What type of second filter is needed/cotton batting/pond care

[Kristi Kelty]

1) Can you all recommend a second filter/pump that I could add to my pond? I was advised that the PondMaster 1500 is not enough for the 1440 gallons in my pond. I have water plants in the pond so far, along with one 4" fish, 25 Reds and a bottom feeder fish (sorry I forgot the name but he is kinda cute!) Anyway, I also use a net to skim the floating debris daily, and another net to get the stuff on the bottom each evening.
2) What type of cotton batting do you use for the filter? I went and checked them out and there are a variety of types/brands, etc.
3) Should I be wiping down and removing the greenish brown material that is now forming on the bottom of the pond, on the liner?
Thanks all!!!!
K

 

[davepratt]

i always go up to the craft store by my house and just get quilt matting its way cheaper than getting it from a pet store just make sure you dont get anything with fiberglass in it. i would recommend the brand (little giant) for a pump i have had mine for 3 yrs now and still preforming quite well and that things ran dry on more than one occasion so its a pretty well made pump

 

[Kristi Kelty]

Thanks Dave very much!
Is there a schematic (diagram) somewhere online that would show me how to set up this second filter?

 

[sissy]

I just put mine in a crate up on top of my filter
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[Kristi Kelty]

Nice~ I don't have that kind of setup yet....just a crate with chicken wire (that I need to remove) over the filter now-- acting as a pre filter. For something like your pics I would need step by step instructions; I'm not very good with this type of stuff!

 

[capewind]

Kristi, it doesnt need to be complicated at all, place it where ever it is easy for you. Just someplace where the basket will stay above the water ... you can use whatever you have to sub for a crate or a basket, as long as water will flow through, and the media stays in ...

I am using a clothes basket that I got at the $1 store, and for the filtering material, I buy cheap bed pillows that are 100% poly, because it is easier and cheaper for me to get instead of the quilt batting.

We also have another pond, with a tank like you see in Sissy's pics ... my hubby found an old plastic tray from the chest freezer we used to have out in the barn ... going to use it for a basket on our "tank" ...

 

[Kristi Kelty]

Thanks Capewind~ so if the basket is above the water level about 1" just to skim the top (sitting on one of the shelves)-- is that what you are advising?

 

[capewind]

I just added a picture to my post ... you just want the water to be able to flow through the media, and return to the pond ...

 

[bettasngoldfish]

So is this what is considered trickle tower filtration?

 

[capewind]

So is this what is considered trickle tower filtration?

ohhh no, not at all ... it's just an inexpensive and effective method for filtering out finer particles ...

 

[bettasngoldfish]

hmm, I still have lot's to learn with filtration for ponds. Even with my fish tanks I use basic HOB filters or sponge filters.

 

[sissy]

Mine is not complicated and you could never make this complicated quilt batting in a basket ,crate or something with a hose from the pump going into it .I use reusable filter stuff on top of my quilt batting so the furnace filter picks up the heavy stuff and the quilt batting picks up the fine stuff .Makes the quilt batting last longer
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[HARO]

.
2) What type of cotton batting do you use for the filter? I went and checked them out and there are a variety of types/brands, etc.

K

Do NOT use cotton! It is organic and will break down in water, contributing to your bio-load. Get polyester quilt batting, it is inert and re-useable.
John

 

[capewind]

hmm, I still have lot's to learn with filtration for ponds. Even with my fish tanks I use basic HOB filters or sponge filters.

Do you remember the "filter floss" we used to use in the tanks back in the 70s and 80s? It was a cheap plastic container that had a tiny bit of white fluffy material, and a few tablespoons of carbon? You ran this filter by hooking it up to an air line? Same thing in a manner of speaking ...

 

[sissy]

you tube has great video's step by step build for filters .All kinds of filters from small to large with lots of kinds of media .You just have to find what you can do and then see if it works .Thing is I have made bigger and bigger filters and they are cheap to replace and some you can reuse for something else in your pond .I used one crate for my pump with lava rock in dollar store bags .Helps keep the pump clean
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