bio filter

[sissy]

I put lava rock in a milk crate in the winter with a spray bar coming out of the pump inside the crate directed down into the pond in the winter and it puts plenty of oxygen in the pond in the winter and keeps water on top from freezing solid.Works great and keeps water clear and does not freeze .But did break down this year and got pod deicer on clearance and will be using that and my bubbler I call it .Right now I use smaller bubbler's like it in my filters

 

[Malak]

Ah, so you submerge your spraybar. Your 5 gal sand filter would also keep acting as a biolfilter. How about bell fountains? At what temp do they typically freeze?

 

[vertigo72]

Think it might look good

It almost certainly wouldnt stop flowing though, as long as the pump doesnt freeze.

 

[addy1]

how pretty vertigo!

 

[Malak]

Like fish won't jump out when those chunks plop in during the thaw...

 

[sissy]

The bell fountain head which I have 2 or 3 of freeze 10 to 20 degrees if I have them low in the pond this way it does not freeze and I use pipe wrap around the hose part that is expose to the weather helps keep that from freezing and I keep that going all winter as it keeps the water aerated also

 

[Malak]

Good idea, especially if black and can absorb the sun's rays. In my case, if it froze it would merely push more volume thru the submerged sand filter.

 

[UT_Bruce]

A customer of mine makes nifty filters out of polyester stuffing (craft store), a furnace filter, some lava rocks and activated carbon. Total cost about 50-60 bux depending on where you shop. He rarely has to clean his out because he adds effective biological supplementation and keeps his stock levels balanced.

Adding bugs takes the guesswork out, to some degree, and in my opinion takes a lot of the headaches and waiting out of the equation, but you still have to know your basic parameters to do it effectively. A new, clean pond with clean filters is the best time to add bugs, because they have an easier time of taking over the system when they don't have to work through existing organic waste. I'm all about biosecurity, and in my experience in the shrimp, prawn, and tilapia industries, seeding and maintaining a pond with beneficial bacteria and enzymes is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure a biosecure environment.

Also, I've seen good things by adding Calcium Bentonite/Montmorillonite Clay. It contains minerals and trace elements that fishies and beneficial bacteria thrive on, keeping them healthy and colorful. It also absorbs heavy metals and pesticides that may get into your pond.

Some of my recommendations for seed and maintenance application would need to be taken privately. Drop me a line if you're interested.