In pond pump input cover... any ideas?

[Gareee©]

I've been using the "milk crate" type filter around the pump in the pond,
but it seems to be getting clogged to the point o restricting water flow in
just a week with the new higher pgh pump.

Anyone come out with some kind of "cage" to put around the pump, to keep
critters like salamanders out, but not have the furnace filter stuff around
it that clogs that fast?

Pond plant baskets look about right, but are too small. for the pump.

Ideas?

--
Gareee©
(Gary Tabar Jr.)

[Snooze]

"Gareee©" > wrote in message
...
> I've been using the "milk crate" type filter around the pump in the pond,
> but it seems to be getting clogged to the point o restricting water flow
> in just a week with the new higher pgh pump.
>
> Anyone come out with some kind of "cage" to put around the pump, to keep
> critters like salamanders out, but not have the furnace filter stuff
> around it that clogs that fast?
>
> Pond plant baskets look about right, but are too small. for the pump.

What if you wrap a milk crate with sunscreen mesh. Something like this
stuff.
http://www.solarshadingsys.com/sss01/products/prod20.shtml

They sell it in the garden section of your local home depot/lowes. The idea
being to wrap 1 layer of it around the crate, just to keep the amphbians out
of the milk crate. Don't cram the entire milk crate full of it.

See if that works.

[[email protected]]

"Gareee©" > wrote:
> I've been using the "milk crate" type filter around the pump in the pond,
> but it seems to be getting clogged to the point o restricting water flow
> in just a week with the new higher pgh pump.
>
> Anyone come out with some kind of "cage" to put around the pump, to keep
> critters like salamanders out, but not have the furnace filter stuff
> around it that clogs that fast?
>
> Pond plant baskets look about right, but are too small. for the pump.
>
> Ideas?

Small pump, small milk crate. Large pump, large milk crate. I just attached
one layer of furnace filter to the milk crate. When the flow slowed I would
pull it out of the pond (turning it off first) and hit it with a high
pressure hose on every side. Quick and easy. YMMV

--
Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!

Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! !

[Gareee©]

> wrote in message
...

> Small pump, small milk crate. Large pump, large milk crate. I just
> attached
> one layer of furnace filter to the milk crate. When the flow slowed I
> would
> pull it out of the pond (turning it off first) and hit it with a high
> pressure hose on every side. Quick and easy. YMMV

That's what I've been doing, but pulling it out every 4-5 days is getting to
be a PITA.


--
Gareee©
(Gary Tabar Jr.)

[~ janj]

On Thu, 11 May 2006 22:32:27 -0400, "Gareee©" wrote:

>I've been using the "milk crate" type filter around the pump in the pond,
>but it seems to be getting clogged to the point o restricting water flow in
>just a week with the new higher pgh pump.
>
>Anyone come out with some kind of "cage" to put around the pump, to keep
>critters like salamanders out, but not have the furnace filter stuff around
>it that clogs that fast?
>
>Pond plant baskets look about right, but are too small. for the pump.

Gareee, you're not buying big enough plant baskets. I know
www.aqua-mart.com use to carry some really LARGE ones. So big that for the
life of me I don't know how one would pick them up and put in the pond if
they were full of dirt... plus rocks. I picked up a bunch during one of our
pond equipment sale/trade meetings. I use them to strain the water from the
muck I pull out of the filter.... basically pre-composting. ;o)

Also used to catch sunflower seed hulls under the bird feeders, rarely use
in the pond. Though I did one year put one on the shelf of my lower pond
(they're so big the tops were above the high water mark) and used as a koi
nursery. ;o) Who'd of thought? ~ jan

-----------------
(Do you know where your water quality is?)

[Gareee©]

"~ janj" > wrote in message
...

>>I've been using the "milk crate" type filter around the pump in the pond,
>>but it seems to be getting clogged to the point o restricting water flow
>>in
>>just a week with the new higher pgh pump.
>>
>>Anyone come out with some kind of "cage" to put around the pump, to keep
>>critters like salamanders out, but not have the furnace filter stuff
>>around
>>it that clogs that fast?
>>
>>Pond plant baskets look about right, but are too small. for the pump.

> Gareee, you're not buying big enough plant baskets. I know
> www.aqua-mart.com use to carry some really LARGE ones. So big that for the
> life of me I don't know how one would pick them up and put in the pond if
> they were full of dirt... plus rocks. I picked up a bunch during one of
> our
> pond equipment sale/trade meetings. I use them to strain the water from
> the
> muck I pull out of the filter.... basically pre-composting. ;o)

I'm not using a plant basket, it's currently in a milk crate filter. The
only plant baskets I found locally were at Lowe's. Maybe a foot across, but
1/2 the height of the milk crate.

Basically I just need something with holes small enough so the salamanders
can't get sucked it. The filter screens are doing a great job with the new
pump, but they are filtering so much out, that the whole rig needs to be
yanked and cleaned every 4-5 days or so.

Since it's in 3-4 feet of water,with a large piece of flagstone on tops of
it holding it down, it's a PITA to get out every time.

I've already begun work on the upper pondlet/waterfall, and I'm thinking of
using some kind of setup in the upper pondlet to act as a filter, to reduce
stuff down in the main pond. (Might be something as simple as a
filterscreen "wall" between the water inlet, and the waterfall/downstream.)

The uv clarifier's working great, EXCEPT when this damned thing needs to be
cleaned out again. it gets so bad th epump is putting out only 50% of it's
flow.

--
Gareee©
(Gary Tabar Jr.)

[Phyllis and Jim Hurley]

We are using a 5 gal bucket with Loads of 1/2 inch holes ...like all we
could put in it. The flow rate is slow enough that nothing seems to get
stuck on it. The top has egg crate light grid to permit flow there as well.
We don't ever have to clean it. It sits at the bottom of a 7 foot well on
bricks to keep it off the bottom.

Jim

--
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net/personalpages/pwp-jameshurley
Ask me about Jog A Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at: jogathon.net
"Gareee©" > wrote in message
...
> I've been using the "milk crate" type filter around the pump in the pond,
> but it seems to be getting clogged to the point o restricting water flow
in
> just a week with the new higher pgh pump.
>
> Anyone come out with some kind of "cage" to put around the pump, to keep
> critters like salamanders out, but not have the furnace filter stuff
around
> it that clogs that fast?
>
> Pond plant baskets look about right, but are too small. for the pump.
>
> Ideas?
>
> --
> Gareee©
> (Gary Tabar Jr.)
>
>

[Gareee©]

"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" > wrote in message
. ..
> We are using a 5 gal bucket with Loads of 1/2 inch holes ...like all we
> could put in it. The flow rate is slow enough that nothing seems to get
> stuck on it. The top has egg crate light grid to permit flow there as
> well.
> We don't ever have to clean it. It sits at the bottom of a 7 foot well on
> bricks to keep it off the bottom.

The bucket doesn't rust?

That might be a solution...


--
Gareee©
(Gary Tabar Jr.)

[Hal]

Yea, thayts really ****ing funny Hal. its a barrel of laughs. Don;t
take much to keep simple ****ers happy does it?



On Sat, 13 May 2006 09:36:26 -0400, Hal > wrote:
>><>On Fri, 12 May 2006 21:39:35 -0400, "Gareee©"
> wrote:
>><>
>><>>The bucket doesn't rust?
>><>
>><>I've been using plastic buckets so long that is almost funny.
>><>
>><>You know the stuff we use to build rabbit/bird cages called hardware
>><>cloth? Well they make a similar mesh from plastic in 1/2" squares
>><>and possible smaller. (Fence materials Lowe's Hardware.) I have
>><>some of the 1/2" square plastic mesh, layered, in my filter barrels
>><>just because the fibrous filter material clogs so rapidly.
>><>
>><>Regards,
>><>
>><>Hal


==============================================
Put some color in your cheeks...garden naked!
"The original frugal ponder.."Since my statements are
given freely, take em or leave em, I am entitled to
my opinion none the less. My opinion and $1 is still
only worth $1.....but I am entitled to "MY" opinion...
~~~~ }<((((o> ~~~~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~~~~~ }<(((((o>

[Gareee©]

"Hal" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 12 May 2006 21:39:35 -0400, "Gareee©"
> > wrote:
>
>>The bucket doesn't rust?
>
> I've been using plastic buckets so long that is almost funny.
>
> You know the stuff we use to build rabbit/bird cages called hardware
> cloth? Well they make a similar mesh from plastic in 1/2" squares
> and possible smaller. (Fence materials Lowe's Hardware.) I have
> some of the 1/2" square plastic mesh, layered, in my filter barrels
> just because the fibrous filter material clogs so rapidly.



That might work, Hal! thanks for the idea!


--
Gareee©
(Gary Tabar Jr.)

[Phyllis and Jim Hurley]

Our bucket if a plastic 5 gal bucket. Now many years old.

--
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net/personalpages/pwp-jameshurley
Ask me about Jog A Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at: jogathon.net
"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" > wrote in message
. ..
> We are using a 5 gal bucket with Loads of 1/2 inch holes ...like all we
> could put in it. The flow rate is slow enough that nothing seems to get
> stuck on it. The top has egg crate light grid to permit flow there as
well.
> We don't ever have to clean it. It sits at the bottom of a 7 foot well on
> bricks to keep it off the bottom.
>
> Jim
>
> --
> See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net/personalpages/pwp-jameshurley
> Ask me about Jog A Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at:
jogathon.net
> "Gareee©" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I've been using the "milk crate" type filter around the pump in the
pond,
> > but it seems to be getting clogged to the point o restricting water flow
> in
> > just a week with the new higher pgh pump.
> >
> > Anyone come out with some kind of "cage" to put around the pump, to keep
> > critters like salamanders out, but not have the furnace filter stuff
> around
> > it that clogs that fast?
> >
> > Pond plant baskets look about right, but are too small. for the pump.
> >
> > Ideas?
> >
> > --
> > Gareee©
> > (Gary Tabar Jr.)
> >
> >
>
>

[Miester Gardener]

The bucket doesn't rust....now there is one intelligent dude....use a
plastic bucket ****wad! I b et even the bitch carol lknew that.




On Sat, 13 May 2006 18:58:51 -0400, "Gareee©"
> wrote:
>><>"Hal" > wrote in message
...
>><>> On Fri, 12 May 2006 21:39:35 -0400, "Gareee©"
>><>> > wrote:
>><>>
>><>>>The bucket doesn't rust?
>><>>
>><>> I've been using plastic buckets so long that is almost funny.
>><>>
>><>> You know the stuff we use to build rabbit/bird cages called hardware
>><>> cloth? Well they make a similar mesh from plastic in 1/2" squares
>><>> and possible smaller. (Fence materials Lowe's Hardware.) I have
>><>> some of the 1/2" square plastic mesh, layered, in my filter barrels
>><>> just because the fibrous filter material clogs so rapidly.
>><>
>><>
>><>
>><>That might work, Hal! thanks for the idea!


==============================================
Put some color in your cheeks...garden naked!
"The original frugal ponder.."Since my statements are
given freely, take em or leave em, I am entitled to
my opinion none the less. My opinion and $1 is still
only worth $1.....but I am entitled to "MY" opinion...
~~~~ }<((((o> ~~~~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~~~~~ }<(((((o>

[Gareee©]

Ok, my solution? Take two in pond mesh basket planters, out holes in it for
the line and cord, and then use fishing line to "sew" them together.

So far it appears to work great.
bad news, there were 3 dead salamanders in the filter/pump setup, and two
live ones crawling around.

The furnace filter mesh was completely solid with muck again as well.

Downside is now I have no filter system working at all till I get the
waterfall setup completed.


--
Gareee©
(Gary Tabar Jr.)

[~ janj]

>Ok, my solution? Take two in pond mesh basket planters, out holes in it for
>the line and cord, and then use fishing line to "sew" them together.
>
>So far it appears to work great. bad news, there were 3 dead salamanders
>in the filter/pump setup, and two live ones crawling around.

Sounds like you didn't get the holes tight enough. My son uses Marine Goop.

>The furnace filter mesh was completely solid with muck again as well.

No mesh in the basket, else it is still a maintenance menace.

>Downside is now I have no filter system working at all till I get the
>waterfall setup completed.

Get'er done. ;o) ~ jan

-----------------
(Do you know where your water quality is?)

[Koi-Lo]

*Note: There are several *Koi-Lo's* on the pond and aquaria groups.*
Disclaimer: I do not post from Goolge, Earthlink or Verizon.
All rude or obscene messages are by Roy and Fezz.

"Gareee©" > wrote in message
...
> Ok, my solution? Take two in pond mesh basket planters, out holes in it
> for the line and cord, and then use fishing line to "sew" them together.
================
It goes faster to use those green plastic coated wires used to tie tomato
plants to stakes. I use 4 on each pot and stuff the areas around where the
hose exits with filter floss of some kind. The newts and other small
critters don't get caught.

--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
They can't get me fired. I'm retired.
They can't get my husband fired. He owns the Company.
They can't get me disfellowshipped because I left their Org.
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>