pump/filter needs?

[Lyn]

Hi,

I want a pump that will cost the least to run since it will
be running fairly constantly. I plan mostly a water garden
so I will probably have lots of leaves dropping into water.
I will also keep mosquito fish in it. Any filter considerations
welcome!!!

So any recommendations for 250 gal. (oblong shape with
three "fingers") pond are much appreciated.

Lyn

[Daniel Morrow]

"Lyn" > wrote in message
.. .
> Hi,
>
> I want a pump that will cost the least to run since it will
> be running fairly constantly. I plan mostly a water garden
> so I will probably have lots of leaves dropping into water.
> I will also keep mosquito fish in it. Any filter considerations
> welcome!!!
>
> So any recommendations for 250 gal. (oblong shape with
> three "fingers") pond are much appreciated.
>
> Lyn
>
>

For a large water body I would recommend a danner mag drive pump and
appropriate mechanical/biological filter, you might want a pond filter if
your tank/pond is big enough to warrant it. The danner pumps provide the
best bang for the buck but if you want the absolute best/most powerful but
much more expensive pump I would recommend a coralife high-pressure pump, it
has the largest head height of any pump I have ever seen. If your tank is
small enough I would recommend one or more fluval 404 msf filters
(canister), they each have a flow rate of approximately 340 gallons per hour
and are the most innovative canister filter I know of (the primer plunger
helps to prime the filter without funnels or limited powerheads) as they can
be operated 100% on it's side without problems and it allows it to be used
in a tank that is low to the ground unlike other filters. The filstar xp3
would be good too but you're supposed to prime it with a funnel (the jury in
my brain is still out on how effective the funnel method is, it might be
great it might not) and I just plain like the fluval msfs more. I'd
recommend you connect a marineland bio-wheel pro 60 in daisy-chaining with
each fluval 404 for maximum biological filtration (I don't trust the bio-max
rings because they only last about 6 months). If you want to save money you
might want to try using fluval 4 internals but they don't have as much
biological filtration capacity unless you connect it inline with a bio-wheel
pro 60. I find air powered sponge filters great for small tanks. Good luck
and later!

[Elaine T]

Daniel Morrow wrote:
> "Lyn" > wrote in message
> .. .
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I want a pump that will cost the least to run since it will
>>be running fairly constantly. I plan mostly a water garden
>>so I will probably have lots of leaves dropping into water.
>>I will also keep mosquito fish in it. Any filter considerations
>>welcome!!!
>>
>>So any recommendations for 250 gal. (oblong shape with
>>three "fingers") pond are much appreciated.
>>
>>Lyn
>>
>>
>
>
> For a large water body I would recommend a danner mag drive pump and
> appropriate mechanical/biological filter, you might want a pond filter if
> your tank/pond is big enough to warrant it. The danner pumps provide the
> best bang for the buck but if you want the absolute best/most powerful but
> much more expensive pump I would recommend a coralife high-pressure pump, it
> has the largest head height of any pump I have ever seen. If your tank is
> small enough I would recommend one or more fluval 404 msf filters
> (canister), they each have a flow rate of approximately 340 gallons per hour
> and are the most innovative canister filter I know of (the primer plunger
> helps to prime the filter without funnels or limited powerheads) as they can
> be operated 100% on it's side without problems and it allows it to be used
> in a tank that is low to the ground unlike other filters. The filstar xp3
> would be good too but you're supposed to prime it with a funnel (the jury in
> my brain is still out on how effective the funnel method is, it might be
> great it might not) and I just plain like the fluval msfs more. I'd
> recommend you connect a marineland bio-wheel pro 60 in daisy-chaining with
> each fluval 404 for maximum biological filtration (I don't trust the bio-max
> rings because they only last about 6 months). If you want to save money you
> might want to try using fluval 4 internals but they don't have as much
> biological filtration capacity unless you connect it inline with a bio-wheel
> pro 60. I find air powered sponge filters great for small tanks. Good luck
> and later!
>
>
I wouldn't put a Fluval, Marineland, Filstar, or any other indoor
fishtank filter out in the weather. They're not designed for it and
could short, causing a serious hazard. They would also clog
ridiculously quickly on leaves and pond debris - pond filtration is
rather different from that for fishtanks. Pondmaster pumps are very
well-regarded by the folks in rec.ponds. I have one in my water garden
and it even survived running dry overnight when I made a mistake setting
up my spillways.

I doubt you'll need much filtration if you only have a few mosquito fish
and lots of plants in 250 gallons of water. You could build a small
flowerpot filter or waterfall filter and have plenty of filtration that
doesn't clog or need much cleaning. Ask around rec.ponds and folks will
tell you how.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com