Installed
Plastic Grate at the Bottom of the Waterfall
Plastic Grate at
the Bottom of
the Waterfall
First of Many Layers of PVC Ribbon
First of Many
Layers of PVC
Ribbon
PVC Ribbon with Plastic Lighting Grate on Top
PVC Ribbon with
Plastic Lighting
Grate on Top
Two Small Water Lillies on Top of Plastic Lighting Grate
Two Small Water
Lillies on Top of
Plastic Lighting Grate
1/4 HP Pump in Underground Pump Housing
1/4 HP Pump in
Underground Pump
Housing
Brush Prefilter and Custom Made Removable Stainless Steel Unit
Brush Prefilter
and Custom Made
Removable Stainless
Steel Unit

Starting to Fill the Pond
Starting to Fill
the Pond
Smoothing out the Wrinkles
Smoothing out
the Wrinkles
Skimmer Installed
Skimmer Installed
Pond Filled and Pump On
Pond Filled
and Pump On
Waterfall Worked First Time Without Treaks
Waterfall Worked First
Time Without Treaks
Taking a Dip Behind the Waterfall
Taking a Dip Behind
the Waterfall
Pond with Flagstone Installed and Partially Stocked with Goldfish and Koi
Pond with Flagstone
Installed and Partially
Stocked with Goldfish
and Koi
Pond with Alex Watching Fish
Pond with Alex
Watching Fish
Froth on Water from Koi Mating
Froth on Water
from Koi Mating
Koi Eggs on Water Hyacinth Roots
Koi Eggs on Water
Hyacinth Roots
Bridge Frame with Stainless Steel Angle Brackets
Bridge Frame with
Stainless Steel Angle
Brackets
Bridge Frame Ready for Staining
Bridge Frame
Ready for Staining
Completed Koi Pond Bridge
Completed Koi
Pond Bridge
Bridge is Curved Wider in Center
Bridge is Curved
Wider in Center
Bridge has Tongue-and-Groove Planks
Bridge has Tongue-
and-Groove Planks
River Rocks Bordering Waterfall
River Rocks
Bordering Waterfall
River Rocks Set On-End into Concrete Sealer
River Rocks Set On-End
into Concrete Sealer
Natural Gas Pond Heater Being Installed
Natural Gas
Pond Heater
Being Installed
Rear Patio with Arbor. Note Bubble Wrap on Waterfall During Winter
Rear Patio with Arbor.
Note Bubble Wrap on
Waterfall During Winter
Same View at Night with Lighting On
Same View at Night
with Lighting On
Backyard at Night
Backyard at Night
Koi Feeding
Koi Feeding
Backyard is Finally Done Party, July, 2002
Backyard is Done Party
Backyard is Finally Done Party, July, 2002
Backyard is Done Party
Kathi Burg Band at Backyard is Finally Done Party
Kathi Burg Band
Magician at Backyard is Finally Done Party
Magician at Party
Backyard Hawaiian Luau, July, 2006
Backyard Hawaiian Luau
Hula Dancer at Backyard Hawaiian Luau, July, 2006
Hula Dancer at Luau
Hula Lessons at Backyard Hawaiian Luau, July, 2006
Hula Lessons at Luau
Live Music at Backyard Hawaiian Luau, July, 2006
Live Music at Luau
Koi Pond in Winter 2006
Koi Pond in Winter 2006
Path and Bridge in Winter 2006
Path and Bridge
Winter 2006
Bridge and Pond in Winter 2006
Bridge and Pond
Winter 2006
Patio at Dusk in Winter 2006
Patio at Dusk
Winter 2006
Pond at Dusk in Winter 2006
Pond at Dusk
Winter 2006
Bridge and Pond at Dusk in Winter 2006
Bridge and Pond at
Dusk in Winter 2006
Backyard at Dusk in Winter 2006
Backyard at Dusk
Winter 2006
Pond at Dusk in Winter 2006
Pond at Dusk
Winter 2006

Stanley London Brass Sextants
Stanley London Brass Sextants and Nautical Collectibles



Visitors to my Cyber-Pond.
Meet Paco, the newest Yorkie puppy on the block
¡Hola Paco! ¿Qué tal? Come meet Paco, the newest Yorkie puppy on the block.

Shooter's Yorkie Fun Page
Visit Shooter's Yorkie Fun Page

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