Meet Tim (and the Big Idea)

Tim wanted a pond that looked like it grew out of the landscape—not a box dropped into the yard. He expanded from ~500 gallons to roughly 7,000 gallons to give his koi room to roam (temporary fish housing in a swimming pool… dedication!). With Derek at Play It Koi as a planning partner, the goal was a system that’s low-maintenance, energy-smart, and winter-ready.

• Intake: 3″ Kick-Ass No-Niche skimmer (gravity-fed) plus the existing Helix skimmer with submersible pump kept for redundancy and winter circulation.
• Bottom drains: twin 4″ drains feeding the RDF by gravity; each line planned for ~3,500 GPH.
• Mechanical: FREE 35 drum filter set slightly above the pond’s high-water line.
• Bio: AlphaNANO 6.3 pressure/bio filter sized to the fish load and volume.
• Polish: Aqua Ultraviolet Viper 400W UV with a bypass to meet flow/contact-time needs.
• Circulation: PerformancePro ArtesianPro Dial-A-Flow variable-speed pump to tune GPH seasonally and save watts.
• Finishing: planted bog/wetland and strategic tangential returns (TPRs) to keep debris moving in a gentle clockwise gyre.

The Dig: Machines, Boulders, and a Concrete Pad

Tim rented an excavator and immediately met his first boss fight: boulders up to 6–8 feet across. He hand-dug the bog where access was tight, then poured a 4×6 ft pad for the filtration shed. He loosened the basin’s subgrade so bottom-drain trenches would settle cleanly and hold slope. Perimeter boulders were placed early so edgework would look native later.

Pro tip: run utility trenches before liner so penetrations (bulkheads, returns, skimmer throat) are easy to place and seal.

Filtration & Gear—Why These Choices Make DIY Life Easier

• FREE 35 Drum Filter (RDF): automatic solids removal, gravity-fed for low head loss, compact footprint. Set the drum’s rim a few inches above the pond’s high-water line when gravity-feeding from drains/skimmer.
• AlphaNANO 6.3 Bio: 3″ ports match the plumbing strategy; place it above grade for easier winterization and backwashing.
• Viper 400W UV: one large lamp simplifies maintenance. Use a bypass loop to maintain proper contact time without over-pumping the system.
• PerformancePro Dial-A-Flow pump: variable speed lets you dial back for winter, ramp up for bog season, and save energy across the year.
• TPRs/returns: two 2″ tangential returns aimed to create a gentle gyre that pushes fines toward the skimmer and drains.

Plumbing That Survives Winter

• Big pipe, small friction: 3″ mains on the new runs keep velocities down and head loss low.
• Through-liner bulkheads: external locknut + internal female threads minimize glue points and leak risk.
• Sweeps & angles: pair of 45s instead of hard 90s; where ABS sweeps met PVC, Tim used transition cement.
• Valve depth: gate valves ~30″ below water level reduce vertical lift and freeze exposure on the 4″ BD lines.
• Check valve: placed near the bio stage so the long bog feed can’t drain back at shutdown.
• Return strategy: two pressure-side returns on opposite walls shepherd surface and mid-column debris toward collection points.
• Winter plan: shut down above-grade filtration; run the Helix skimmer’s submersible for gentle under-ice circulation; place aeration 12–24″ below the surface to preserve the warm bottom layer (thermocline).

Step-by-Step: The Repeatable Build Pattern

1. Sketch the flow first (intake → mech → bio/UV → returns/bog).
2. Excavate & set the edge (collar or thickened rim) so stone and decks don’t creep.
3. Place boulders & shelves now—easier before liner.
4. Run plumbing (separate lines for skimmer and each bottom drain to the RDF; label everything and use unions).
5. Pour the equipment pad; set the RDF rim slightly above high-water line.
6. Liner & penetrations: bulkheads, TPRs, skimmer throat—then slow-fill while smoothing folds.
7. Set bio + UV + pump; add a UV bypass and a check valve near the bio stage.
8. Aim returns to create a lazy gyre; tune pump speed for clarity, quiet, and energy use.
9. Plant the bog; let roots do the nutrient export.
10. Winterize smart: keep a hole open up top; avoid boiling the deepest water.

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Confidence Boosters for First-Time Builders

• Gravity is your friend. Let bottom drains and a gravity-fed skimmer carry waste to the RDF so solids are removed before they dissolve.
• Fewer elbows, bigger pipe. Use sweeps and paired 45s; upsize mains for quiet, efficient flow.
• Bog = bio bonus. Plants export nutrients that algae would otherwise eat—your water clears and your lilies thrive.
• Plan a UV bypass. Keeps contact time right without over-cranking the system.
• Winter sanity. Keep the top open and oxygenated; don’t churn the deepest water in cold snaps.

Common Pitfalls (and How Tim Dodged Them)

• Setting the drum too low: for gravity-fed drums, the rim must sit above high-water mark.
• Starving the UV: add a bypass loop so the UV sees the right flow without throttling the rest of the circuit.
• Too many tight turns: every sharp elbow adds turbulence; keep valves accessible and runs clean.

Maintenance—Simple Rhythm

• Weekly (seasonal): empty skimmer basket/net; peek at the RDF spray bar; glance at bio pressure gauge.
• Monthly: check pump strainer, verify UV bypass position, trim bog plants.
• Spring/Fall: replace UV bulb annually; inspect unions, gaskets, and air lines; thin the bog.

Want a Pond Like Tim’s?

Send us your rough dimensions, target fish load, and a quick phone pic of the yard. We’ll map your flow diagram, size the equipment, and turn it into a single-click cart so you can get building.