Filter for my outdoor pond?

[simko]

Title is misleading, its actually my parents pond!

I posted on reddit, but thought this would be a good place too. My parents have a corner pond in their yard, it usually just had a submersed pump that then flows water over some rocks to make a sort of, ugly, waterfall... All the fish disappeared (died? eaten?), and now the pond is just sitting there... I'd like to make some sort of filter (not sure what kind), and to beautify the pond, likely remove a lot of the rocks that you see in the pictures.

So right now, there is electricity going to an outlet beside the pond, there is also space beside the pond, and at the very top for a 50gal drum, Just wondering what everyone thinks i should build? Any links to literature would be appreciated too.

http://imgur.com/a/7uX2s http://imgur.com/UD9OMiR
http://imgur.com/UD9OMiR http://imgur.com/u46WVk6
http://imgur.com/u46WVk6 http://imgur.com/whYnWbM
http://imgur.com/whYnWbM http://imgur.com/jv0iy7G
http://imgur.com/jv0iy7G http://imgur.com/cpenJxh
http://imgur.com/cpenJxh

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Put a small stream that goes into the pond, then add some gravel and plants like iris, papyrus, elephant ear, water arum etc in stream without any soil, this will help filter the pond if there r enuf plants,next add a hardy water lily to the main pond

 

[Deadliestviper7]

As far as fish maybe add 3 or 4 orange spotted sunfish and a weather loach

 

[FishPondSealant]

You have enough space for beautifully renovate the empty places around the pond. My suggestion is to make a big waterfall which starts from corner empty place and ends in the pond also place some containers around the pond to enhance the beauty. Thanks

 

[fisheatfish]

Here's my idea for a very simple diy filter using 55 gallon drums. Wish I kept some pics but found a similar design online. Water is pumped in from the bottom and flows out from upper end. You'll need two pads to fit firmly...one at the bottom that sits on the grill (plastic egg crate used for shop lights), media and capped with the second, just below the output opening.


The media I used were commercial box straps...the ones with ridges on them work best for beneficial bacteria to grow onto. Inexpensive and light weight. I ordered an entire roll and filled up three of the 55 gallon drums with plenty to spare. I bundled the straps up in some netting (the kind used to keep birds out of fruit trees). This made it easy to clean...simply lift and rinse.


I was able to split my pump to feed into three drums...kept my pond crystal clear.