Ideas for filtration on a small pond

I have finally got the nod to convert our little waterfall feature into
a small pond...it will be around 100 galls maybe a little more...depends
on how deep I can dig...and how far before hitting pipework...

We currently have a pump that takes the water from a small reservoir and
then feeds it back from the top as a waterfall - it is so many years
since we put it in I can't remember exactly what it is...but it was
always very efficient for the purpose...

My plan is for a few Shubunkin (2-4 max) and a lot of plants...I quite
like the idea of creating some sort of veggie filter at the top and am
very fond of eating watercress so that will probably be the chosen crop...

What I would like to know is if I need to add anything else in terms of
filtration....we can easily hide an external system and it is close to a
power outlet...

First of many questions, on this project, I'm sure

TIA
Gill

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...
I have finally got the nod to convert our little waterfall feature into a
small pond...it will be around 100 galls maybe a little more...depends on
how deep I can dig...and how far before hitting pipework...

We currently have a pump that takes the water from a small reservoir and
then feeds it back from the top as a waterfall - it is so many years since
we put it in I can't remember exactly what it is...but it was always very
efficient for the purpose...

My plan is for a few Shubunkin (2-4 max) and a lot of plants...I quite
like the idea of creating some sort of veggie filter at the top and am
very fond of eating watercress so that will probably be the chosen crop...

What I would like to know is if I need to add anything else in terms of
filtration....we can easily hide an external system and it is close to a
power outlet...

First of many questions, on this project, I'm sure
==============
For an easy quick-to-make easy to clean filter you can wrap a Beckett pump
loosely in window screen and drop it into a 2g black flower pot. Fill pot
up with pea gravel, drop in pond, plug it in.... VOILA! :-)
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
Aquarium FAQ are at: http://faq.thekrib.com/
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...
I have finally got the nod to convert our little waterfall feature into a
small pond...it will be around 100 galls maybe a little more...depends on
how deep I can dig...and how far before hitting pipework...

We currently have a pump that takes the water from a small reservoir and
then feeds it back from the top as a waterfall - it is so many years since
we put it in I can't remember exactly what it is...but it was always very
efficient for the purpose...

My plan is for a few Shubunkin (2-4 max) and a lot of plants...I quite
like the idea of creating some sort of veggie filter at the top and am
very fond of eating watercress so that will probably be the chosen crop...

What I would like to know is if I need to add anything else in terms of

Hi Gill

I use a pressurised Hozelock Ecoclear 4500UV ( Titan 3000 pump and Bioforce
4500UV filter and UV) system on our three year old pond and it works a
treat.

An added bonus for me is that it's nearly the same as my tank's Rena XP, so
no new stuff to contend with.

I got mine online from Kettering Koi for about £149

Peter
filtration....we can easily hide an external system and it is close to a
power outlet...

First of many questions, on this project, I'm sure

TIA
Gill

"Koi-Lo" wrote in message
...
==============
For an easy quick-to-make easy to clean filter you can wrap a Beckett pump
loosely in window screen and drop it into a 2g black flower pot. Fill pot
up with pea gravel, drop in pond, plug it in.... VOILA! :-)

Why on earth would you suggest pea gravel? Might as well suggest lava
rock...It's got an incredibly poor surface area to mass ratio, difficult to
clean and you end up spilling the pea gravel in the pond anyways.

If you're going to buy window screen material to wrap the pump, buy a few
more yards and cram as much of it as you can into the pot. It's light,
fairly inexpensive and a breeze to clean. Just lay it out on the lawn or
sidewalk, and blast with a hose.

I won't comment on the suggestion of beckett pumps, since brand and pump
choice is a religious issue.

"Snooze" wrote in message
m...
"Koi-Lo" wrote in message
...
==============
For an easy quick-to-make easy to clean filter you can wrap a Beckett
pump loosely in window screen and drop it into a 2g black flower pot.
Fill pot up with pea gravel, drop in pond, plug it in.... VOILA! :-)

Why on earth would you suggest pea gravel?

Because everyone can easily find it everywhere. The smaller the better.

Might as well suggest lava
rock...It's got an incredibly poor surface area to mass ratio, difficult
to clean and you end up spilling the pea gravel in the pond anyways.

Sorry but I haven't had any problems like that. I also use lavarock but
it's harder to clean as it clogs.

If you're going to buy window screen material to wrap the pump, buy a few
more yards and cram as much of it as you can into the pot.

That will also work. :-)

It's light,
fairly inexpensive and a breeze to clean. Just lay it out on the lawn or
sidewalk, and blast with a hose.

I've had the screen come up and not stay in the pots so have switched to
plain small pea gravel. The pea gravel's weight also keeps the filter pot
in place.

I won't comment on the suggestion of beckett pumps, since brand and pump
choice is a religious issue.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Koi-Lo wrote:

"Snooze" wrote in message
m...

"Koi-Lo" wrote in message
...

==============
For an easy quick-to-make easy to clean filter you can wrap a Beckett
pump loosely in window screen and drop it into a 2g black flower pot.
Fill pot up with pea gravel, drop in pond, plug it in.... VOILA! :-)


Why on earth would you suggest pea gravel?


Because everyone can easily find it everywhere. The smaller the better.

Might as well suggest lava

rock...It's got an incredibly poor surface area to mass ratio,
difficult to clean and you end up spilling the pea gravel in the pond
anyways.


Sorry but I haven't had any problems like that. I also use lavarock but
it's harder to clean as it clogs.

If you're going to buy window screen material to wrap the pump, buy a
few more yards and cram as much of it as you can into the pot.


That will also work. :-)

It's light,

fairly inexpensive and a breeze to clean. Just lay it out on the lawn
or sidewalk, and blast with a hose.


I've had the screen come up and not stay in the pots so have switched to
plain small pea gravel. The pea gravel's weight also keeps the filter
pot in place.

I won't comment on the suggestion of beckett pumps, since brand and
pump choice is a religious issue.


So if I understand correctly I could probably use the existing pump (if
it still works) and create my own cannister filter equivalent. The other
alternative is to go out and buy something which I may well have to do
if the old pump doesn't work. In which case I probably would go for
something like 2pods suggests and save myself the work.

I'm not sure what window screen material is but I'm guessing it is a
type of foam which would work great as a pre-filter. Then combine it
with pea gravel or similar for biological filtration...then finish up by
pumping it up to the veggie filter. Have I got the concept right?

I'm guessing that the bio-load of 3 shubunkin won't be excessive in a
pond of this size and that planting it up will help with things...

Thanks
Gill

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...

So if I understand correctly I could probably use the existing pump (if it
still works) and create my own cannister filter equivalent. The other
alternative is to go out and buy something which I may well have to do if
the old pump doesn't work. In which case I probably would go for something
like 2pods suggests and save myself the work.

I'm not sure what window screen material is but I'm guessing it is a type
of foam which would work great as a pre-filter. Then combine it with pea
gravel or similar for biological filtration...then finish up by pumping it
up to the veggie filter. Have I got the concept right?


Gill window screen material is the aluminum or vinyl mesh you put on windows
to prevent bugs from coming into the house. If you can't find it, any
similar mesh will work. sunshade material, and landscape fabric, carpet
buffing pads, green nylon scouring pads. You get the idea.

If you go to a janitorial or restaurant supply store, 10 and 20 packs of
nylon green scouring pads are really cheap.

Here is how I would build one.
1. From behind a restaurant or grocery store, take a milk crate.
2. Hardware store, sunshade fabric, peagravel, flat landscape stones, 8"
terracotta pot
3. Restaurant supply store, a few packs of scouring pads.
4. Turn milk crate upside down, line the sides with the sunshade fabric,
leaving enough to fold over the top. Put a layer of scouring pads down,
insert pump, fill the remaining space with as many scouring pads as you can,
or sunshade fabric, etc.
5. Insert into pond
6. Cover with a flat landscape stone.
7. Put some aquatic plant in the pot, fill pot with potting soil, moisten
soil, cover with 1" of pea gravel
8. Put pot on the flat stone covering the milk crate.
9. Put chair next to pond
10. relax and drink a lovely beverage.

9 and 10 are the most important steps.

-S

I use lava rocks

They are cheap enough to just throw away rather than clean


Snooze wrote:
"Koi-Lo" wrote in message
...
==============
For an easy quick-to-make easy to clean filter you can wrap a Beckett pump
loosely in window screen and drop it into a 2g black flower pot. Fill pot
up with pea gravel, drop in pond, plug it in.... VOILA! :-)

Why on earth would you suggest pea gravel? Might as well suggest lava
rock...It's got an incredibly poor surface area to mass ratio, difficult to
clean and you end up spilling the pea gravel in the pond anyways.

If you're going to buy window screen material to wrap the pump, buy a few
more yards and cram as much of it as you can into the pot. It's light,
fairly inexpensive and a breeze to clean. Just lay it out on the lawn or
sidewalk, and blast with a hose.

I won't comment on the suggestion of beckett pumps, since brand and pump
choice is a religious issue.

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...
Koi-Lo wrote:
Sorry but I haven't had any problems like that. I also use lavarock but
it's harder to clean as it clogs.
I've had the screen come up and not stay in the pots so have switched to
plain small pea gravel. The pea gravel's weight also keeps the filter
pot in place.
========
So if I understand correctly I could probably use the existing pump (if it
still works) and create my own cannister filter equivalent. The other
alternative is to go out and buy something which I may well have to do if
the old pump doesn't work. In which case I probably would go for something
like 2pods suggests and save myself the work.

I'm not sure what window screen material is

It's used to keep flies out of your home when windows are open. You may
have a different name for it in the UK.

but I'm guessing it is a
type of foam which would work great as a pre-filter. Then combine it with
pea gravel or similar for biological filtration...then finish up by
pumping it up to the veggie filter. Have I got the concept right?

It's just thin screen used to keep insects and bugs from coming in an open
window. It' keeps crud from getting into and clogging the guard, the
impeller and it's well (where it inserts). Or if the other kind, from
clogging the guard over the impeller. The gravel acts like a bio-filter.
No need to pump it into a plant filter. You can have a sprinkler or
fountain head on top of the outflow.

I'm guessing that the bio-load of 3 shubunkin won't be excessive in a pond
of this size and that planting it up will help with things...

And the good bacteria grow on the liner and plants as well as in the filter.
Three GF are a small load in a 100g pool/pond.


--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

"CanadianCowboy©" wrote in message
...
I use lava rocks

They are cheap enough to just throw away rather than clean
=====================
They're also good to help loosen a heavy clay soil. The pond crud they're
clogged with is a good fertilizer.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
rec.pond's FAQ are at:
http://www.geocities.com/justinm090/faq.html
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o