Show me U'r homemade FILTERS

[BadEye]

I'm trying to get an idea of how to make a large homemade filter for my 6000 gallon pond. I have 3 store bought pressure filters but they're really not doing much. My water is not clear and there's always little particles floating in the water. Would LOVE to see your pics of Diy filters.........
Nothing too complicated please, and where to get bulkhead fittings?
Thanks so much!!!

[Jackie Ramo]

Mine isn't the best and has some issues which I hope to address next spring but it sure has cleared the water and looks nice as well

http://backyardpuddle.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1790

Ian has a thread about his home made higher tech filters so do a search of the board.

[Peg]

Hi BadEye,
If you look under the Koi Pond Construction section and look up the thread Vortex/ sediment chamber. You will see what I did for a quick fix for the retro bottom brain I put it. It is very close to Jackies. Most of the crap settles and what does not gets trapped in the foam. It has worked real well. More work to clean then I thought but it is only a temp untill I look at something better. Here is a current pic when it is clean, one when it needs cleaning. Also is the before and after of the pond
Peg

[Peg]

OH MY :jaw: I think I'm off to clean that, looks like it needs it.
Peg

[Jackie Ramo]

Looks good to me Peg. Haven't cleaned mine yet and don't intend to. Black filter mat is hold up well and the plant roots are pulling everything else.

[BadEye]

And where can I get bulkhead fittings? Lowes Home Improvement center doesn't seem to have any idea what I'm talking about!
Thanks all, you did a fine job!!!

[Terri]

Try a pool supply store, or plumbing supply store.

[BadEye]

O.K. bought 1 1/2 " bulkhead fittings (2 of them). Waiting for them to be delivered (got em on eBAY). Now, is it better to have the intake going to the bottom and discharged back to the pond from the top of the filter or, does it not matter? I mean, I'm going to make two holes in the filter box, one on top, the other on the bottom, correct? From the pump to DIY filter box, from the filter to my existing bio-pressure filter and then, back to the pond. Does it matter if the water goes in from the top and out from the bottom or shall I direct it from the bottom and out from the top? I'm just experimenting but any helpful input will be appreciated....... :yup: :yup:

[Jackie Ramo]

Mine goes from the bottom and out the top, this helps any fines to settle prior to going back to the pond.

[Ian]

If you are pumping out (Suction)of a container or pumping in a 1 1/2" pipe or bulkhead fitting is fine but to flow out or flow in the filter by gravity needs a larger diameter bulkhead. I am not sure if 500 gal/hr would flow out of a 1 1/2". A 2"would be close to 900 gals/hr all the way to 4" and you could get at least 4000 gals/hr. Three and four inch bulkhead fittings get pricey but the only way to get flow rates.
Toilet flanges in 3" to 4" can be used as well as 2" shower drains which I believe are $12 at Home depot sort of place.

[BadEye]

I am using a 4500 GPH Torpedo pump (1 1/2")with a skimmer as an intake, going into a bioforce biological filter and right now, just hanging over the rocks and back into pond. What I'm thinking of doing is, instead of it just hanging over the rocks, dircting the flex hose into a DIY filter and then into the pond. I have some time on my hands and ideas in my head and want to see if a DIY filter will improve my water quality/clarity.....By the way, the bulkheads I bought on eBAY are wrong size. They sent me 2" instead of 1 1/2" so, I might just use those? I will have to get all new hoses,etc.

[Jackie Ramo]

Certainly I have no idea but do know that the 3,000 gallon pump overflowed my diy filter with 2 " openings but the 950 gl one works jst great.

[BadEye]

I could use 950 gph, I have that too.
Once I make a DIY filter, I'll just experiment with pumps. I have several pumps that I'm not using right now.

[Jackie Ramo]

the 950 gives a nice flow back into the pond and is strong enough that it sucks up pebbles from the bottom of the pond so 5 ft down.

[Rock and Roll Koi]

Bonjour tout le monde. :yup:

My filter is very simple and i`ve been using it for many years and it work well.
First i have a big flower pot I isntall my pump and put lava rock around the pump wich this year will be repalce with Bioballs then install 2 layer of 1 inch of foam filter same as what they user for ventilation unit and i clean 2 to 3 time a week with a garden hose until their is no brown stuff coming out of the filters.
I analyse my water 2 time a week an the water is perfect clear mind you that the pump is running for a good 13 hours and then the pump is stop until next morning.
I have about 30 goldfish and 8 koi in 800 gallons pond witsh i'm planing to increase big time with 6 feet deep section.
End of september i transfer all my fish inside home in 5 x 45 gallon barril with the same system but i both cases their is a small amount of runing water.
I've been doing this for over 9 years and I rarely loose fish.
Hope that will help for other.

Michel from Blainville :jumping: :koi: