DIY pond filter advice needed

[Noto]

I'm planning a pond/stream feature. The pond will be about 2000 gallons, planted and lightly stocked with small native fish; it's close enough to existing ponds that it will probably be colonized by frogs and turtles fairly quickly as well. A submerged pump will feed a stream about 20 feet in length; I haven't settled on a pump yet, but it will probably be in the 2000-3000 gph range.

I'd like to build a filtration system myself, but I'm not very familiar with pond filtration systems. I'm not too worried about algae (it will be in a shaded location), but I would like some good mechanical as well as biological filtration. So, can you give me some pointers? I'm looking for relatively simple, inexpensive solutions.

Is it better to have the filter placed at the intake or the outflow?

 

[kiokie72006]

bump for Noto

 

[rallysman]

How about pumping into a 55g drum filled with mech. and bio. media. Surround it with rocks to make it look natural, and have the bottom open for water to flow back into the stream

 

[Noto]

Thanks for the idea, but I don't think I could fit that into the landscaping. Would it still work if the barrel were buried?

I should add that I'm not married to the submersible pump. If you have an idea that would work better with an inline pump, please share it.

 

[Oosh]

As above, or pump in at the bottom for an overflow style filter dug in to the ground at top of your stream, and pump water to it (use a pre-filter and/or solids handling pump).

 

[rallysman]

Thanks for the idea, but I don't think I could fit that into the landscaping. Would it still work if the barrel were buried?

If the water flowed into the barrel and the pump was on the bottom it would, but servicing the filter would suck. You can also use the same idea with wooden barrels which might be more aesthetically pleasing.

 

[Noto]

Oosh- Thanks, that's similar to what I imagined. Would it be better to just have a media stuffed container with the inflow at the bottom, or to have a sump-style container where the water is forced to flow through the media by baffles? I'm just concerned about the extra water pressure in a bottom-inflow setup making my pump work harder than necessary.

 

[Noto]

If the water flowed into the barrel and the pump was on the bottom it would, but servicing the filter would suck. You can also use the same idea with wooden barrels which might be more aesthetically pleasing.

So, would this be a two-pump system, or are you talking about sinking the barrel in the pond with its inflow at the water's surface (sort of a standpipe filter)?

 

[rallysman]

So, would this be a two-pump system, or are you talking about sinking the barrel in the pond with its inflow at the water's surface (sort of a standpipe filter)?

Not a 2 pumper, the "sump" would have to be lower.

 

[Noto]

Gotcha. Thanks!