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We would also like to say that Daniella,
Trevor's granddaughter who many of you may already know, has also
come on board to join our enthusiastic, hardworking team…
Below is a photo of Trevor with his wife Glenis, who were the original
owners and directors of the company. Glenis was also
heavily involved with the business and who did most of the packing
of the orders as they came in. Christopher and Sue will now be
taking care of all your needs and if you need any information or
advice then please do not hesitate to contact us ..
Below you will find the notes on the pond that
was created by Trevor & Glenis and which has always been so much
admired and written about - we feel that many of our customers may
still be interested in seeing some of the photographs of that pond
as it was being constructed and so we have left these in and we
trust they will be useful and give you a few ideas for your own
project….
Coming soon hopefully will be the documentation
of our own pond which is now under construction........
Written in his own words by the founder of The
East Riding Koi Co. Ltd. Trevor Pearson……
The pond took just nine months to construct
with myself and two friends working every day, where possible, from
dawn to dusk - using where possible a small mechanical digger
with Glenis keeping us well provided with cups
of Tea and Scones .... It was a mammoth task to take on but once
started we had to see it though to the bitter end. Thousand upon
thousands of tons of soil and rubble were shifted until we had the
basic shape of what we were after ... and many features you see
today were actually thought of as the pond began to look more like a
pond rather than a construction site ....
Eventually it really did begin to take shape
and look something like a pond and what we had drawn out on paper !
We needed 'Rocks' and lots of them .. so we visited a quarry about
40 miles away which was quarrying 'Yorkshire Limestone' - when we
looked at these pieces that were being blown from the walls of the
quarry we took an immediate liking to the stone and decided to opt
for that - all together we shipped in over 75 ton of this Yorkshire
Limestone - blocking the main road in the process as the 'Bob Cat'
(mechanical bucket) which we had ordered had not been delivered - so
we ended up for that night placing lights round it so that cars and
other vehicles would not crash into it ...
Hundreds of Plants, Tree's and Shrubs were
brought in and planted in an attempt to bring a bit of nature to the
stark gray rocks and pond .... and now over 7 years later the
plants, tree's etc. have become well established and we feel that we
have now achieved our aim and the ultimate in Koi ponds ....
The Pond has its own filtration house in which
we have One Prime Vortex and 8 Biological Vortex Units all being 6ft
tall x 54" diameter and each holds approximately 400 gallons. There
are 3 x 60 watt 'Yamitsu' Ultra Violet Clarifiers - two power
skimmers which run through a separate system to the main filtration
units and from the 3/4 hp ITT Marlow Pump the water is forced
through a Sand Pressure Filter - one of the UV's and back to the
pond via two Venturi's ... The main system has 4 pumps each
delivering 3,000 gallons each back to the pond - two via the 12 ft
waterfalls and two via to further venturi's ... giving a total
turnover rate of 12,000 gph.
As you would expect ... the maintenance program
for such a large pond and filtration system is very high and very
labour intensive ... so much so that somehow in our busy schedule I
have to find the time to spend an average of 1.5 to 2.00 minutes per
week ... which involves opening the 3" slide valves fitted to the
bottom of each of the 9 vortex units to 'flush' out the filth that
has gathered during the week... and that is how a correctly designed
filter system can benefit anyone who has - or is about to install a
Koi Pond ... It's no use having a Koi Pond and a poor filtration
system that is going to take almost all of your spare time to
service and maintain the system ... that to me is far more than just
a labour of love……..
If you did not go to the photographs earlier
... then please do have a look at them and you are more than welcome
to take copies of them if they will help you with your own
particular project ...
A little bit about ourselves… Chris and Sue
Akrill
Our business started off with the germ of an
idea in a young boy more interested in keeping fish and all that
goes along with them, than doing his prep homework….
That of course is some considerable time ago
now… almost 30 years to be exact…
After several years of working within the
garden centre trade, the day finally came when it was decided it was
time to go it alone…..
Our original retail outlet in 1991 was very
small in terms of floor space about two hundred square feet in
total, but we still managed to have a ‘pond’ in the middle of the
floor holding small Koi and other pond fish…
We still have people come to us now saying
things like ‘do you remember when I bought those little Koi off you
in your first shop? Well they are two foot long now’!!
Around three of the walls, floor to ceiling
there were situated glass tanks holding all the tropical and fancy
cold water species that space would permit…
With dry goods covering the remaining spare
wall it was a very ‘packed’ space…
Summer saw as many trays of marginal plants and
water lilies as would stand outside (and that we could find floor
space for at night)! We also did pre-formed ponds, pond liners and
waterfalls too but they had to be stored in the garage at home along
with numerous pipes and fittings etc….
In 1996 we moved to bigger premises, at first
we did rather wonder how we were suddenly going to fill all this
extra space…. We need not have worried…. Yes, you have guessed,
there we were several years on and this space was also packed from
floor to ceiling….. Summer time would bring day visitors with dogs
needing leads as they had come for the day and forgotten that most
important of items. Mistaking us for a pet shop, instead of aquatics
they would come and beg us for string. One year we gave away three
whole balls in lead sized lengths!!!!! That was when we decided to
open a doggy type section. Mind you we do have two Jack Russels and
a German Shepherd who always went to work with us, so we understand
people becoming confused!!!
But in turn this led us to in early 2000
launching our pet section with great success….
More space was definitely needed…
So…
In 2003 we had the opportunity of acquiring our
own warehouse, 29, Havelock Crescent (which also became home to The East Riding
Koi Co. Ltd for several months). Until we managed to find a more
practical location for our needs, this being The Grange at Wansford
East Yorkshire, we now have room for the expansion that we always
planned.
Our fish and dry goods section has grown
tremendously…
There is now a vast array of goods available to
todays fish keepers and we do our utmost best to stock the most
popular and sought after products…. From the marine aquarist right
down to the first time fish keeper who has won a gold fish at the
fair…
Of course we are now proud to be able to supply
the many and specialized pieces of equipment to the Koi keeper
also…..
We hope that we can follow the lead set by
Trevor and Glenis…..
Our best wishes to you all - happy Koi keeping
!...and kindest regards....
Chris and Susan Akrill.
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