Rippling River Residents Koi Pond

F. O. P. S.
Friends Of the Pond Society
Keepers of the Rippling River Koi Fish, and other Carp

The Pond

Koi, four (4) about twelve inch size, and four (4) about seven inch size.
Goldfish, other carp, sixteen (16) from three to seven inch size.

·Location: Carmel Valley, California. Region 9. ·Been in continuous operation for three years.
·Mechanical filter with a spray aerator.
·There is no biofilter operating.
·Gravel is thinly spread on the floor.
·Moderate algae, fairly clear water.
·Sparse vegetation in the pond.
·Occasional direct sunshine on the pond.
·Fish moving, eating, acting fish like.

Email: Philip, of F. O. P. S.
Link to: Proposed Pond Filter
Link to: Pond Water Test Results
Link to: Mag Pumps
Link to: Water Garden Pond Chat
Identify: Koi Encyclopedia - Breed Index

The pond is located by the walk between buildings two and five. It is a brick and concrete structure nine feet by seven feet by three feet (9X7X3) with an island two feet by one foot in the center of the pond. My calculated capacity of the pond when filled to 28 inches is 950 gallons. The rim rises a foot above the sidewalk. The pond sits on a slope and is viewable only from one side, which is protected by a pipe railing.

The pond is set among perennial ornamental plants. Nearby is an oak tree, companionable and shading. There is a wood shingle roof raised on redwood 4x4s to a height of seven feet that shields the pond from oak leaves and egret eyes. A woven redwood lattice work and screen encloses the sides and back. There are two benches near the pond in an observation area.

Tap water is from a reservoir nearby, and is treated with only chlorine.

The Fish Pond at Rippling River is undergoing renovation. The Residents Association has formed a Fish Pond committee to study the art of modern ponding and fish culture. It is important to us to properly care for our friends.

Fish Pond Water Test Results
Date	pH	NH3 ppm	NO2 ppm	NO3 ppm	GH ppm	KH ppm	O2 ppm	CO2 ppm	Water Temp
Limit							6+
3-25-00	7.2	0	?	?	195	107	n/a	15	50 F.

? = Unaccountable test result. 1 degree hardness = 1 dH = 17.8 mg/l CaCO3 = 17.8 ppm CaCO3

Description of the Filter and Aeration System for our Koi Pond

The pump is the Mag 950, a 950 gallon per hour pump to be used in our nominal 900 gallon pond. In the graphic above, the first 35 gallon drum is a mechanical filter operated in an up-flow mode.

Water from the submerged pump, which is housed in a course screen filter box, is discharged directly into the top of the stand-pipe (for aeration) that is connected to the side of the mechanical filter drum.

Inside the drum, the water is deflected by a 45 degree ell to cause a vortex movement of the water in the filter. As water rises in the drum, it passes through a fine plastic sponge filter into an upper chamber. This action removes sediments and suspended particles from the water.

Water spills from the mechanical filter into a flexible feed line to the bottom of the biofilter. The biofilter is a 35 gallon drum containing Springflo biofilter material that is setting on a perforated platform raised six inches above the water inlet pipe. The water rising in the drum meanders through the Springflo filter material, then flows out the discharge tube near the top of the drum and returns to the pond with a splash.

This description is a revision of my first biofilter design. The changes are the result of Email messages that members of rec.pond sent me after I requested critique from experienced ponders. That newsgroup and it's members have made my introduction to ponding a smooth and gratifying experience. I thank them.

Philip Childress
June 10, 2000
Email: Philip

Pond Design and Maintenance Links

Biofilter.com                       Links to pond information. Indexed.
Building Skippy's Biofilter    Step by step discription to filter construction.
Pond Construction Links    Massive.
J. D. Stone's Pond Links    Links to construction information.