Best Mechanical Filter Media

[ZmanArt007]

I've read many posts on this sight telling about various filter media people use, including sponge, twine, and or methods. I am wondering what is the best form of filteration for a large 2000 gallon pond with koi and plants.

 

[Oldhead]

I actually use alittle bit of all of them. In one barrel I have the cut up drip tube and fenceing material. In the second barrel I have scrubby pads cut up pvc and shipping strap. Water is clear and all water tests are good

 

[DrDave]

Zman, all of them work if set up right. You need to build what you are comfortable with. The cheapest to build is the "Doc Filter" using fencing material as the media. Once you have the 55 gallon drum the rest is all Home Depot and about $50.00 for the materials.

 

[DoDad]

I like the moving bed filters and media.

 

[ZmanArt007]

What type of fencing material? I tried searching but this forum's search kinda sucks. I am planning on building a doc filter but I don't know what fencing material you are talking about.

 

[addy1]

What type of fencing material? I am planning on building a doc filter but I don't know what fencing material you are talking about.

Some have used the black plastic rabbit fencing they sale at home depot.

 

[Telkwa]

You didn't find the fencing thread because it's not actually here. Dr. Dave describes the evolution of his biofilters here.

You'll see that the first version used cut up poly tubing, and his rebuild uses poultry netting. It doesn't seem like the fencing would do the job, does it? It appears the primary task is to provide lots of real estate, then water and air, for the aerobic bacteria (and algae?) to grow on.

 

[noobfisher]

I used 50' of the irrigation tubing and 25-30' of air brake hosing with about 100' of shipping strapping. I also bought 4 reusable furnace filters and cut them into pieces that are slightly larger than scrubby pads i lined my tray in the biofilter so the water has to flow through the cut-up filter pieces then it goes to the bio-media and after that is another non cut-up filter that wraps the bio-media up and keeps it shaded and in place my pond went from green/brown to clear in about 1 week.

 

[Pondmaster]

I like the moving bed filters and media.

DoDad, would you tell me alittle bit about your moving bed filters and media please?

 

[coolwind2003a]

Well Freinds Maybe you all can help me out as i have a large swimming pool filter that hold 300 lbs of sand I dont want to use sand in it what else would work good in a swimming pool filter for media & filtration as i will be sending it into a filter box with Malta filter materal Just want it to catch large particals & that way I can use the backwash to make my water changes & use the water in my garden
Tks Coolwind

 

[addy1]

Well Freinds Maybe you all can help me out as i have a large swimming pool filter that hold 300 lbs of sand I dont want to use sand in it what else would work good in a swimming pool filter for media & filtration as i will be sending it into a filter box with Malta filter materal Just want it to catch large particals & that way I can use the backwash to make my water changes & use the water in my garden
Tks Coolwind

We were thinking of using a swim pool filter, replacing the sand with pea gravel. You need something heavy enough that will not back flush out.

 

[Pondmaster]

Is the channeling and dead spots created by most of the above filtration media/methods, except for Dodad's moving bed filtration, a concern to anyone? This is a sincere question.

 

[addy1]

I can not answer because i do not know, but it is a good question.

 

[DoDad]

Most of the channeling is in the sand and gravel filters. If your filter is maintained it will not channel like in bead filters. I clean my filters 2 times a week but that's because of my fish load, I would normally clean them once a week.

Is the channeling and dead spots created by most of the above filtration media/methods, except for Dodad's moving bed filtration, a concern to anyone? This is a sincere question.

 

[ZmanArt007]

Sorry, I know this is an old topic, but I need more advice on DIY mechanical filter media... I have a design for a three part system, but I am not sure what three medias to use... I was thinking pillow stuffing for the last containment unit, but not sure what to use for the first two... Obviously something not as fine as the pillow stuffing. If anyone knows anything I could use that this thinner and finer than pillow stuffing, the stuffing could be in the 2nd container.
Thanks,
Zman