Hi indycat: Sorry to hear about your pond situation. My pond is only 1,000 gallons and I had a major blowup with my sprinkler system irrigation. It burst underground - right next to my new pond - and it leaked water into my pond and created a big flooded mess. This went on overnight and I had no idea it was even happening until I woke up the next morning to see my entire backyard flooded! Thankfully, I was able to get it fixed within a few days. At 1,000 gallons, it took 4 - 5 days to clear up where I could finally see the fish and bottom again. Since your pond is so large, it might take up to a month to clear up. It WILL eventually settle - just give it some time. After mine settled completely, I did partial water changes (20%) about every week with a wet/dry vacuum and it eventually got rid of all the mud at the bottom of the pond. You could probably start doing partial water changes now to get a jumpstart. I just waited it out until I could see that all my pondlife was ok. Good luck.

I did pipe boot connections on my retrodrain through the wall of the pond. Didn't make my hole as large as what Horton suggested--only 1/2 the diameter of whatever size pipe. Most recent was 3" and made a 1 1/2" hole in the centre of where I wanted the pipe. The liner stretches but it takes strong fingers. Easy to do and as far as I know no leaks. Curious why aren't you looking at external pumps for your pond? They are more energy efficient, easy to winterize. I have a priming pot on both of mine even though they are below ground but had a problem with quilt batting getting wrapped around the impeller of the older pump before using a priming pot. I have a Sequel 4350GPH pump that is very quiet uses 175W. This year I plumbed this pump to my sc and the old pump (Sequence 750 4200GPH but only pumping about 1/2 of that due to bent shaft) to my skimmer. I probably don't need both pumps as also changed my waterfall out this year so is smaller. The Sequence is noisy and leaks a little on start up around the shaft. Long story short I love the external pumps. Aquaart carries good external pumps and also the bottom drain that is mentioned either here or other forums. I also like the skimmer--it collects alot of surface stuff like dust! In the fall I run my pond on the skimmer only so that I can remove my drains (have a midwater drain now which is also awesome) before the water gets too cold. Like Horton my pumps/sc are hidden under a deck. Two pummps might be an idea for your pond as you need less flow through your biofilter and more flow through your waterfall. One idea I saw here if you only use one pump and need the circulation (in your case at least 5000GPH) was to pump part of the water back into the main pond and the rest through the biofilter/stream. Aquaart has a diagram of how to do this. As for valves depends on if you have a drain on you skippy filter etc. I have a knife valve between pond and sc on the bd but on the midwater drain which also goes into sc I don''t--I use a standpipe. After skimmer and sc 2" ball valves--I know could have used knife valves there but ball valves are more reliable. My check valves are after the pump but before the ball valves to the waterfall filters. This is to keep the water from the waterfall filters coming back down through the pump and into the pond if power goes off which it does here frequently. Because I have priming pots, sc and skimmer I don't need check valve before the pump. Can't remember when you need check valve before the pump--sorry. Ball valves after the check valves to control flow to filters. I know that I could get away with running one pump now due to the changes I made in adding a midwater drain to my sc (had alot of draw down!) and waterfall changes as the valve on my Sequel pump to higher waterfall is turned down more than 1/3rd. It's just time consuming and more pipe to change it out again. I don't know if you are allowed to use ABS in the US. I use it here as fittings are available and it stands up to my climate. Also because it's black any pipework in the pond lie retro bd don't show as much. You have a fun project on your hands! It can get rather overwhelming but there are many knowledgable people on this forum who can help you. Good luck. Patti

Where is Texas are you? I have been using Classy Koi Pond for years and am now very familiar with all who work there and have trusted them for a long time.. I wont say they are on the cheap side but I will say they are on the right and correct side.. I have a link on my home page under links if you need them.. tell them you talked to me.. they can assist with any equipment you need.. or if you are close to me I dont mind helping you.. Here is a link that might be useful: my site

I have never had a problem with the algie not growing in the ponds. Might be the age of the plastic. I do not know. I have tons in the big pond. The smaller white one is a newer liner as grandson "helped" move sandstone rocks and made a hole in the last one. LOL! I am totally adicted to water ponds, features I have tons of containers of water "pots" as hubby calls them all over the yard. SIL is ready to dig the next pond once the heat breaks for us.