Best method to get flow

[burky_tc]

I am planning on building a pond in the near future to house some freshwater rays. My biggest concern is achieving water movement and the best way to do this. I will have a reverse sump setup so the water will be pumped up to the sump and then drain back into the pond so that will cause a little water movement.

One idea was to find one or two submersible pumps and plumb them into a loop that would wrap around the pond and either have loc-line outputs or drill a bunch of holes along the pvc lines.

Second idea was to get some larger powerheads and rig a way for them to hold on to the side of the pond. The only downfall with this is I think I will end up needing quite a few and the cost factor.

I am open to any ideas!

 

[koienterprise]

How much GPH are you wanting the flow to be per return? By the sound of you wanting to use powerheads I'm assuming you want a strong current....correct?

 

[burky_tc]

Well the return will actually be gravity sense the sump will be sitting above the pond so that will not cause much flow at all but provide some water movement as the water enters back in the pond.

I would like to have the most flow available to me without over doing it but in that case I will make it so it can be dialed down. From my reading rays like flow sense they come from rivers and such. I know a lot of rays(including my three) have never been in a river but still be nice to give them close to there natural habitat as possible.

I am leaning more towards the spray bar idea as I think if I went with powerheads it would be a lot more cords running around and in the end cost me more money. I am just hoping to get some ideas on what other people have done or would suggest. It always seems like a great idea in your head but I am only one person and we all tend to miss things when it comes to our own ideas.

 

[Muske]

My idea of an indoor pond will be set-up just like my outdoor one. Liner, skimmer, and bio-falls/filter.

A pond 12x4x4 (easy dimensions for ripping plywood) can be 1000-1250 gal. depending on species kept. The skimmer would sit on a small framed box outside of the pond for support and be plumbed as usual. That skimmer then houses the pump and debris net out of the pond and out of sight. A pump as large as 3000gph could be used on a skimmer with 6" weir, larger pumps need 8" weir. The pump is plumbed to the opposite end of the pond to the bio-falls which houses media and returns into pond.

You can still use a wet/dry above the pond and have a gravity return.

 

[MeAko]

I have a 840GPH (Rio HF 14F) at the bottom of my 10' diameter pond and I have noticed that my rays don't really care for the flow. They hardly ever go to where the flow of the water is and just hangs out in their favorite nook. I don't think Rays care for flow based on my limited experience.

I just put a red brick on top of the powerhead and it stays put, for good measure I also sandwich two bricks onto is, one on each side.

The reason for the head is: pushes poo and dirt to the mouth of the main pumps and for underwater current, whoever likes it.