Pond filtration question

[AquaticAustin]

Hello all,

I am currently building a pond which I plan to use for koi. The dimensions will be approximately 12 feet wide x 8 feet long x 1-4 feet deep ( on a natural slope).

I have been looking into pond filtration and it seems that really the best and the way to go on a new construction pond intended for fish is a bottom drain filtration system. This is ok and I can definitely do this, however I have a question about the viability of another option that I have.

The pond will be build on a slope starting at my deck and ending just before some palm trees that border a natural spring fed lake. My question is besides potential for disease from fish in the lake, would it be ok to pump water directly from the lake into the pond and have the pond overflow/waterfall back down into the lake?

 

[castro1212]

No. Cross contamination with diseases and parasites both ways

 

[duanes]

You may want to check your states laws before pumping, sometimes the fines can be quite stiff if....

 

[MrsE88]

I think you’d be setting yourself up for problems if you did that.
Also depending on how close your pond would be to the natural water source you may not be able to have it there at all. High groundwater I’d think would make it impossible. Wouldn’t it?

As for filtration, there are many options. And yes a bottom drain is a desirable way to go. I’m up north and wanted to avoid possible frozen/busted pipes so I went a different direction with mine. My pump sits on the bottom of my pond and pumps water into a diy flow through filter box. The box then empties into the pond. Filters can be made a lot better and cheaper then ones you’d find on the market.