Help with biofilter system

[Judy]

It gets quite confusing when trying to figure out the best filter
system to buy.
My pond is 12'x10' and 3 and half feet deep. I would love to find a
bio system outside the pond but if a submersible filter system is
better I would accept that. Since my pond is not that big, I'm
wondering what is the best filter system I can buy for this size pond.
Thanks

[John Rutz]

Judy wrote:
> It gets quite confusing when trying to figure out the best filter
> system to buy.
> My pond is 12'x10' and 3 and half feet deep. I would love to find a
> bio system outside the pond but if a submersible filter system is
> better I would accept that. Since my pond is not that big, I'm
> wondering what is the best filter system I can buy for this size pond.
> Thanks


--
out of the pond filters are much easyer to clean, without getting the
gunk back into the pond also you dont have to get in the pond to get to
it to clean it




John Rutz
Z5 New Mexico

never miss a good oportunity to shut up

see my pond at:

http://www.fuerjefe.com

[Nedra]

John is absolutely correct on this. For a bought filter -
Never take the manufacturers word for number of gallons
filtered. Especially so if you have or intend to get Koi.

I bought a Pond Filtration 3000 more than 6 years ago
for $325. My pond is about 3000... so I thought I was set.
I had 5 or 6 juvenile Koi and 5 juvenile Gold Fish. As the
fish grew so did my appetite for Butterfly Koi. I bought only
2 - an Orange one and an Orange and Black one. Everything
started going haywire three years ago. The Koi grew like
gangbusters.... I added a veggie filter - then I noticed Koi
babies in the pond. I now have 13 Koi and several Large
Gold Fish with quiet a few smaller goldfish. This is how your
filtration will grow - it has to keep up with the fish population.
;-)

Good Luck ..

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"John Rutz" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Judy wrote:
> > Hi John, thanks for replying, do you have any suggestions on brands
> > and types of biosystem for outside the pond? Some thing not too
> > complicated since I am a novice at plumbing. Thanks Judy
> >
> >
> > not realy I havent used a comercial filter in years been building my own
> but can tell you this if your pond fer instance is 1200 galons look
> for a filter that is advertised for 3000 gal in other words at least
> twice the size of your pond if not 3x
> manufacturers seem to over rate thier filters in my opinion by a factor
> of 2 for goldfish and by 4 for Koi
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> John Rutz
> Z5 New Mexico
>
> never miss a good oportunity to shut up
>
> see my pond at:
>
> http://www.fuerjefe.com
>
>

[Mark T.]

Hi Judy.
Along with all the other good advice you're receiving here,
please remember that your pump needs to cycle the
entire volume of water (in your case, about 3150 Gals.),
every hour. So you'd need a 3000 GPH pump, minimum.
If you're pumping up to your biofilter or up to a waterfall,
that needs to be considered as well. A filter outside of the
pond is indeed very much easier to maintain, while leaving
the pump itself in the pond is quieter. Once you decide
if you will have a waterfall, or how high you're going to pump
the water before returning it to the pond, lots of folks here
can help you figure out the "head loss".
I have a link to a site which provides several designs of biofilters
you can easily and inexpensively build yourself if you've a mind to.
Sometimes though, it's easier just to buy one and get it over with.

Hope this helps,
Mark

"Nedra" > wrote in message
rthlink.net...
> John is absolutely correct on this. For a bought filter -
> Never take the manufacturers word for number of gallons
> filtered. Especially so if you have or intend to get Koi.
>
> I bought a Pond Filtration 3000 more than 6 years ago
> for $325. My pond is about 3000... so I thought I was set.
> I had 5 or 6 juvenile Koi and 5 juvenile Gold Fish. As the
> fish grew so did my appetite for Butterfly Koi. I bought only
> 2 - an Orange one and an Orange and Black one. Everything
> started going haywire three years ago. The Koi grew like
> gangbusters.... I added a veggie filter - then I noticed Koi
> babies in the pond. I now have 13 Koi and several Large
> Gold Fish with quiet a few smaller goldfish. This is how your
> filtration will grow - it has to keep up with the fish population.
> ;-)
>
> Good Luck ..
>
> Nedra
> http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
>
> "John Rutz" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> >
> > Judy wrote:
> > > Hi John, thanks for replying, do you have any suggestions on brands
> > > and types of biosystem for outside the pond? Some thing not too
> > > complicated since I am a novice at plumbing. Thanks Judy
> > >
> > >
> > > not realy I havent used a comercial filter in years been building my
own
> > but can tell you this if your pond fer instance is 1200 galons look
> > for a filter that is advertised for 3000 gal in other words at least
> > twice the size of your pond if not 3x
> > manufacturers seem to over rate thier filters in my opinion by a factor
> > of 2 for goldfish and by 4 for Koi
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > John Rutz
> > Z5 New Mexico
> >
> > never miss a good oportunity to shut up
> >
> > see my pond at:
> >
> > http://www.fuerjefe.com
> >
> >
>
>

[Judy]

You mentioned you build your own, could you explain what you use to
build your own biofilter system? It was also mentioned that the pump
would be placed in the pond, what is used to keep the pump from
clogging? Do you use a basket of some sort? I did put together a
veggie filter but I didn't put a drain in the bottom, wow was that
work to clean. My big mistake.




John Rutz > wrote in message >...
> Judy wrote:
> > Hi John, thanks for replying, do you have any suggestions on brands
> > and types of biosystem for outside the pond? Some thing not too
> > complicated since I am a novice at plumbing. Thanks Judy
> >
> >
> > not realy I havent used a comercial filter in years been building my own
> but can tell you this if your pond fer instance is 1200 galons look
> for a filter that is advertised for 3000 gal in other words at least
> twice the size of your pond if not 3x
> manufacturers seem to over rate thier filters in my opinion by a factor
> of 2 for goldfish and by 4 for Koi
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> John Rutz
> Z5 New Mexico
>
> never miss a good oportunity to shut up
>
> see my pond at:
>
> http://www.fuerjefe.com

[Just Me \Koi\]

Hi Judy, I have attached some links below> I highly recommend the Blondie
of Skippy Filter. They both work for me!

Skippy's Filter:
http://www.skippysstuff.com/biofiltr.htm

Blondie's Filter Design:
http://www.blondieswebdesigns.com/water_garden/filter/biofilter.html

Various DIY Filter home pages:
http://mikebentley.com/ponds/homemadefilters.htm


--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

"Judy" > wrote in message
om...
> You mentioned you build your own, could you explain what you use to
> build your own biofilter system? It was also mentioned that the pump
> would be placed in the pond, what is used to keep the pump from
> clogging? Do you use a basket of some sort? I did put together a
> veggie filter but I didn't put a drain in the bottom, wow was that
> work to clean. My big mistake.
>
>
>
>
> John Rutz > wrote in message
>...
> > Judy wrote:
> > > Hi John, thanks for replying, do you have any suggestions on brands
> > > and types of biosystem for outside the pond? Some thing not too
> > > complicated since I am a novice at plumbing. Thanks Judy
> > >
> > >
> > > not realy I havent used a comercial filter in years been building my
own
> > but can tell you this if your pond fer instance is 1200 galons look
> > for a filter that is advertised for 3000 gal in other words at least
> > twice the size of your pond if not 3x
> > manufacturers seem to over rate thier filters in my opinion by a factor
> > of 2 for goldfish and by 4 for Koi
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > John Rutz
> > Z5 New Mexico
> >
> > never miss a good oportunity to shut up
> >
> > see my pond at:
> >
> > http://www.fuerjefe.com

[John Rutz]

Judy wrote:
> You mentioned you build your own, could you explain what you use to
> build your own biofilter system? It was also mentioned that the pump
> would be placed in the pond, what is used to keep the pump from
> clogging? Do you use a basket of some sort? I did put together a
> veggie filter but I didn't put a drain in the bottom, wow was that
> work to clean. My big mistake.
>
>
>
> look at Jan Jordans demon pond filter its a good well designed filter and a place to start
we can help you size it to your particular needs

John Rutz
Z5 New Mexico

never miss a good oportunity to shut up

see my pond at:

http://www.fuerjefe.com

[bobkiely]

Judy, check out this web site http://www.mvwgs.org/filter.htm .
I made this filter about a month ago and it took about 2 hours including
the trip to Loews and cost just less than $20.

I made sure all the filter pieces fit very snugly together to eliminate the
possibility of accidental bypass or channeling.

My water is sparkling clear. Never was that clean before
as I had to clean the filter (Pondmaster 1000) about every 5-7 days and
after 3 days the flow was considerably reduced.
If that doesn't suit your needs for some reason, check out this page - has
about 20 different designs.....
http://www.mikebentley.com/ponds/homemadefilters.htm

BK

"Judy" > wrote in message
om...
> You mentioned you build your own, could you explain what you use to
> build your own biofilter system? It was also mentioned that the pump
> would be placed in the pond, what is used to keep the pump from
> clogging? Do you use a basket of some sort? I did put together a
> veggie filter but I didn't put a drain in the bottom, wow was that
> work to clean. My big mistake.
>
>
>
>
> John Rutz > wrote in message
>...
> > Judy wrote:
> > > Hi John, thanks for replying, do you have any suggestions on brands
> > > and types of biosystem for outside the pond? Some thing not too
> > > complicated since I am a novice at plumbing. Thanks Judy
> > >
> > >
> > > not realy I havent used a comercial filter in years been building my
own
> > but can tell you this if your pond fer instance is 1200 galons look
> > for a filter that is advertised for 3000 gal in other words at least
> > twice the size of your pond if not 3x
> > manufacturers seem to over rate thier filters in my opinion by a factor
> > of 2 for goldfish and by 4 for Koi
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > John Rutz
> > Z5 New Mexico
> >
> > never miss a good oportunity to shut up
> >
> > see my pond at:
> >
> > http://www.fuerjefe.com

[Basil Malithorne]

Thanks for the link(s). I have mine set up as what I guess is called an upflow filter. Water enters the base of the barrel, flows up through the lava rock, then through the air conditioner filter that covers the top of the barrel and then out into the pond through the spout at the top. A couple weeks ago, I re-ran my piping so that it did not go from the pump to the filter 100%. I now have it split to divert two pipes into the waterfall directly and let the filter box drain slower to give the bacteria time to work. Its too soon to tell if I improved anything yet, but we'll see. I notice a lot of the home-made boxes are using an aeration tower of one kind or another. Is this something that my filter style should be using or should I just have patience and let it alone for a while?

Pond details:
The pond is about 7'x12'x4'. There is a waterfall at the far end containing my upflow bio-filter. I have three Koi (8"), and two Comets, plus mosquito eaters. This is only the second year for the pond and the overly green water compared to last year has me wanting to clean it up faster. I have about 30% coverage on the pond for plants now, Salvania and duckweed plants covering the filter box.


------------------------------
Barefoot Malithorne
"bobkiely" > wrote in message news:uwBRa.21049$zy.10137@fed1read06...
Judy, check out this web site http://www.mvwgs.org/filter.htm .
I made this filter about a month ago and it took about 2 hours including
the trip to Loews and cost just less than $20.

I made sure all the filter pieces fit very snugly together to eliminate the
possibility of accidental bypass or channeling.

My water is sparkling clear. Never was that clean before
as I had to clean the filter (Pondmaster 1000) about every 5-7 days and
after 3 days the flow was considerably reduced.
If that doesn't suit your needs for some reason, check out this page - has
about 20 different designs.....
http://www.mikebentley.com/ponds/homemadefilters.htm

BK

"Judy" > wrote in message
om...
> You mentioned you build your own, could you explain what you use to
> build your own biofilter system? It was also mentioned that the pump
> would be placed in the pond, what is used to keep the pump from
> clogging? Do you use a basket of some sort? I did put together a
> veggie filter but I didn't put a drain in the bottom, wow was that
> work to clean. My big mistake.
>
>
>
>
> John Rutz > wrote in message
>...
> > Judy wrote:
> > > Hi John, thanks for replying, do you have any suggestions on brands
> > > and types of biosystem for outside the pond? Some thing not too
> > > complicated since I am a novice at plumbing. Thanks Judy
> > >
> > >
> > > not realy I havent used a comercial filter in years been building my
own
> > but can tell you this if your pond fer instance is 1200 galons look
> > for a filter that is advertised for 3000 gal in other words at least
> > twice the size of your pond if not 3x
> > manufacturers seem to over rate thier filters in my opinion by a factor
> > of 2 for goldfish and by 4 for Koi
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > John Rutz
> > Z5 New Mexico
> >
> > never miss a good oportunity to shut up
> >
> > see my pond at:
> >
> > http://www.fuerjefe.com