Everything I have done with Savio has been worth the money. Their skimmers are more expensive, but the bells and whistles make them a better buy, specifically if you want a UV they are cheaper than a inexpensive skimmer with separate UV. But that isn't the question is it. I've heard of a few people changing pools to ponds, not many successful ones, but some none the less. Hooking into an existing bottom drain would always be ideal, especially if you are going to have large koi. I wouldn't want to try it myself, but it would be the best way if it could be done. I've had a lot of customers have bad experiences with the online sales, but there are some good deals, but there is risk. The Danner 4800s are very reliable and efficient pumps, and there will be some price differences with those. If you see any Savio price differences I would advise against that site or store. Savio has an extremely strong rule of one retail price and they punish those that change them. If they are selling cheap online, chances are they aren't on the up and up.

What model of Savio Bio-filter do you have? The basic arrangement for a pump and filter is that the pump goes under water at one end of the pond and has a hose run from it to the filter on shore at the other end of the pond. The water is drawn into the pump and pumped from it, through the required length of hose, to the filter and from filter it returns via a waterfall or stream etc, back into the pond. The hose can be run around the perimeter of the pond and buried into the soil or just run across the bottom of the pond, if you wish, that's up to you. As far as hose clamps go, you may need one at every hose connection, i.e. one where the hose connects to the pump and another where the other end of the hose connects to the filter. Since we do not know how you intend to return the water to the pond at this point, that would seem to be the extent of the number of hose clamps required at this juncture? "Horton"

Yeah I did actually. Drip systems & timers are much easier for me- It's tough dragging hoses around in a wheelchair. Plus w/ the drip I can add fertilizer fairly easily. There's a filter you can get (I think rain drip makes it) that goes inline just after the timer. I get that 'jobes tree spikes' type fertilizer, zip them in half on the bandsaw, and every 2 weeks I put 1/2 a tree spike in there. It works great- Every time they're watered they get a little fertilizer. There's another option I'm trying as well- it's a 'fertilizer injection system' "thingy" that goes inline (in place of the filter)with a hose you drop in a bucket of soluble fertilizer. It sucks up a little bit & mixes it with the water- but I don't know what %. Drip systems can be a bear to set up, but you only have to do it once a season. I still have to drag a hose around sometimes on hot days or to give that extra bit of h2o, but otherwise watering is pretty much maintence free. Just make sure the batteries don't die when your not looking... That's BAD. I've got 5 individual lines set up- all on fertilizer & timers, each feeds a different zone. It's great- makes thiings SO easy.

Well, the DIY seminar on waterfall building was mainly a dudd. But I did pick up a few ideas about the sound of the waterfall. Apparently, concave backdrops make the sound project (because it doesn't have anywhere else to go). Also, the sound of the waterfall is a deeper pitch when it falls into deeper water. OK, well the final drop into the pool is deep already, I'll just have to apply that to the intermediate drops as well. I'm working on a revised drawing of the waterfall (This waterfall going to be a project in itself! But it will be fun.) I'll post the design pic in a little while. I'm ordering the pool kit today. The clearers/diggers will be here in the next few days. I hope that I have this right!! -Renee