5 Common Mistakes When Installing a Bakki Shower (And How to Avoid Them)

So, you’ve decided to upgrade your pond with a Bakki Shower. You’ve read about the incredible growth rates, the oxygen saturation, and that "polished" water clarity that only a shower filter can provide.

But a Bakki Shower isn’t just a "plug and play" filter like a pressure canister. It is a biological engine that relies on physics—gravity, airflow, and water velocity—to work correctly.

We see customers make the same installation errors time and time again. These mistakes don’t just reduce the performance of your expensive new kit; in extreme cases, they can be dangerous for your fish.

Here are the 5 most common mistakes we see when installing a Bakki Shower, and exactly how to fix them.

1. Bakki Shower Flow Rates: The "Head Height" Miscalculation

This is the number one reason customers email us saying, "My shower is just trickling, it’s not crashing!"

Most people look at a pump box, see "10,000 Litres Per Hour," and assume that is what they will get. But that rating is at zero head (ground level). A Bakki Shower sits tall—often 1 metre or more above the water level.

The Fix: You must account for Head Pressure. As you push water up, you lose flow.

• If your shower inlet is 1.5m high, check your pump’s flow curve at 1.5m. A 10,000 LPH pump might only deliver 4,000 LPH at that height.

• Rule of Thumb: Always oversize your pump for a shower. You want a heavy turnover to get that oxygen-rich "crashing" effect.

2. Feeding It "Dirty" Water

A Bakki Shower is a Biological Filter, not a Mechanical one. Its job is to process invisible toxins (Ammonia/Nitrite), not to catch fish poop and leaves.

If you pump water directly from the bottom drain into a Bakki Shower, the solids will get trapped in the media.

• The Result: The microscopic pores in your expensive Bacteria House media get clogged with sludge. The beneficial bacteria die, and your water quality crashes.

• The Fix: Place a layer of filter wool on the top media and possibly add a Sieve or Drum Filter in your system. Only mechanically clean water should ever leave your shower tiers.

3. Stacking Media Like Brickwork (Blocking the Air)

We see this often with the rod-shaped "Bacteria House" media. Owners want to fit as much as possible in, so they stack the rods neatly, side-by-side, like bricks in a wall.

While this looks tidy, it’s actually bad for performance.

The Fix: You need chaos.

• Bakki Showers work by "Off-Gassing." This requires massive amounts of air to flow up through the media while water flows down.

• If you stack the rods too tightly, you choke the airflow.

• The Golden Rule: Stack your media in a "Cross-Hatch" or random pattern (like Jenga) and break the tubes up if BHM. You want to create tunnels and voids so air can rush through the system.

4. Ignoring the "Wind Chill" Factor

In the UK, this is critical. A Bakki Shower is essentially a giant cooling tower. By breaking the water into millions of droplets and exposing them to air, you are maximizing evaporation. In summer, this keeps the pond cool. In winter? It can act as a freezer.

The Fix:

• Location: Don’t install your shower in the windiest corner of the garden.

• Winter Mode: Have a plan for December–February. Many of our customers bypass the shower in deep winter or wrap the unit in bubble insulation. If you heat your pond, be aware that an uninsulated shower will increase your heating bill significantly.

5. The "Wobbly Base" Disaster

It sounds obvious, but it happens. A standard 4-tier shower filled with ceramic media and flowing water can weigh over 100kg.

We have seen DIY stands made of plastic crates or timber that rot over time. If the stand shifts just 5mm, the entire tower can lean.

• The Risk: If the tower tips, you lose your expensive media (it smashes easily) and drain your pond onto the lawn.

• The Fix: Ensure your shower sits on a perfectly level, solid concrete or steel base. Use a spirit level on the bottom tier before you ever turn the water on.

Summary

A Bakki Shower is the single best upgrade you can make for Koi growth and appetite, but it demands respect. Treat it right—with clean water, strong flow, and good airflow—and it will transform your pond.

Unsure which pump is strong enough for your new setup? Drop us a message