My 1st pond ever. lots of questions

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88GT

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 16, 2007
182
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Texas
I have natives in a tank now, but Im moving them to an outdoor pond soon. Sometimes we get below 30 in winter.
*Will I need to heat the pond at all? It will be about 400 gallons total.
*Also, how much aireation (air) will I need? Will a waterfall that turns it over almost every hour be enough aireation? I should have a few plants if they stay alive.
*Looking into making my own filter as well. How much (in cubic feet) will I need in bio media? How much flow is too much and not enough for the bio media?
*Can I use pool filter sand as a particle filter? Will water gravity flow through it fast enough? Thanks
 
Just wrote a great reply, and lost connection and have to write it again. First off, as long as the pond doesn't freeze solid, you don't have to heat it. As long as the waterfall creates enough of a surface disturbance it will provide enough oxygen. I had a whole discourse about filtration and building your own, but I'll simplify it a bit. If you build your own, use a plastic trash can or bin. You can buy the filter media like bio-balls and filter floss from many retailers. They are pretty easy to make. How many gph is your pump? You can design your filter off the gph. (If you know how many gph you can figure out pipe/hose size and container size. You might also want to think about veggie/plant filters or filtration. Here in Texas we have a large assortment of submerged, floating, and marginal plants to choose from. They should all do fine and over winter well. I'll keep a lok out if you have more questions, and provide more in-depth answers. Have a great day and good luck. p.s. Here is a picture of my ever progressing pond. Started out 500 gallons and grew to 2600.
 
Tetra PF3 and a 900gph pump is all you need. Making you own filter is cool and all but why if you can buy one that is perfect.
 
tedcb5600;2100529; said:
Just wrote a great reply, and lost connection and have to write it again. First off, as long as the pond doesn't freeze solid, you don't have to heat it. As long as the waterfall creates enough of a surface disturbance it will provide enough oxygen. I had a whole discourse about filtration and building your own, but I'll simplify it a bit. If you build your own, use a plastic trash can or bin. You can buy the filter media like bio-balls and filter floss from many retailers. They are pretty easy to make. How many gph is your pump? You can design your filter off the gph. (If you know how many gph you can figure out pipe/hose size and container size. You might also want to think about veggie/plant filters or filtration. Here in Texas we have a large assortment of submerged, floating, and marginal plants to choose from. They should all do fine and over winter well. I'll keep a lok out if you have more questions, and provide more in-depth answers. Have a great day and good luck. p.s. Here is a picture of my ever progressing pond. Started out 500 gallons and grew to 2600.
Click to expand...
Nice pond. thanks for the info. I'll most likely for now, have 2 pumps. a 300+ and a 500+ gph. I'll have to experiment with the flow and stuff as I make the filter
 
More turn over = more happy fish and BB in pond.

Maybe run both pumps....
 
Muske;2102602; said:
More turn over = more happy fish and BB in pond.

Maybe run both pumps....
Click to expand...
How do you figure? BB actually prefer a slower Turn over rate (more contact with the BB = they pull more ammonia out of the water) High turnover requires larger surface area for the BB (more media)

Why do you think they don't have Huge flow rates from small filters
 
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