Use one of the preformed shells as a filter?

[xman]

Hi,

I am building a small pond using preformed liner as shown in the link

http://www.algreenproducts.com/catalogue.php?cat=Rock Pond Kits&id=91927

In my case the smaller shell is about 3 feet away from the larger shell, and a stream connects it to the larger shell. I was wonder if I can setup this smaller shell as my mechanical/Bio filter. It has a inlet bulkhead at the bottom where the water is pumped from the larger shell. Can I put some lava rocks/scrubbies and some plants in this smaller shell to do the function of a seperate filter?

I have seen in some DIY filter links, scrubbies being used, are they refering to this

http://www.wernersponds.com/scrubbies.jpg

Any ideas or input appreciated.

thanks,
xman

 

[27goldfish]

my only concern would be them floating out of the top one

 

[xman]

Can I put them in one of these wire bags and weigh them down? if the water is entering from the bottom does the mechanical filter come first and then the bio filter media? I am confused.

thanks,
xman

 

[DrCase]

How would you clean a filter ,like that ? the scrubbies are good ,,,the lava rocks ,not so good.

 

[xman]

DrCase,

To clean it I was thinking that I can shut off the water to the smaller shell and the siphon of the water/muck.

Are these the scrbbies that are generally used for the bio filter media

http://www.wernersponds.com/scrubbies.jpg

or these

http://www.3m.com/US/home_leisure/scotchbrite/products/scrubbing_scouring.html

which is better?

thanks,
xman

 

[koiguy1969]

either style will work just make sure they are not the ones with soap or cleanser in them.. dollar stores and sams club carry them pretty cheap

 

[koiguy1969]

if you build this i would get a flourecent light difuser grid (sold at home depot or lowes in the ceiling tile section) cut it to fit just under the water level put all the media underneath it and set a couple of rocks or cover it with river rock or lava rock in a thin layer, just enough to weigh it down and contain the filter media. maybe cut a smaller one to set across bottom and keep the media raised a couple inches to alow more uniform dispertion of the upflow.

 

[koiguy1969]

heres a pic of a peice of the grid i was talking about.. ceiling tile section.. cuts easy!!! its plastic, the squares are about 1/2"

 

[xman]

Koiguy,

Thanks for the creative idea!! Maybe I can sandwich the filter media between two of these grids, would make it easier to take out and wash them.

What filter media would you go with if you had to choose between the scrubbies and the scouring pads?

thanks,
xman

 

[koiguy1969]

i would use the round ones as a bottom layer ..one thick, then fill the rest with the flat ones. the round ones are less dense so they would take longer to clog and allow the debris to settle better then flow up thru the finer flat ones to do the finer filteration. use microbelifts pl gel to start the filter up, its bacteria colonizes much faster than most. then use any brand for maintainence dosing.

 

[xman]

Koiguy,

Thank you for all the advice.

xman

 

[DrCase]

Xman that does seem like a lot of work to clean,,,you might add a extra pipe that would go to the bottom of the filter, to use as a port to siphon off the bottom of the filter, with out taking it apart,,,cut large slits in the bottom few inches of the pipe ,to let the muck in...and pour pond water down thru the filter to clean..

 

[xman]

DrCase,

That is a good idea. Where can I get bulkhead fittings, I have tried the local Lowes and Homedepot and also some plumbing stores, but so far nobody carries bulkheads?

thanks,
xman

 

[DrCase]

I get mine at a farm co op store