Filter question

[Jake]

Hi, I'm 17 and I built a pond last year. I have made my own homemade filter that works pretty well. It's a bucket of lava rock, and water hyacinth on the top. The water flows through it, and out of a spout on the top. Do you think this filter is sufficient enough for my small pond? I have 4 goldfish and 2 koi.

For pics and videos of my pond you can see my website, jakespond.co.nr

Thanks for your time! I love my fish, they eat right out of my hand. It's such a joy.

 

[Meekaboo]

Hey Jake,
Good job on the pond! I think your filter is just fine for the size of pond you have. My pond is approx. 1200 gallons. Last year I had a 20 gallon container of lava rock, with hyacinth, as a filter for my pond. It worked fine. My pond is 3ft deep and you could see to the bottom. This year I built a new filter out of a 55 gallon drum.
Happy Ponding

 

[Jake]

Thanks :bowdown: The idea seemed pretty simple to me, and so far, it's worked great. Wasn't sure if problems would arise later or not.

I wish I knew how many gallons my pond was. It was given to me, so there wasnt a tag or anything that tells me. And I'm not too good with formulas...

 

[Ph1ngering]

All you need is to post the Width, Length and depth of your pond and we can figure out a rough idea.

If its deeper in one area than another then tell us both number so we can average the two..

Thanks
--Craig

 

[Jake]

Hope this helps :bowdown: I measured up to the water level.

 

[Ph1ngering]

I came up with roughly 145 gallons.. Used these for my calcs..

Measurements in FEET

length - 5.4
Width - 3
depth - 1.2

Formula - Length x width x depth x 7.5 = gallons (square ponds)

Hope this helps... Someone else can check my math..

--Craig

 

[Jake]

Oh thanks! Bigger than I thought. :bowdown:

 

[Jake]

Okay I have a new question, with my filter, should I ever clean the laval rock? Or is there important bacteria in them?

 

[kirscp]

I would not clean the lava rock, unless it is getting clogged up and hampering the filter.

 

[DrCase]

hay jake i had lava rocks at one time,,i would open my drain valve, then pour in a five gal bucket of pond water ,fast to clean it

 

[DrDave]

What he said... DrCase that is...

 

[Jake]

Thanks for the info

I don't have a backflush or anything. If I were to clean it, I'd just have to take it out, and rinse out the lava rock.

Thanks again!

 

[kirscp]

Don't use tap water.

 

[DrDave]

You don't want to kill the anerobic bacteria. So use pond water for your rinse and make sure the rocks are not left to dry or without circulation for long.

 

[Jake]

k, thanks for the tips DrD