The dredge system linked depending on pump size can be used at any depth, with a larger pump the more stuff that can be moved by it(the main limiting factor is your suction size) a 4" rock will not go up a 2" hose. If someone was so inclined to visit ebay and search gold dredge suction they could by chance see basic flow requirements. That model of water lift is what they use for gold dredging as long as the pipe is enclosed and you have enough pressure, you can move the material as far as you want. If you have multiple trash pumps you can also make a booster mid-way on you material handling hose.
As for making a separator/catch basin I also am an avid DIY kind of person I would have to recommend a silt fence. have never personally tried it but it is what that product is designed for retain silt and put water into drainage areas.
DISCLAIMER: I do not gold dredge, I do however use airlifts and waterlifts on a regular basis for excavating around pipelines(part of my job). This can be dangerous work do not put your head underwater unless you know what you are doing and preferably have a helmet on or at a minimum someone to call the local dive team to get your body.
Thank you for the continued information! I'm trying to envision what this overall setup would look like so please let me know if my list below sounds right. I do not plan to be IN the water and hope much of this work can be performed standing from shore, in a boat, or on a swim platform with the suction nozzle attached to a pole. Our deepest hole is 15 ft. with most of the pond at 3-5 ft.:
1. Buy a 3" trash pump. Most economical options seem to move 250-300 GPM. Budget - $400ish.
2. Buy a 3" suction nozzle for gold dredging. Budget $100-150.
3. Buy adapters to take the 3" outlet hose size down to the 1.5" NPT size at the suction nozzle. Most suction nozzles I'm seeing have this 1.5" connection. Does this sound correct? Budget - $?.
4. Buy enough 3" dredge hose for A)the outlet-to-suction nozzle section and B)from the back of the suction nozzle to shore. Looks like a person could have as much money into hose as into the pump.
5. Buy or build a dewatering solution on shore (dewatering bags, sediment trap, silt fence, etc.)
6. Build or buy your work platform (row boat, swim platform, etc.). I have a small row boat but I think a floating platform would be best.
7. Buy floats for the hose. I'm assuming we want the hose delivering muck to the shoreline floating?
My rough estimate is that a person could have a small, economical dredging setup for $1000-1500 to maintain a 1-2 acre pond. Am I off base with the picture I'm drawing?
Thanks!
