It will be less hoses, cords, pipe, and fittings if you go with one pump in the skimmer. The skimmer will also be more effective with a stronger pump in it.
First outdoor pond started...
- Thread starter Conner
- Start date
Looks like you are coming along nicely. Your equipment supplies look like they will work fine. Two pumps gives you a backup in case one clogs or something happens. I would not put a pump directly in the pond, too much hassle with debris, plus it chops up stuff making it harder to catch in the filter.
For the skimmer maybe consider DIY. You can get a widemouth pool skimmer on ebay for about $30. The only come with a 2" drain so you can use a uniseal for a larger drain, or a fernco like this: (not mine)
The skimmer would just be a drain/leaf basket. You would then run a 3 or 4" pipe depemding on flow to a large chamber to use as a filter. Like a 55gal drum (free at carwashes) or large tote or poly toolbox. Place your pump at the bottom/back of the filter and they will always stay clean.
For the skimmer maybe consider DIY. You can get a widemouth pool skimmer on ebay for about $30. The only come with a 2" drain so you can use a uniseal for a larger drain, or a fernco like this: (not mine)
The skimmer would just be a drain/leaf basket. You would then run a 3 or 4" pipe depemding on flow to a large chamber to use as a filter. Like a 55gal drum (free at carwashes) or large tote or poly toolbox. Place your pump at the bottom/back of the filter and they will always stay clean.
I thought about doing something like that, and still might, but a store bought skimmer will probably be easier to set up.
Sorry for no updates on the pond lately. I've been working on building a deck. We've got all the concrete footings done, and we're going to put up posts and start framing tomorrow afternoon, hopefully. If things go well, and it doesn't rain all day tomorrow, we may have the framing done this weekend, and possibly have the decking started. Once I get the decking done, I'm hoping I'll be able to really get cracking on the pond. I'll be ordering everything wednesday or thursday of next week, and as soon as it arrives I'll start putting things in place.
Sorry for no updates on the pond lately. I've been working on building a deck. We've got all the concrete footings done, and we're going to put up posts and start framing tomorrow afternoon, hopefully. If things go well, and it doesn't rain all day tomorrow, we may have the framing done this weekend, and possibly have the decking started. Once I get the decking done, I'm hoping I'll be able to really get cracking on the pond. I'll be ordering everything wednesday or thursday of next week, and as soon as it arrives I'll start putting things in place.
Making a lot of progress on the deck. It will be 99% finished this weekend, I think, so I should be able to get back to working on the pond again soon. I may get the last of the digging out of the way this weekend, and get the supplies ordered so that I can get it lined and the skimmer/bog running in another week or two.
Speaking of which, does it make sense to have a 2nd pump running the bog filter, or should I just run the one pump from the skimmer to the bog? I don't want to get too much flow going through the bog, or it will likely decrease its effectiveness, but I don't want it to be too low or it will back up the skimmer.
Would one 3,500-4,000gph pump be good enough to run the skimmer and the bog filter?
Speaking of which, does it make sense to have a 2nd pump running the bog filter, or should I just run the one pump from the skimmer to the bog? I don't want to get too much flow going through the bog, or it will likely decrease its effectiveness, but I don't want it to be too low or it will back up the skimmer.
Would one 3,500-4,000gph pump be good enough to run the skimmer and the bog filter?
I don't think the pump will have so much back pressure that it does'nt work or backs up to the skimmer. A check valve should be on the return of the pump. This prevents any dirty water from the bog coming into the main pond when the power goes out. Two pumps is a good idea, but if they both don't fit in the skimmer, one will have to be in the pond. (good thing you got the bigger skimmer) The one in the pond will get clogged much faster and need more maint. The flow of water will be a lot, but not to much. If you are really worried, a wye in the return line can send some water back into the pond. Hide it under a few rocks, or make a mini-falls.
My ideal bog set-up w/a bottom drain to flush detritus out of the bog. It can be made from timbers or stock tank. Usually bogs don't have bottom drains, but i think this would work.
It actually could be made out of anything. A traditional dug pond would work, but the bottom drain bulkhead would worry me when things settle. By making the bog more ridgid, i think any bulkheads installed on straight, level surfaces will avoid leaks.
It actually could be made out of anything. A traditional dug pond would work, but the bottom drain bulkhead would worry me when things settle. By making the bog more ridgid, i think any bulkheads installed on straight, level surfaces will avoid leaks.
Sorry guys, should have previewed the scan. It's hard to read sideways.
The idea with the large void in the bottom, made from Aquablocks or milk crate, is so solids will acculate over time (settling chamberish) in this area and be easily flushed out keeping silt and fine particulates out of the water column.
The idea with the large void in the bottom, made from Aquablocks or milk crate, is so solids will acculate over time (settling chamberish) in this area and be easily flushed out keeping silt and fine particulates out of the water column.
That's actually VERY similar to a design I was considering myself. I was thinking I could use those "eggcrate" tube-light covers you get at home depot, propped up on something, with rock on top of that.
You'd have to make sure the bottom was sloped somewhat towards the drain or else it would be difficult to make sure it was cleaned out.
You'd have to make sure the bottom was sloped somewhat towards the drain or else it would be difficult to make sure it was cleaned out.
I like the idea of building it up on a crating for settlement.
By the time water goes through the pump debris is already pretty small, but what do you think about the input being below the gravel in the crate area instead of directly into the gravel?
I wonder if you could even make a full blown settlement chamber out of it by gravity feeding an input from the pond into the crate area, and then putting the pump up in the planted area. It would probably have a good amount of draw down, but if you had a significant lip on the bog pond for when the power is off it may work. It could catch all the poo before the pump ever touches it, then just dump the poo through the drain like a toilet.
By the time water goes through the pump debris is already pretty small, but what do you think about the input being below the gravel in the crate area instead of directly into the gravel?
I wonder if you could even make a full blown settlement chamber out of it by gravity feeding an input from the pond into the crate area, and then putting the pump up in the planted area. It would probably have a good amount of draw down, but if you had a significant lip on the bog pond for when the power is off it may work. It could catch all the poo before the pump ever touches it, then just dump the poo through the drain like a toilet.
