Filter for Pond

[salsa]

Well, Since my 357 pond was only 14 inches tall, I decided to get a pool so I can keep pacu. I went out to ace hardware and got an inflateable ring pool for $40.00 with a filter. So I am modifying the filter to be a wet dry filter. First off, water will exit the pool to the mechanical filter that came with it, then instead of sending it back through the other hole i will send it to a sump and plug the hole. Tell me if you have any suggestions. The pupm id 800gph and the pool is 623gallons. Here are some drawings...

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[Dr Joe]

How many Pacu and how big?

1.5" fish can be 12" in 6 months

If we're talking 5 12" fish you'll want to turn the water atleast 4x (4x623=2492 or 2500gph). Pacu are dirty fish, especially if fed right.

Then change the level of the last divider to lower it set the water level for the bio-media (scrubbies) and let it pour over the top, so when the pump fails (I'll get to that) the sump doesn't empty and the bacteria die.

Move your heater to the inlet side before the scrubbies so if the above happens it won't harm the heater or sump.

'Pump fails'...Yep, these pumps were not meant to run 24/7/365 if you just used them for a swimming pool environment you'd be lucky to make it thru the summer. Use it till it starts to die, but have your back-up system ready to install.

Put a dome screen on the the inlet to the pump from the pool so fish or garbage doesn't clog it and starve the pump of water.

Otherwise it will work your way.

Keep up the good work and keep us posted,

Dr Joe

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[salsa]

I will be putting 1 16" pacu and 2 arowana plus mabye a few large cichlids. I have always heard 1x mabye 2x max for a wet dry.

 

[Dr Joe]

Turnover rate is dependant on how nig a bio-load you have and how large the bio material area is. Some W/D's are run at 10x and over.

You've got some messy eaters and waste generators there (nice but messy).

If nothing else, atleast be ready to upgrade quickly.

Don't forget to get us some picks.

Dr Joe

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[salsa]

What kind of water changes do you think I would be doing with one 16" pacu, probably 4 oscars, 3 midas, a giant gourumi and a monster school of dithers, like 20 silver dollars. Now and in the future.

 

[salsa]

Anybody????

 

[fishdance]

Salsa,
I have kept and bred Pacus in above ground pools. I had to constantly replace thick plastic pool liners because they bite though them! They also bite through power cords (pump/heaters) so I had to use PVC conduit to protect all my cords. My fish were only about 55cm long but they are inquisitive and gently nibble anything new. I would recommend you put your pump into the bottom of a bucket and then fill it with 6mm gravel to create a mechanical prefilter. Drill a few holes in the bottom of the bucket so you can lift it out to clean. A simple trickle filter (overhead is cheapest) was all I needed even with high bioload.

Good luck.