Do you guys use skimmers or pumps w/ traps?
I'm building a huge pond and I've gone overkill w/ pumps, filters, skimmer, antivortex main drain and on and on.
I can't wait but I need to learn from you guys. Would you have done anything different if you could now?
I ended up getting all my gear from a friend that bought out a pond,pool,spa shop. I have a huge above ground pump for a pool(I couldn't find a submersible this big and they create too much heat), I have a big Hayward brand sand filter w/ an awesome backflush feature for cleaning, 1 1280gph submersible pump, the big cannister mech/boifilter from little giant model# FBA-40 w/ micron cartridge, fountain heads, lighting , ozonator etc... The pump and filter are so big, I'm forced to build a lil "pump house" of some sort. I'll have to trench my plumbing to and from the main pump/filter w/ 2inch pvc, then on the discharge end I'll make a manifold to distrubute the water to the fall and other effects. I'm considering building a fake but real looking "outhouse" for my pump and filter made of barnboard. I have 2 large hollow rocks for the 1 filter and electrical connecting. I plan on erecting a large waterfall but I haven't decided how to build it up w/ rocks up front and figure out a disguise for the back side to make it look semi natural. It's going to be 2 good sized pools connected by a creek w/ a few small step down pools. I want to make a marsh area, a bog area(both for plants) and the 2 seperate pools will be for different species of fish. Many fish don't get along in confined area that's another reason for 2 pools, to keep different fish species apart.
Sorry for rambling on and on, I just want to get this right the 1st time. ANY INPUT will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, JD
HELP me avoid problems in advance...
JD, that's not going over board, that's being smart! I have a 5000 gallon pond. We added a 9 x 12' veggie filter last year but that didn't help nearly as much as I though it would. I have a skimmer ordered that will be installed ASAP and there are 4 fifty gallon barrels in the garage that we are going to turn into a filter system. There is huge possibility of a retro fit bottom drain in the very near future too.
I am happy enough with the pump but will be replacing it with an out of pond pump some time in the future.
If you are going to have fish you HAVE to be able to keep the pond free of debris. That is not easy to do with a larger pond so all of the accessories will come in handy. You will not regret having them.
Man that's great news! Have you looked into a pool filter? I have a Hayward pool filter that is 55 gallon barrel sized. You could easily duplicate it with 1 of your barrels. Another big reason I like the Hayward filter is for its "backflush" ability to clean the filter media. Just by switching a lever, the main pump will run back through the filter and flush it clean. I imagine that'll make so great lawn fertilizer too. Why do you need so much filtering? You need more area for biofiltration for your fish? This 1 better handle 5000 gallons. I plan on putting the skimmer in the bigger pool and a creek will wander into the smaller/lower pool where the drain will be. When you say "veggie filter", what do you mean? Is it a particulate filter for capturing vegatative matter? I'm pretty familiar w/ filters of all kinds but not that 1. I think I'm going to add a large box/waterfall style biofilter too. I bought the biggest pump I could find that would run on 110volts.
do you have any pictures of your pond & set up? I'd sure like to see some more examples before I start digging soon. I want to make it look as natural as possible. I also figure if your going to build a pond of any size, bigger is better maintenance wise.Hmmm You have me wondering if I want to add more components to keep maint. to a minimum. Do you keep koi? I'm not big on them personally, I'd like to do native fish in mine. Except for a albino channel cat I've had in my aquarium forever along w/ "Pablo". Pablo is a painted turtle my daughter brought home 3-4 years ago and he's perfectly happy in my 150 gallon tank.
Please keep me posted and maybe pass on some other problems I may need to look out for in advance.
Thanks a bunch!
JD
This message was edited Apr 10, 2004 6:47 PM
When you're up and running, full of plants and fish, you're gonna be thrilled. I'm a firm believer in lots of filtering.
A veggie filter is barrell, basin, pond, stream, or whatever you can dream up and connect to your pond. It is heavily planted with marginals which aid in soaking up the nutrients in the pond that algea thrives on, thus helps clear the green water.
The water is directed into the veggie filter. It flows around the roots of the plants and spills back into the pond itself. I will post what picks I have to give you an idea of what I am talking about.
This is the veggie bog, still incomplete but up and running. The pond is not seen in this photo but it is to the right.
This is the spillway that conncts the veggie bog to the pond. The ducks were temporary visitors.
This last picture is my small pond. We just took it out because we are going to put something closer to our deck.
If you look closely behind and to the left of the angel, there is a hyacinth bog. It's about the size of a half barrel and it kept this little pond (250) gallons, crystal clear, with no other filters.
AHHH I see. I just had never heard it called that. I plan on using ozone to take care of most of the extra nutrients in the water. I'll redirect some of that water to a marsh and bog before I let the filters trap and destroy it.
I'll have 2 large micron catridges that will filter out alot of that too.
I'm lucky to have had the experience building custom filtration systems for people w/ 500+ gallon reef tanks and fresh water. I'll have more than enough biofiltration to take care of any amonia trying to build up. And this Hayward pool filter when filled w/ zeolite/zeobest will be able to trap and eat up alot of that particualte matter.
I have made all my different "manifolds" for diverting the flow from the 3 pumps. My big pump if I remeber correctly is capable of around 5000gph at 2' or more of head pressure. I bought the biggest 110 pump I could find. My problem now is where exactly am I going to dig it out w/ the lay of my land plus figure out the falls that will feed the creek and lower pool. I think I'll make the illusion of the upper pool falling over that main spill way but it will actually be pump fed so I don't drain the top pool too much. I have a lot of area to work with. For me, this is the hardest part imo. I need to learn how to predict flow and fall rates for a lack of better words. I think its going to have to be 2 seperate ponds that look likethey're all in 1. I'll try to feed the top pool via waterfall and then have a spillway looking spot at the top of the creek that will feed the bottom pool. So the bottom pool will get its water from the pump rather than overflow from the top pool. That's the only way I can think of w/o having problems of 1 pool draining the other etc. Otherwise it would be a heck of alot trial by error and I don't want to do that. I may consult some1 in the business 1st for their opinion and then take it from there. I'm currently working on running a dedicated power outlet and breaker, 15 or 20 amps...I'm not sure yet. I think when I added it all up, 15 amps would be plenty.
Have any of you guys looked into using pool equipment rather than pond equipment? I saved a ton of cash imo but it sure helped having a friend in the biz that gets me wholesale on any parts I had to buy.
If I listed and showed you all my gear, would you guys give me your input? I think I have it pretty much figured it out equipment wise. I can't afford to do any of this twice plus I'll be trying to maintain this from my wheelchair! UGHH Even more fun eh? LOL My wife will help I'm sure. That's another reason I'm wanting to build a sort of pump house way from the pond where I can reach everythin except the skimmer and drains. But that will add more head pressure on my pump. Oh well, just another 30ft of PVC running to and from.