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Home: KOI Talk: Pond Construction & Water Filtering System:
New Pond But what filter?!

 





 


SteveLee
Koi Lover

Jan 29, 2002, 2:36 PM

Post #1 of 5 (747 views)
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New Pond But what filter?! Can't Post
Hi guys,

I have built a "new" pond which is rather small for koi. However, I have been captivated by these fish since I was 13 and would dearly love to keep them in my pond. I live in Perth, Australia and so there is no chance of freezing over although there is a winter (coldest = 4C at night, 15C at day) The pond is built next to the house and therefore has little or no sunlight reaching it as most is blocked out by eaves.

While I'm letting the pond dry and cure from the waterproofing paint I am in search for a filter that would do a good job of keeping the water clean/ nitrate free ,etc. This pond is triangular in shape (1.5mx1.8mx0.9m)x0.5 =1.2t. There is also a waterfall on the hypotenuse side of the pond which is around 60cm in height.

I've looked around on the web for a good filter but I am overwhelmed by all the talks of zeolite /bio balls and such. I just need some advice on how to build a good upflow filter as I plan to use the existing waterfall. A down flow filter will require me to place the filter at an unsightly ~1m above the waterfall.

I plan to use a 20L drum the sort that catering mayonnaise comes in. (it is about 40cm in diameter by 50cm in height)Is the filter too small for a 1.2t pond? I fear that making the filter any bigger is too unsightly. I also plan to have a few "levels" in the drum each with different filter media. Can someone tell me what media is best for which level (ie foam for the bottom layer, lava rock for top layer) Is it possible to use bio balls in up flow filters? I plan to put many shade hardy water plants in there too so that nitrate levels can be controlled.

And lastly, some people say that up-flow filters are slow and are not as effective as downflow. Is this true?

Thanks in advance and any help is much appreciated.


Joshua Lee
Koi Lover

Feb 1, 2002, 12:48 PM

Post #2 of 5 (697 views)
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Re: [SteveLee] New Pond But what filter?! [In reply to] Can't Post
Dear Steve

http://www.koi.com.my/cgi-bin/koiforum/gforum.cgi?post=8426;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread


How's life in Perth? Rottnest Island is nice.

I am not familiar with upflow filters. I think the principle is the same. The above link is a good recent link on filter construction with diagrams and including how to build a trickle filter. The 20L drum is probably insufficient to filter a 1.2 Ton pond. Normally a good filter must have a surface area at least 30% of the surface area of your pond for efficient mechanical and bio-filtering functions. Brushes are normally used for the 1st chamber to trap solid wastes followed by Japanese mats in the following chambers for the good bacteria to culture. Bio-balls are excellent media in a trickle filter as a bio-filter for good bacteria to live in. The trickle filter is the last stage of the filtration system as relatively clean water goes through the media for the denitrification process to remove harmful ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

There are lots of information on filter construction in this forum and if there is anything specific you don't understand, just give us a yell! That's the beauty of internet, distance is no barrier.

Best regards
Unimpressed
Josh
Joshua


SteveLee
Koi Lover

Feb 1, 2002, 4:28 PM

Post #3 of 5 (690 views)
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Re: [Joshua Lee] New Pond But what filter?! [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks for replying Josh. I am basing my filter construction from this link:

http://www.cadsmith.com/petes_pond/biofilter.html

However instead of using 2 tanks, I'm planning to use one.
Quote
The 20L drum is probably insufficient to filter a 1.2 Ton pond. Normally a good filter must have a surface area at least 30% of the surface area of your pond for efficient mechanical and bio-filtering functions.

I'll try and find a 60L+ rectangular plastic box for this. You're right, 20L is too small and I don't want my koi's to perish again. However, 30% surface area (SA) for an external filter is pretty large too. Can you inform me as to why I need such a large surface area? Can't I just increase the depth of water and also quantity of filter media through that particular filter stage?

for example instead of using 1m^2 SA and 1m depth with .5m japanese matting, can't I shrink the filter stage to SA to .5m^2 but increase the depth to 2m and use 1.5m of matting?

Also, you said brushes are good for the 1st stage because they trap solid wastes. Can you please provide a picture or point to an internet site which shows what these brushes look like? Are they similar to baby bottle brushes which lie horizontally in water? Or are they a lot larger and stay vertical in water?

Finally with the link you gave me: http://www.koi.com.my/cgi-bin/koiforum/gforum.cgi?post=8426;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

what does the initial stage read? is it "carl-net" and if so, what sort of media is this?

Once again thank you josh

PS: Perth is a very nice city. But it is really warm now. When you want to retire, here is probably the best place. Quiet and a simple lifestyle.


(This post was edited by SteveLee on Feb 1, 2002, 4:32 PM)


Joshua Lee
Koi Lover

Feb 1, 2002, 5:34 PM

Post #4 of 5 (686 views)
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Re: [SteveLee] New Pond But what filter?! [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Steve

Greetings from Malaysia. Yes. The general rule for the size of a filter is 30% of the surface area of the pond. This of course may increase or decrease depending on the fish load and efficiency of your bio-filtration system. The only way to find out is when the rubber hits the road - i.e. when the pond is stocked with koi and water parameter tests tell us whether we have managed to break the rules and get away with it or we have been bluffing ourselves.

The depth of a filter box is not important, as the gurus insist. and I am still trying to figure out why. Could be that good bacteria only exists near the top part of the filter media. So, in theory, increasing the depth of the filter box to compensate for a smaller surface area won't work. Perhaps some of the gurus in this forum can shed some light on this. You need the 30%, I suppose just like an average person need 8 hours straight sleep each night. Some friends of mine survive on just a 4 to 5 hours a day of sleep though. (Wonder if they are human). If I don't get my 8s, I'd be a zombie the next day!

You are right, brushes look like the baby bottle brushes or the toilet bowl brush without the handle. They range from 4 to 9 inches wide and in varying lengths to suit the container. I think carlnets work the same way as brushes. I have not seen a carlnet before.

All the best in building your pond. Australians seem to build everything themselves. We are more pampered here. Have fun with you koi and grow champions.

You are right, Perth is a fascinating place. It's getting warm here as well as usual with Chinese New Year just around the corner. Stock Market is showing pre-New Year bull run and hopefully it will sustain. The kids will soon be calling "angpow mali"

Best regards

Cool
Joshua


SMW1
Koi Kichi

Feb 1, 2002, 6:30 PM

Post #5 of 5 (685 views)
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Re: [Joshua Lee] New Pond But what filter?! [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Steve/ Josh,

The best brushes (according to most koi mags here in the UK) are Black Knight brushes. these range from 4" - 8" wide and can be bough in lengths of up to 102", now thats a long brush Laugh.

I have provided a link for brushes and other filter media to give you an idea of prices etc. This site is based over her in the UK. I'm not sure what the pomme to aussie rate is at the moment. but hopefully it will help a little. some of these even have pictures Shocked.

http://www.brecklandkoi.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Store_Filter_Media_92.html

Stuart

 
 
 



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