bigger pond

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toehead11183

toehead11183

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Dec 4, 2006
3,538
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68
Memphis, tn
i am going to dig my pond bigger next year and ive been doing some thinking. i started small to see how id like the outdoor fishkeeping and i enjoy it so i'll go bigger. i was going to remove the little pond (250g+/-) and dig one about 6'wX15'lX4d.

filtration will be a submerged 5g bucket with holes in the lid with a 1000gph pump

does this look efficient enough for 6 3-4", koi 10 3" comets, a 10" channel can and a common pleco?

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pond2.JPG

pond 1.JPG
 
You should rethink your filter.Your new pond will be around 3,000 gallons.A 5 gallon bucket filter is way under sized.Even if it could clear the water you would be looking at a bucket instead of fish.At least go with a waterfall style filter that can do the job and not be an eyesore in your pond.Also if you are installing a new pond I highly recomend putting in a large bottom drain.
 
im on a really tight budget. i have to get everything REALLY cheap. i looked at some skimmer/waterfall filters but i cannot afford them. i have to have a DIY filter and thats easily made. how could i make this type of filtration work and a large scale. bigger pump and bucket or smaller pond? i really want to keep the filter before the pump bc my pump keeps clogging up when its before the filter

is there a better DIY filter i could use?
right now i have the 5g bucket on the outside with the pump in the middle of the pond. i like this setup but the prefilter for the pump keeps getting clogged up with water hyacith roots and leaves. plus i keep sucking up guppies.

also the bucket will be at the bottom of the 4" section and it's black so it should blend in with the liner.


Also i calculated the pond to be 2700g if it was 15Lx6Wx4D but i figure i'll lose a few 100gs with the shallow end.

pod 4.JPG
 
Ideally the pump would circulate or turn over the pond once an hour. With a smaller 1000 gph pump, the 15-18' run to the falls will probally make that pump more like 800-900 gph. Also, 6 3-4" koi will be 6 10-14" koi in only a year. There bio-load will be way to much for your 5 gal. bucket idea.
 
i found this and it in my price range. its rated for a 3000g pond. it runs 1800gph
the actual filter part is 24"x12.5"x4" with a 1"outlet. would this work if i kept the pond around 1500g?

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Toehead, Better not downsize your koi pond just to accommodate a filter that you have found. Koi grow large quickly and they are some of the hardest fish to filter. Big fish big poop. However if done efficiently with a larger filter than recommended for your particular gallonage and koi load you can keep clean healthy water for your koi. The art in keeping koi is keeping high quality water. If you can maintain high quality water the koi will thrive. Google DIY pond filtering systems you might find something of interest to your application.

The channel cat will dine quite well on your koi and goldfish.

Mike
 
toehead11183;1022745; said:
i found this and it in my price range. its rated for a 3000g pond. it runs 1800gph
the actual filter part is 24"x12.5"x4" with a 1"outlet. would this work if i kept the pond around 1500g?
Click to expand...
No this is also to small.Why not make home made up flow fiter using a rubbermade tub or a 55 gal drum.Get a pump that turns over the pond once an hour.
 
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