Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Raising Forage and Bait Rasing GSH in above ground pools

So I was at a yard sale that had two 375 gallon ABS plastic tubs. Got them both for 50$ pretty good deal I thought. I was thinking about raising GSH to a large size so they could give my pond a good chance of a sustained GSH population. My thought is to drill a hole in the bottom of the tanks and install a 2inch bulkhead and install a overflow pipe. Put a pump in my pond and instead of adding a filter just keep a steady supply of pond water comming in the tanks. This should elimnate the need for a filter correct?

A flow through system as you describe is very similar to what most trout hatcheries use. With adequate flow, depending on all conditions, no mechanical filter is needed. The receiving pond water acts as source water and a biological and mechanical filter.

I can see it working, but depending on the initial size of the GSH you start with, it could be at least 2 years before you get your GSH to the 8" size which is IMO the size range you need GSH to be to prevent heavy predation in bass crowded ponds...

What would you recomend for a flow rate?

At the hatchery I do volunteer work at, I see this flow thru system. Even in some of the larger tanks, 4'x13', its a little more that a fast trickle. We still "vacumn" out the bottom of the tank every once in a while also.

The tanks have a 3/4 threaded drain plug on the side about 1inch from the bottom. Was think of using that as the water inlet so it would push the fresh water from the bottom up. Long as I put in check valves that should work right?