Fish: [PONDERS_INTERNATIONAL] Re: My first post, need advise on filter design for max 3,500 formal pond

Hi again,
I started an album in the Photos section, and photos are waiting for approval.

Question on submersible pumps:

Seems to be two views on pond circulation, some say circulate entire volume of pond ever hour - others every two hours. With that understanding, we were thinking of getting an "Aquascape Aquaforce solids handling pump". Would appreciate the groups thoughts on it, or any other/s:

http://marvingardensstore.com/water-gardening/pond-pumps/aquascape-aquaforce-solids-handling-pumps.html

AquaForce 2700:
Recommended Pond Size: 5400 gal
Max Flow Rate: 2695 gph
Max Head Height: 14.1 ft
Motor Type: Asynchronous
Wattage: 147
Amps: 1.25
Cord Length: 25 ft
Discharge: 3/4", 1", 1.25", 1.5", 2"
Weight: 11.5 lbs.

We hope to have the pump and filter system up and running in two weeks after the water has set for a bit. I added some floating plants (water lettuce and hyacinths) few days ago and some parrots feather on the shelves. They seemed easiest for me to maintain for the first time/season.

-barb

--- In PONDERS_INTERNATIONAL@yahoogroups.com, "barbjsinclair" <barbsinclair@...> wrote:
>
> Hi everyone, I'm a lurker here and have enjoyed the education. My Lyle
> husband and I live on a farm in Saskatchewan Canada (North of Regina),
> and I've been learning about Koi and Goldfish ponds or about 3 years. We
> started our formal pond build two weeks ago, and I'm at the stage where
> I need support/advise. I'm going to try and upload build pics in the
> photo section today, hope I can figure out how to do that. Ok, on to my
> offer and questions:
> Pond is attached to a Gazebo we built last summer, with proper
> electrical for water.Has 2' above ground wood cribbing all around.Total
> with cribbing: 6'(wide), 16'(long), 6'(deep).At one end, ground level: 2
> - 6'x3' steps/shelves.Including cribbing, its lined with carpeting to
> protect Firestone EPDM 45ml liner.I calculate pond to be max 3,500 US
> gallons.
> (please note: although I totally understand having a bottom drain with
> underground plumbing is best, I could not convince my husband that we
> should cut a hole in the liner and have two bottom drains in this pond.
> Cutting the rubber liner was a horrifying thought for him, also he is
> stuck on submersible pump/s that he can place in and lift out of the
> pond. He uses them all the time in his geo-tec-enviro work.)
> I have been following this pond re-build, and ours is pretty much the
> same design in intention (less the commercial filter), he has a "veggie
> filter" at one end with a commercial filtration
> system:http://www.pond-life.me.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3355
> <http://www.pond-life.me.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3355>
> We want to do, a large DIY Skippy filter. We have a 300 gallon poly
> water tank, after cutting off the top, it would be 250 gallons. We plan
> on having the poly tank sit on ground level, and boxed in (6'wide,
> 4'long, 3'high [gives 1' spill way into pond]) with same timbers we
> built the 2' section around pond, having removable sections to get at
> poly tank.
> QUESTION:Is this possible, is my thinking correct? I've been studding
> these sites (and others with similar ideas):=
> www.skippysstuff.com/biofiltr.htm
> <http://www.skippysstuff.com/biofiltr.htm> =
> http://www.earthangroup.com.au/diy-solids-filter/
> <http://www.earthangroup.com.au/diy-solids-filter/>
> Combining the two, I was wondering if its possible to:
> do a large Skippy filter with a settling tank/solids filter, *inside*
> the 250 gallon tank. This tank has a bottom drain and I would place a
> 45-55 gallon drum inside the 250 gallon tank to act as the 'settling
> chamber/solids filter'. Have the solids go to the bottom and hook up
> this drum (inside) to the bottom drain of the poly tank for purging
> solids out to the garden.
> - The pump shall sit in the pond and push the water up into the *top*
> of the settling tank, using vortex have the solids go to the bottom of
> the drum, then have the water in the drum, overflow into the poly tank
> skippy filter (pass to bottom and filter up through stages of media),
> and then have it overflow back into the pond.
> On the internet (YouTube especially), I keep seeing instructions for
> these two and three stage chamber drums people use having exterior
> plumbing hooking them all together. I was thinking why can't this
> settling chamber be put inside the 250 gallon poly tank as an enclosed
> unit within to one side (the side of the tanks bottom drain)? Exactly
> the same way my septic system works on the farm. Our septic tank is a
> TWO chamber system - solids go on one side, and liquid on the other,
> then purged to a filter rock fines system in our field. That is where my
> thinking is. I wonder if this is possible or has been done - advise is
> needed.
> QUESTION:We were told to drop the level down 2' (to ground level) in the
> winter so the Koi and pond goldfish overwinter in 4' of water. Reason
> for this, is we were told there is a possibility that the ice which
> builds up around the inside of the pond, can damage the 2' wood
> cribbing. I need advise if this is true, or not? Is this a case of
> 'better be safe then sorry'?
> Ok, I'm sure I forgot to mention some things, but this is my first post
> after reading so much excellent advise from everyone. Here in
> Saskatchewan Canada, we don't have a pond club, but we do have an
> Aquarium Society with members who do keep ponds. Lyle and I are being
> introduced to them this summer. Really looking forward to learning on
> how to make our Koi dreams be fulfilled and everything run as smoothly
> as possible. Thank you for all your wonderful help, your posts have
> already helped us so much.
> blessings,(((hugs)))barb sinclair
>