Looking for someone to review my indoor pond filter.
- Thread starter kumdoalan
- Start date
Lot's of posts while I was away.
The problem your having with the air on the return can be solved with a ball vale in the return line either that or neck down the outlet pipe to produce a slight restriction. I should have mentioned this before but I didn't know what size pump you were using. A larger pump would increase the water level and do away with the trapped air. There should be about 4 inches of water or so in the bottom of the barrel.
I have to say that everything else looks GREAT. Give this beast a couple of weeks to fully establish and your going to have a crystal clear and VERY stable pond. We built a redwood box with a removable top to hide the one I built for my brothers pond. I'll have to take a few pictures the next time I'm in AZ.
I have to agree with whats been said about using gravil with a liner pond. Especially with big fish. it tends to be a bit abrasive on the liner and could lead to failure. A few pot contained plants on the other hand would look fantastic. this will also help out with the reduction of nitrates.
One last helpful tip. if you get in a hurry and the top pads starting to clog with debris either remove it and clean it later or replace it with a spare. This will keep everything flowing until you get time to hose off the pads.
The problem your having with the air on the return can be solved with a ball vale in the return line either that or neck down the outlet pipe to produce a slight restriction. I should have mentioned this before but I didn't know what size pump you were using. A larger pump would increase the water level and do away with the trapped air. There should be about 4 inches of water or so in the bottom of the barrel.
I have to say that everything else looks GREAT. Give this beast a couple of weeks to fully establish and your going to have a crystal clear and VERY stable pond. We built a redwood box with a removable top to hide the one I built for my brothers pond. I'll have to take a few pictures the next time I'm in AZ.
I have to agree with whats been said about using gravil with a liner pond. Especially with big fish. it tends to be a bit abrasive on the liner and could lead to failure. A few pot contained plants on the other hand would look fantastic. this will also help out with the reduction of nitrates.
One last helpful tip. if you get in a hurry and the top pads starting to clog with debris either remove it and clean it later or replace it with a spare. This will keep everything flowing until you get time to hose off the pads.
WOLF3101
I just have to say thanks for all the help and advice and the work you have done to get me off on the right footing.
I tried as best I could to stay in line with the design you suggested.
I have a few things to add to my filter to truly make it better and closer to what you were saying./
I dont have a in-pond pump yet, Im still using my old pump that sits on the floor next to the pond.
I will be going to the stores once it's warm out and they start to have such pumps in stock and for sale.
I still have to get way more of them kitchen pot scrubbers. ( I cleaned out the supply for the whole town)
I still have to get one or two more floor buffer pads.
But the basic design is all finished and I own you big time for all your help.
I have given up the idea of gravel.
My pond is in the basement and so real potted plants would die, so I am now re-thinking my anti-fake plants views and may go ahead and try them.
The idea of adding a slight "restriction" to the outflow pipe is what I will try for my little "burping" problem..
I still have to get some ideas about lighting.
I need to get some light on my pond that does not blind me as I sit in my TV watching chair looking at the fish.
You know as I write this Im looking over at my new filter and the design is so simple.
one barrel and one line in and one line out...
Hard to believe the mess I had going with my old design.
I think I had a garbage can with 6 different lines running up and down and alll over.
And for all the pipes I used the water was filthy.
The filter I got now is like a classic.
Simple design, cheap to build, EZ to clean, and yet does a great job.
I just got to finish getting a few things to make it complete.
Other than that......I think this topic is about done.
Thanks for your help, clearly i went to the right place, and found the right person to talk to.
(Oh and dont tell my wife, for after all I gave her my word that this pond will be the last such thing I will ever do like this, However I'm already thinking about next winter and a 8x8 pond...LOL)
I just have to say thanks for all the help and advice and the work you have done to get me off on the right footing.
I tried as best I could to stay in line with the design you suggested.
I have a few things to add to my filter to truly make it better and closer to what you were saying./
I dont have a in-pond pump yet, Im still using my old pump that sits on the floor next to the pond.
I will be going to the stores once it's warm out and they start to have such pumps in stock and for sale.
I still have to get way more of them kitchen pot scrubbers. ( I cleaned out the supply for the whole town)
I still have to get one or two more floor buffer pads.
But the basic design is all finished and I own you big time for all your help.
I have given up the idea of gravel.
My pond is in the basement and so real potted plants would die, so I am now re-thinking my anti-fake plants views and may go ahead and try them.
The idea of adding a slight "restriction" to the outflow pipe is what I will try for my little "burping" problem..
I still have to get some ideas about lighting.
I need to get some light on my pond that does not blind me as I sit in my TV watching chair looking at the fish.
You know as I write this Im looking over at my new filter and the design is so simple.
one barrel and one line in and one line out...
Hard to believe the mess I had going with my old design.
I think I had a garbage can with 6 different lines running up and down and alll over.
And for all the pipes I used the water was filthy.
The filter I got now is like a classic.
Simple design, cheap to build, EZ to clean, and yet does a great job.
I just got to finish getting a few things to make it complete.
Other than that......I think this topic is about done.
Thanks for your help, clearly i went to the right place, and found the right person to talk to.
(Oh and dont tell my wife, for after all I gave her my word that this pond will be the last such thing I will ever do like this, However I'm already thinking about next winter and a 8x8 pond...LOL)
No problem at all. Glad to see everything working out well. These things always need fine tuned but a filter almost exactly like that one is what I built for my brothers pond in PHOENIX AZ in full sun most of the day and theres NO free algae or green water in his pond AT ALL.
If your going for fake plants..and that seems wise under the cercumstances. Check out those interlocking flat sheets that look like grass or ground cover. You'll no doubt have to start slow and add them as you go but the result would be worth it I think.
If your going for fake plants..and that seems wise under the cercumstances. Check out those interlocking flat sheets that look like grass or ground cover. You'll no doubt have to start slow and add them as you go but the result would be worth it I think.
WOLF, I am unable to find this "Interlocking grass" you listed above.Wolf3101;1535280; said:
I have looked and looked all winter.
It may be a summer item that is not stocked in the winter here, BUT the problem is that I am not sure what you are talking about yet?
Could you post any more information?
a photo?
an ad from ebay or a website?
Does anyone know of this stuff?
Im SOOOOOOOOO close to being finished with the project!!!!!
However I still got a few issues to deal with in my pond filter design.
I need to know if a normal underwater pump that I will get from Lowels or Manards will be able to pump the water up high enough to enter into my filters?
However I still got a few issues to deal with in my pond filter design.
I need to know if a normal underwater pump that I will get from Lowels or Manards will be able to pump the water up high enough to enter into my filters?
