Looking for someone to review my indoor pond filter.

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kumdoalan

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MFK Member
Jan 28, 2008
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I could use some advice from someone who understands that Im on a very limited budget and have only a small section of a basement to use for a filter.

I have a 8foot by 5 foot by 2.5 foot tall indoor pond in my basement.

But I have received some advice about the type of filter to make (DIY) that does not seem to be working.

I have the ability to post photos and to also post videos on YouTube.
Im looking for someone who understands my concerns about money and space and will look at the photos of my "not-so-good" filter and help me get things redesigned to a better system.

Oh, and I would like to do this mostly on the side in emails and private messages.

anyone got the time?
 
dont worry everyone has to start somewhere everyones first designs are bad the more people that see it the more help you can get ;)
 
Welcome to MFK! Post pictures and specifics of your filter on this thread, and ask a mod to move it to the DIY Forum. Don't worry if it is bad and you are afraid of posting pics. No matter how bad it is, you will not get made fun of, people will only give you ideas and suggestions.:)
 
Kobeclone;1514887; said:
Welcome to MFK! Post pictures and specifics of your filter on this thread, and ask a mod to move it to the DIY Forum. .:)
Click to expand...
Thanks, I have just posted such a request, in what I think was the right area? (I posted about it in the forum bugs and suggestions area.)

I will start taking photos so that Im ready to go.
Please look for my topic there once it's been moved and please help me design/redesign my filter system so that it works (and my marriage is saved)
 
My first pond filter was an 18 gallon plastic tote. I drilled large holes (big enough for a thumb) in one end and part way along the sides. I put the pump in the undrilled end and plastic egg crate alternated with filter media in the holey end. I drilled a hole in the lid above the pump for a tube with the fountain head.
 
OK,,,,here it comes!

THE REASON?
I own a nice size 140gal aquarium that only had a few fish in it.
Then this whole spring/summer/fall I worked out of state and had no chance to pay attention to my fish.

When we returned to our home town I was walking past my aquarium when I noticed that the fish were HUGE!

I knew I had to build some type of indoor pond during my winter time off from work (It's -25 below zero here as I write this)
I learned that I owned Koi fish, and that the 2 biggest ones were about 12 to 13 inches long. Before this I had no idea I owned Koi, I just thought they were nice looking goldfish and as I got them at Walmart they were dirt cheap.

I made a 8 foot by 5 foot by 2.5 foot deep indoor pond.
(So far , so good)

Then I started to ask around for advice about a indoor dirt cheap pond filter, and this is where things went wrong.

I ended up with a collection of filters, none of them seem to be made correctly.
But, the key is, that they were all cheap for me to build.
I just dont have any free money to spend on my pond right now, so everything, pond-filter, everything has to be cheap or else made from things around the house already.

HOW IT WORKS....
(or actually doesn't work)


I use 3, one half inch pipes (1/2") to feed water by gravity to a Rubbermaid garbage can.
http://kumdoalan.tripod.com/filter01/

inside the garbage can it's filled with open-cell foam.
The sections of open-cell foam are cut up into 2" inch long sections and I have 5 net bags filled with them.
Also inside the garbage can there is one net bag filled with BioBalls.
http://kumdoalan.tripod.com/filter02/
also inside the garbage can there is an air stone
 
NEXT....
After the pump, the water comes out about 4 inches where I have a Tee and split the water into two different half inch lines.

One line (1/2" inch pipe) runs right back into the pond

The other line runs to a OMNI water filter, (The type used for drinking water)
http://kumdoalan.tripod.com/filter04/

After this paper filter the water line next runs over and up to the top of a DIY trickle filter
http://kumdoalan.tripod.com/filter5/

Just before the pipe turns down and goes into this trickle filter, I have placed another Tee and split the water.

The split off line runs to a Lava Rock tub
 
The DIY trickle filter is actually just a 3-drawer plastic tote that I took from my wife.
http://kumdoalan.tripod.com/filter06/

The water enters the top where it falls onto a plastic plate drilled with tons of holes.
Under the plate is white filter poly
Under that is some re-useable air filter that is cut to fit the drawer.

The flow of water into this trickle filter is a concern to me.
I DO NOT KNOW if my flow rate is too little or too much.

have a look-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQpxwxip1uc
 
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