Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Selecting a site Aqequate filtration system

Dear fellow pond enthusiasts,

I’m currently planning the filtration system for my pond and am seeking your valued advice.

I’d like to know if a bottom drainage is considered essential for a healthy pond ecosystem, or if it’s possible to maintain good water quality without one. The pond is about 10 meters (32 feet 9.7 inches) long and 8 meters (26 feet 3 inches) wide, with an average depth of about 80 centimeters (2 feet 7.5 inches), and a deep hole of 1 meter 50 (4 feet 11 inches).

I’m weighing up two options for my pump setup: A regular pump that is submerged in the water (slower flow) or a pump on land with a hose to the pond. Which of these methods do you find more effective for clear and healthy water?

I’m also wondering whether a sieve filter is necessary for the system, or if pumping the water directly to a bog filter would be adequate. I have a limited budget and no experience, so I’m looking for the cheapest and easiest system to install that would still be adequate to run a healthy pond.

Thank you in advance for sharing your knowledge!

I don’t PERSONALLY know anyone who has a bottom drain system. We generally use a place for excess water near the dam.

gautprod:

I suggest you look up the postings (roughly 10 years back) of member Aaron Matos. (I believe his member name is "AaronM".) Aaron had an elaborate water (cleansing) system which he ran the water from a 1/10 acre pond through to support a very high amount of fish biomass - successfully. Aaron's methods might be of interest to you in maintaining good water quality.

I had a smaller pond years ago that was lined, and having a bottom drain helped me minimize labor when it came time to clean the pond. A bottom drain minimizes solid accumulation and automatically carries it to the filtration system instead of leaving it build up in the pond.

I agree, look at ArronM's filtration system. He could grow some HUGE fish in minimal gallons of water with great water quality.

Using a bottom drain, the external pump would be preferred. No sieve filter is needed providing the pump can handle any of the solids that might accumulate.

Okay, where can I find this ArronM's filtration system?

Sorry, it's AaronM. he made 300+ posts, it's gotta be somewhere in there.

Bear in mind that filter size and water exchange rates are highly variable for each situation. If your pond receives a lot of tree debris, or you have many fish and feed them regularly, you also need a massive filter to deal with the organics. Preferably an easy to service filter to occasionally remove what the filter has accumulated. Otherwise the filter reaches a saturation point and things begin to fall apart. I don’t know how to help with sizing a filter for outdoor use. Aquariums, yes.

I’ve been following a natural swim pond group, and am amazed at those systems. People generally don’t put in fish to avoid the load on the large natural filters that are not easily serviced to keep them usable longer. However, at some point, nature will win, and the filters will need to be cleaned out at great expense as they are just very large reservoirs of sand and gravel with some bog plants to take up dissolved nutrients.

But I am soooo tempted to build one of those to expand my garden/lily pond near the house.

When I looked at those, I saw the ratio was 1:1 for filter area ratio to pond area. Is that still true? i.e. 1/4 acre swimming pool, 1/4 acre bog.

My wife has been contemplating a natural swim pond, so I have followed those designs a bit.

Can you post a link to the group that you like?


Thanks, FishinRod.

It is a moderated Facebook group. Natural Swimming Pools. Shared from all over the world. Pretty impressive landscaping on many of them.