Page 20 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 12

the potential future pond build dream looked like more
a reality, and much earlier than I thought – things were
turning around (and for the better!). So with agreement
from my partner, on the basis that the whole garden
A matching brick built housing would get a makeover, in September 2018 I started the
concealed my drum and pumps
but still allowed easy access. new pond build.
MAKING THE Our garden has a unique shape, so in order to
maximise the garden potential for all the family, I
POND FEEL decided to move the pond to an area where I would
LIKE A have a narrower width (2 metres) but a much longer
length (8 metres) – with my experience previously
NATURAL having had a more box-shaped pond I had grown to
learn that swim length of a pond would benefit the Koi
FEATURE OF more when they were larger. So compromising on width

THE GARDEN to gain length met with this aspiration. Moving the pond
to a different area of the garden also made use of the
existing garden boundary wall to add to the feature of
The infinity window at the end of the
pond provides easy viewing from the the pond which was now going to be built from bricks
seating area. of a similar colour. Overall making the pond feel like a
natural feature of the garden.
My new pond was constructed with a 6-inch reinforced
concrete base. The walls were constructed out of 7.3
newton dense concrete blocks, faced with a skin of
bricks. I fitted an infinity window, 1200mm × 600mm at
the end of the pond where the garden seating area
would be, so that we could enjoy watching the fish and
kids play at the same time. Once all the blockwork was
completed I got some professionals, Grant’s team from
GRP, to complete the fibreglassing. This along with the
blockwork I had considered completing myself,
however, I did a cost benefit analysis and as winter was
approaching the decision was taken that getting the
appropriate professionals in for the blockwork and
fibreglassing was the best approach – plus with 2 small
children and 2 dogs, time was extremely limited of
coping with the mud pile in the back garden.
Finished products of the pond construction:
Base to top: 1.2m, giving total capacity of 3,200 gallons.

Pipework:
Two 4-inch bottom drains.
The completed pond and 3-inch tommy drain.
garden makes provision for
everyone in the family. 3-inch skimmer.
20 21