I'll be building a 5k gallon pond this spring and need to know what type of filtration others are having success with..... Should I build a filter or buy commercial which should run roughly $1500?? Thank you

Try here http://www.happykoi.co.za/1.%20all%20about%20koi%20and%20koi%20keeping/how_to_improve_koi_pond_mechanical_filtration.htm or here http://www.hendersons.co.uk/filtration/page2.html or here http://www.koi.com.my/forum/KOI_Talk_C1/Pond_Construction_&_Water_Filtering_System_F4/Vortex_Units_-_Urgent!_P2381/ Don't think I would use a swimming pool sand filter but if you must try one I would use it last just before you return the water to the pond. Brushes work well as a coarse filter after the settlement basin. Then a veggie filter.

"Chip" <chip.wood@ieee.org> wrote in message news:fconav$7gm$1@aioe.org... > Ques 1: The 1st article says use a mechanical filter before a sand > filter. That is exactly what I am planning. There is a plastic basket > that has fairly small 1/8" slots that all the water from the drains and > skimmer go through before my sand filter. This is easily cleaned. It's easily cleaned because it's not meant to catch anything small. It's designed to snag bugs and leaves. A "mechanical filter" is a much more effective thing. A rule of thumb is that it should filter out anything large enough to see. Dense plastic mesh, polyfoam sheets, foam pads, enmeshed brushes, and other materials with very small water passages/openings are often used for this purpose. Your plastic strainer bucket just isn't enough. > Ques 2: Why not a sand filter w/backwash? BTW, I am converting a swimming > pool into a pond w/ swimming "hole". I would like to use as much of the > current plumbing and filter set-up as possible. The typical "sand" or "diatomaceous earth" filter will work fine if you want to take it apart and clean it every day. I'm guessing that you don't. Have a look at the very good links that Pat sent previously. There are a number of fairly inexpensive ones available. The difference between a "pool" and a "pond" is wildlife including bacteria, unseeable algae, fish, and things that will crawl up your leg. You have to create an ecosystem in the pond to keep everything alive and healthy. It's more complicated than just not throwing chlorine into the pool. In addition, the filter should promote the growth of certain bacteria that convert nitrogen compounds generated by fish and other plants & animals in the water to more friendly ones. Shredded plastic, rocks, and other materials are used to provide a place for these bacteria to live and do their work. And if you have fish, you need aeration to provide the oxygen they need. > Ques 3: I read that the veggie filter should be the last thing before > re-entering the pond? That's correct, although I've seen folks who have a large enough and well enough constructed veggie filter that they don't even need a mechanical filter. But the veggie filter ends up being nearly as large as the pond. > Ques 4: These articles don't address what a "settlement tank" is. My > original question. If you live in the country, you already have one. The septic tank buried in your yard does the same thing. It is a tank with one or more dividing walls in it that the water can flow over/under to get from the inlet on one side to the outlet on the other. Things that are heavy or which floar cannot make it through and remain in the tank. Occassionally, you have to shut the system down and clean out the stuff it caught. Good luck! Michael New Orleans, Louisiana USA fermanis@REMOVEsprynet.com ================================================================

> > Ques 1: The 1st article says use a mechanical filter before a sand > filter. That is exactly what I am planning. There is a plastic basket > that has fairly small 1/8" slots that all the water from the drains and > skimmer go through before my sand filter. This is easily cleaned. The basket is probably going to need to be cleaned too often to work. I like a sloping screen where the clean water falls thru and the crud stays on top and gradually collects at the bottom of the screen. Look here http://www.nahuelco.com/eng/productos_tamices.php?id=1 > > Ques 2: Why not a sand filter w/backwash? A swimming pool has very clean water compared to a pond. A sand filter will need frequent cleaning/backwashing. BTW, I am converting a > swimming pool into a pond w/ swimming "hole". I would like to use as much > of the current plumbing and filter set-up as possible. The skimmers should work okay. You will need need new bottom drains with 4 inch pipes. > > Ques 3: I read that the veggie filter should be the last thing before > re-entering the pond? True. However if you are going to use a sand filter place it last so that the water going into it will be as clean as possible. Use very coarse sand or small rocks. You will need to backwash frequently. The lost water will need to be replaced. > > Ques 4: These articles don't address what a "settlement tank" is. My > original question. > A settlement tank allows the debris time to sink to the bottom. It will do about 50% of the work. A good one will be circular in shape with a cone shaped bottom with drain for easy cleaning. The water will revolve in a circle with the clean water leaving at the top. There are other types. Try here http://www.aquaart.com/vortex.html

"~ jan" <Seewebsite@jjspond.us> wrote > Do look into vortex filters. ~ jan Why? Is there something worth seeing in there? Michael New Orleans, Louisiana USA fermanis@REMOVEsprynet.com ================================================================

"Pat" <dancing@onlinemac.removecom> wrote > A settlement tank allows the debris time to sink to the bottom. It will > do about 50% of the work. > A good one will be circular in shape with a cone shaped bottom with drain > for easy cleaning. > The water will revolve in a circle with the clean water leaving at the > top. There are other types. > Try here http://www.aquaart.com/vortex.html Note: My reply yesterday concerning "settling tanks" was not the same as the above description, because were were talking about two different types. The "vortex" type described above removes the material through a swirling action that sort of flushes out the suspended materials. The divided tank type I described accomplishes the same thing, but does it by slowing the movement of water and allowing the suspended and floating material to remain in the tank. Both work fine, but a divided settling tank is usually bigger than the vortex type and needs to be cleaned out from time to time. And many people claim the vortex variety is very efficient and requires less maintenance. Personally, I think either one will do the job, it's just a matter of preference and cost. Michael New Orleans, Louisiana USA fermanis@REMOVEsprynet.com ================================================================