Very pretty pond.
Filter idea...
- Thread starter JBtheExplorer
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sissy
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I would call that grey and green pond with water ,it makes for a nice pic ,for sure .
Can I ask how tall is your rain barrel as it looks smaller than the ones I see around here .
Can I ask how tall is your rain barrel as it looks smaller than the ones I see around here .
I would guess 3' tall. There are taller ones for sure. I chose this one because I liked the wood barrel look.
I would call that grey and green pond with water ,it makes for a nice pic ,for sure .
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Ok, so here's an idea. What about water bottle caps? They're a good size, shape, and have rough edges, and float.
Yeah, I saw a video with one of those used. I may try that to some extent.
sissy
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They have the wood barrel ones here but all the ones I saw were 5 ft tall .They were as tall as me .I have never see shorter ones that would make a great 2 nd filter for my pond and I would not have to hide it either .I was looking at the wood barrel pots made of fiberglass but they are so wide at the bottom it was a problem .Would stick out to far over the reataining wall on my pond .
sissy
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I have heard people using them and using those strap things they put on 6 packs of soda
JohnHuff
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Bottle caps: you can use anything you want really as long as it has neutral buoyancy so that would work.
I got mine from Home Depot.
JBtheExplorer
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Awesome. Thanks everybody!
JB,
I read somewhere in this thread that you desired a budget of $0.00 for your filter system. I understand your point, and although it may have been said a bit "tongue-in-cheek"ish, I think that such a goal is not totally irrational or unobtainable. If you know and understand the necessary requirements (mechanical filtration, biological conditioning and water polishing) that your pond will need, then you may go out in search of the elements to construct your own filter system for virtually little or no cost.
This is what I call being a scrounger with a SWAG mentality. When I use the term SWAG, I refer to Scientific Wild Ass Guess.
What I mean is going "dumpster diving" to find junk that you may or may not be able to utilize here. There are endless possibilities in the scrap heaps, backyard sheds filled with unused buckets and tubs and plumbing companies trash that you could obtain for free if you ask.
Sand, gravel and rock media including lava rock are relatively inexpensive and possibly free from nature if you just need a little. Discarded scrap PVC pipe of small diameter, drinking straws, even plastic fan blades and grills from expired window fans could possibly be useful. How about plastic buttons, hair curlers or ladies nylon stockings from the dime store, thrift shop or Good Will store. Check laundramats and carwashes for HDPE plastic barrels to use as the chambers, you should find anything from 5, 10, 15, 30 and 55 gallon capacity for free or just a few dollars. Maybe there is even an old leaky garden hose in your shed that you could dice up into short pieces.
Set your mind to the task of designing a mechanical filter, followed by an areation system, then a biological conversion system and a polishing system if deemed necessary.
It does not have to be expensive and it does not have to look pretty, it just has to work and be maintenance friendly. As long as you understand the function of each part of the system, the how and why it works and what is necessary to keep it functioning, you can proceed to DIY your own filtration system that will fit your budget, your space requirements and serve the biological requirements of the pond's ecosystem.
Read all you can about water quality and what can be done, what must be done, to control it for the health of the ecosystem of the pond so that you understand the science behind it.
Don't make it a chore, make it a hobby. Afterall, a great part of the enjoyment is creating this through your own hands and mind.
Gordy
I read somewhere in this thread that you desired a budget of $0.00 for your filter system. I understand your point, and although it may have been said a bit "tongue-in-cheek"ish, I think that such a goal is not totally irrational or unobtainable. If you know and understand the necessary requirements (mechanical filtration, biological conditioning and water polishing) that your pond will need, then you may go out in search of the elements to construct your own filter system for virtually little or no cost.
This is what I call being a scrounger with a SWAG mentality. When I use the term SWAG, I refer to Scientific Wild Ass Guess.
What I mean is going "dumpster diving" to find junk that you may or may not be able to utilize here. There are endless possibilities in the scrap heaps, backyard sheds filled with unused buckets and tubs and plumbing companies trash that you could obtain for free if you ask.
Sand, gravel and rock media including lava rock are relatively inexpensive and possibly free from nature if you just need a little. Discarded scrap PVC pipe of small diameter, drinking straws, even plastic fan blades and grills from expired window fans could possibly be useful. How about plastic buttons, hair curlers or ladies nylon stockings from the dime store, thrift shop or Good Will store. Check laundramats and carwashes for HDPE plastic barrels to use as the chambers, you should find anything from 5, 10, 15, 30 and 55 gallon capacity for free or just a few dollars. Maybe there is even an old leaky garden hose in your shed that you could dice up into short pieces.
Set your mind to the task of designing a mechanical filter, followed by an areation system, then a biological conversion system and a polishing system if deemed necessary.
It does not have to be expensive and it does not have to look pretty, it just has to work and be maintenance friendly. As long as you understand the function of each part of the system, the how and why it works and what is necessary to keep it functioning, you can proceed to DIY your own filtration system that will fit your budget, your space requirements and serve the biological requirements of the pond's ecosystem.
Read all you can about water quality and what can be done, what must be done, to control it for the health of the ecosystem of the pond so that you understand the science behind it.
Don't make it a chore, make it a hobby. Afterall, a great part of the enjoyment is creating this through your own hands and mind.
Gordy
Yep! Not a bad idea. You are a good scrounger! They are not Kaldness K3 media, but they are free and we like that word... FREE
Gordy
JohnHuff
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They don't call this the land of the FREE for nothingYep! Not a bad idea. You are a good scrounger! They are not Kaldness K3 media, but they are free and we like that word... FREE
Gordy
JBtheExplorer
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Yep! Not a bad idea. You are a good scrounger! They are not Kaldness K3 media, but they are free and we like that word... FREE
Gordy
Yeah, when @JohnHuff mentioned straws, my mind started going, and I know enough people that drink water that I could have enough in no time!
morewater
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Too bad beer caps don't float......I could supply the whole board.
j.w
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Wow I can add all those plastic thingy's to my big 30 gal stainless steel waterfall tank my hubby built for me. Right now it just sits there w/ just plain pond water running through it. The water enters through the bottom and swirls around upwards. Can I just throw a bunch of those plastic pieces in there and put a screen on top to hold them all in or do I have to do something else? And then can you just leave it all in there like that and not clean it out cuz the water runs out the top as a waterfall? There is no drain to clean it out.
