pond filter and pump

[lilrobo]

hello guys new here
i have a 400 gal yard pond and i have tried several pump filters ,, can you guys recommend one please , i would like to stay around $125 i have been looking st these

thanks


http://www.lowes.com/pd_81665-60084...=1&facetInfo=$25 - $50|$50 - $100|$100 - $200
'
http://www.amazon.com/TotalPond-UVC...qid=1401626640&sr=1-1&keywords=uv+pond+filter

 

[dieselplower]

Do you have fish? If so, how many? What have been the probkems with the several other pumps you have tried?

 

[lilrobo]

well i had fish gold fish they got pretty large i would say 6" to 7" and my other pump filter stopped and i never done anything to fix it and now i am starting all over with new water and new fish ,, new pump ,,

thanks

 

[JohnHuff]

How many 6-7" fish? That's pretty big for a small pond. You might consider building your own filter for less than $125. I'd recommend a Tetra 500g pump with a couple of small pre-filters.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RBAVFY
http://www.amazon.com/TetraPond-26579-Cylinder-Prefilter-Garden/dp/B002RBAT24
And then add a small home made bio-filter. Just a bucket with a bag of bioballs in it.

 

[lilrobo]

i have tried the balls before and they get real messy , seems like everything i have tried gets messy slimy ,thats why i was thinking about the UV pumps are they as good as they let on ??

thanks

 

[JohnHuff]

i have tried the balls before and they get real messy , seems like everything i have tried gets messy slimy ,thats why i was thinking about the UV pumps are they as good as they let on ??

thanks

There is no reason why the balls should get messy. I've had mine in a filter for years and there's no growth on them. I have good pre-filters that mechanically filter the muck before it gets to the bioballs and my filter is covered so algae can't grow on them. Slime, if you mean a layer of bacteria is ok. That's the bacteria that rids the water of toxic substances.

UV is OK, but it tends to kill everything, even the good bacteria flowing through it. It also adds cost.

 

[lilrobo]

so all i need is the 2 item that you posted and thats it ??

thanks

 

[JohnHuff]

so all i need is the 2 item that you posted and thats it ??
thanks

Keeping a pond is never that simple.
The pump should be adequate for your pond. You could go with the next one up (500g-1000g) which is about $13 more. It depends some other factors, including the height which your pump has to pump water up.
Two of the pre-filters should take care of any murkiness in your pond as they will mechanically filter out any suspended material.

To give you a better answer, I'd like to see a pic of your pond and your fish.
You will also need a bio-filter. But it's possible that you already have this. What other pump filters have you tried and do you still have them?