Please help!

[Brittany]

Ok... well I have a 1800 gal koi pond. My neighbor also has a koi pond. We went in together and made one of the DIY filters and spent over $200 making it. HATE it! My yard is not completely level... SOOO the water flow has to be going downhill or the water will back up, and my pond is in the front of my house, and the thing is HUGE and I have no where to hide it. And no way to build a waterfall, bc the water will not flow uphill! Not to mention the water is so cloudy you can't see 5 inches underwater. I am wanting a smaller pressurized filter. My max budget is $350. If anyone knows a good filter by experience for my size of pond, preferably with backwash, could you please let me know. I have seen tons to buy from, but I want to know how they work from someone else's experience. Don't want to make another one.:yikesu:THANKS!

Britt

 

[koikeepr]

I wish you wouldn't give up in the barrel. It sounds like you are fighting gravity, or perhaps your pump is too small to push through the barrel. Do you have a submersible? Please tell us about your pump (model, type, etc).

If you just want a pressure filter, I recommend the Laguna Pressure Flo. If you have an 1,800g pond, I would get the largest one they make, which is the Pressure flo 3200. The size before it is the 2100, and I think it's a tad too close to your pond size for comfort. You want to over filter, not just squeak by.

Anyhoo, to work the flush on any pressure filter, you have to have a pump that can push at least 1500gph through it or even more. So, pay attention to the manuals before you buy one and ensure you have a pump that can offer that kinda flow for a backwash.

You'll be able to find it on Ebay or other sites for the max budget you describe. It also has a UV light in it, to help clear green water.

 

[Brittany]

Thanks for the advice!!! We built the Blondie's Water Garden filter. It wouldn't let me attach the link, but you can find it at blondieswebdesign .com ...it seemed great and all, but just not what I expected. My pond has a large shelf in the middle raised with a trench for the fish to swim through (if you can picture that) so I have a pump on each side running to a T then to the filter. I am not 100% positive, but I think on one side the pump is about 750 gph, and the other side is like 550. Like I said, I'm not positive. I will try to get some pics of the pond up pretty soon. Of mine and the neighbors. Their water looks horrible! I actually unhooked the homemade one and am using my submersible filter from Lowes that isn't NEARLY big enough for my pond, and believe it or not, it is actually clearing up a lot. But I have to get something soon that is compatible with what I have, so my fish don't die from toxic waste. Anyways, thanks again, and I will go for the filter you suggested. It sounds like exactly what I am looking for.

 

[koiguy1969]

checkout the DIY filters here in our DIY section.

 

[koikeepr]

I am not fond of the design of the DIY filter you chose. The gravel in it is the problem. Gravel does not clean out easily, and that's the flaw in the design. The plumbing on it is a little more complicated than necessary as well.

It's a shame you didn't spot our DIY barrels first. We have a bunch of easy ideas that would have helped. Sorry you've experienced a tough time with that filter, however, I can assure you that a properly set up barrel filter works wonders.