Jeri, thank you ! Carolyn, I posted what I have. Now, he's got koi and a nice water plant design, and even a rockary in the middle of the pond with a little fountain, but I haven't made photos yet. I do this Summer. There's noticible the way the pond is filled with water. It just naturally goes by the pipeline from the brook. The inlet is located some 300 yards up the brook. My neighbor is a man in his 70's years old and he does the pond and kois just for fun and relaxation. There's a lot to learn from him. Let alone just the intricate water supply pipline solution for his house and pond&pool system.

George

I am looking forward to more photos.

When did you think you would be starting your pond?

I am curious what your weather is like in Russia. We have a lady on our forum from Alaska and I am wondering if your weather is anything like hers.

George you know me. I love pictures. Can't wait til you get some more!!!

Sure, the more pics. will come. I hope, I start my Sochi pond in the coming summer- I already know the place, the neighbor adviced last fall. I was supposed to come to Sochi in Dec. But I just enjoyed the Russian winter in Smolensk reg. by the river Zapadnaya Dvina. That's the first time I saw the reality show of the ice covering the river. It took about 1 month. The night sound of the ice flows passing by is real soothing. And then one sunny-shiny day you can walk on the former water- that's real exciting and thrilling experience.

I guess it's not that much relevant, but here's the summer pics of Zapadnaya Dvina river.

And the winter one The river in a distance.

Beautiful!

I love pictures too. I am hoping when both George and Teresa put in their ponds, they will share their photos with us.

Welcome George, I had to go and look on google maps to find Sochi. It looks like a beautiful area on the Black Sea, a resort area correct? Does it freeze there in the winter?

I have always wanted to build a pond that gets water from a stream or river and overflows the excess. It would not need much filtration, the water would not build up ammonia and would always be fresh. I hope you put up the pictures of building your pond, I'm interested in the plumbing as well.

Hi, Extranjera ! Yes. the Black Sea area used to be a famous resort to Russians. Nowdays, they more tend to south, like Egypt, India, Maldives, Thailand. I'm Russian. I don't think we have to break the natural rules. I have a gorgeous estate in Sochi. I do not need Maldives in winter. Make sure, the fact, like staying in Russia in winter real bolsters your immunity ! The Black sea in my area (Big Sochi) never freezes and I swam there on 2-d of Jan one year.

As for pond system, I wish you would visit us sometimes ! My neighbor is a big expert and gives some advice. He feeds the pond with the fresh brook water, then it stays there for some time. Then, I believe, once per month, he lets the water go filtered naturaly through the ground. That makes available servicing of the pond, plants, etc.

Well, it is true that there are people made for every environment. That's what my Canadian friends tell me about living in the far north. I'm the opposite, can not bear the cold and only want to live where it is warm all the time.

Interesting that he drains the pond completely during the season. I assume he has to catch any fish and move them to do that? I would more like to have a system that constantly refills from a fresh water source and thus is self cleaning. If a small amount of water is constantly going into the pond and the excess flows over and out through a screen, the water would be refreshed and clean all the time. There are koi breeders in Japan who use such a system and feel it keeps the koi healthier and they grow faster.

Oh, that's interesting idea. I also think the biological balance could be easier reached when there's constant reasonable flow. I will discuss that idea with the man.

I have friends that have that type of set up in a large pond, only they have bass - not koi. The don't have to do anything to their pond other than remove some of the cattails when they grow too invasive. The pond is self cleaning and self sustaining.

Carolyn, does bass live in freshwater? I thought that's a sea fish.

There are both Sea Bass and freshwater Bass. Beautiful area you live in.

HollyAnnS , thank's, now I know. Originaly he kept Grass carp and common carp, but those aren't that decorative.

George

these are fresh water bass.

Yes, it is a gorgeous area that you live in.

Question for you - what does your neighbor do for his fish in the winter? Our friend in Alaska seems to have problems in the winter with both koi and goldfish.

OK, I'll ask him.

Thanks

Carolyn, today I called him. This winter is mild in Sochi. The day temperatures about 57.3F near the sea. In the mountains we have a little colder- around 44.5F and in the mountains at night it's down to little frost like 25F. So to ensure the fish breathing is simple by just crashing that thing ice crust which is formed during the night hours.

Extranjera, you were right, he uses the constant small water owerflow all the time.

We laught together on the matter of me starting building the pond. I said I do finally start next summer- so far to much travelling to visit all my houses.

George

Thank you for asking your friend - do you know how big his pond is? It sounds nice.

Any thoughts are how big a pond you will be putting in and where?

Hi Carolyn ! His pond is made of concrete and actually, that's him who built it, as kinda of the dayly labor for fitness. The sizes are: length-28 ft, width- 16.5 ft; depth- 5.8 ft. I do not like the rectangular shape of the pond - doesn't look too much natural.

I plan to build the pond of some irregular shape and make a bridge in the middle. I guess the best place for it would be the lowest part of the land near the brook.