I just had the absolute most brilliant spectacular idea.

[Mudslinger14]

I thought I understood it, but I'm still a little lost.. So you want the waterfall to fill up some sort of sump that filters the water back into the pond?

Yes basically...the whole point was to make it LOOK good. This is the only way my parents would give me permission.

 

[JC_P]

Yes basically...the whole point was to make it LOOK good. This is the only way my parents would give me permission.

In which case, sounds pretty good, I would also look into what mshill90 has posted.

 

[Mudslinger14]

For a pond that large, your best best would to make 55 gallon barrels into S/G filters.

My pond that I am building which is 6-7,000 gallons is going to have 4 S/G filters, and 4 media barrels..

Not to derail, but your best solution for filtering ideas would be to visit a pond site like koiphen.com or a pond building site.

Sorry...bad with acronyms. S/G? The only problem I can think of is where I would put these big boxes...

 

[mshill90]

Sorry...bad with acronyms. S/G? The only problem I can think of is where I would put these big boxes...

Sand Gravel.

The pump pumps the water into the barrel in the bottom.. it then goes through 3 layers of filtration:

You use Egg crate on the very bottom so there is a 2" high entry for the water. Then it goes through the following.

1. large rocks
2. Pea Gravel
3. Chicken Grit (Medium)

The chicken Grit is heavy and doesn't get flushed, but then you can have the water dump back into the pond, like a slit waterfall.

Here's a good link for the filter:

http://www.koinations.com/index.php/articles/76-diy-sandgravel-fines-filter

 

[Mudslinger14]

Ahhhhh wow! Thank you so much for that link! Finally I have a good guide i can follow. You. Are. My. Hero.

 

[JC_P]

Sand Gravel.

The pump pumps the water into the barrel in the bottom.. it then goes through 3 layers of filtration:

You use Egg crate on the very bottom so there is a 2" high entry for the water. Then it goes through the following.

1. large rocks
2. Pea Gravel
3. Chicken Grit (Medium)

The chicken Grit is heavy and doesn't get flushed, but then you can have the water dump back into the pond, like a slit waterfall.

Here's a good link for the filter:

http://www.koinations.com/index.php/articles/76-diy-sandgravel-fines-filter

I love the look of the one in the first pic.

 

[Juxtaroberto]

I think you'd be okay as long as a) your filter can handle that volume of water and b) the pump at the end of the big part moves MORE water than the filter, otherwise your filter would beat the pump and drain the smaller part.

 

[Juxtaroberto]

Sorry...bad with acronyms. S/G? The only problem I can think of is where I would put these big boxes...

Big boxes, meaning, the filters? You could always put them next to the pond and then surround them with a bunch of large potted plants to pretty them up.

 

[Mudslinger14]

Yes...definitely. I have to get the numbers perfect.