Hi everyone.

I'm a newbie to pond life (excuse the pun) and have a few questions to
ask, if you don't mind. ....................

A little back ground to myself and the pond I'm in the process of
constructing. I've been a water keeper for 15 years, firstly tropical then
onto a marine reef system, which I've had for 3 years and is my little baby!
So I'm no newbie to keeping fish as such.

I've recently started to construct a 9'x9'x4' ( approx 7000L / 2000G)
pond in my back garden, the hole is dug and the frame work is all but
complete. This I've made from 9"x4" Tanalised rough sawn planks, not seen
many "wood" ponds so I thought it would be novel, though a bugger to
construct !!!! Although I don't intend to stock this year (I'm up in
Derbyshire UK and it is getting a little cold) but my aim is to stock with a
mixture of Kio, Orf's and a Sterlet or 2.

I've been doing some research on filter UVC and pump systems and also
asked around a few fish keeping friends for advice on equipment selection,
but would value other input. The main to concerns are the filter and UVC,
I've narrowed it down to either the OASE Biosys Promax 30000 or the
pressurised Fishmate 6000UV. Budget is an issue so the Evolution Nexus
range, which I like the look of is out of the question. Has any one any
experience with these products or recommend any other ??

Another quandary is whether to fit a separate UVC or will the in built
UV's be good enough? Also I have read in some places that you fit the UVC
after the filter box and some before, the arguments being fitting after
doesn't kill of any of the Nitrifying bacteria, but before helps the
mechanical filter media to remove more of the "clumped" algae cells, any
thoughts?

I'm also debating whether to go for a solid or pre-filtered submersible
pump (something like the Fishmate 2500), which is advisable? Lastly on
though thoughts of aeration, I will have a slate shelve for the water to
return to help create surface movement, either fed directly from a
pressurised filter or as a bypass on a gravity fed, my pond construction is
above ground level by a few feet, so the gravity fed would have to be top
exit. Also does anyone else use a separate air pump for aeration or does
most people just rely on surface agitation?

Any links to sites would be appreciated, my crawl of the web has thrown up
many conflicting views, suppliers always say THEIR product is the best, but
I'd rather ask the people who REALLY
know.................................... you!!!!


Thanks for your thoughts in advance



Jason.