Sonny You are hooked on this hobby. A bit big for me but am hooked too and 80y young. Like Your Video and is up with the best. Very well done, learned a lot from You but do like UV light.. You certainly have a heaven for your fish. Sit down and enjoy it more!
I like your cage for the pump, our pond is small but with a large home made filter using a water butt as a basis. It is good to see other peoples ideas, thank you for uploading this.
Mike, this is a scaled up version of a reverse flow undergravel filter that I adapted with parts and plumbing for my own use back in the late 70s as an aquarist. Some suggestions: orient the holes down or to the side at the bottom of the unit to help equalize the pressure and upflow through the gravel. Maybe, also add a "T" splitter for the same purpose. Extend the plumbing to both lateral ends of the tub. Notice how the mulm built up at both ends in your video. This design is super efficient, but some very fine particles will make it up to the water due to the up flow. Use a layer of polyester fiber at the top to catch these and change it every month, or so, as needed. I never needed to vacuum the gravel. I had a 300 gph filter motor powering the show in 75 & 125 gallon tanks with 2" of aquarium sized gravel on top of the filter plates.. You could look up at the glass tank bottoms and see zero accumulation of anything. Maybe your motor is undersized. I always got zero readings for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. None of this, of course, negates any other filtration device you want to use in addition. I had polyester fiber and carbon in a HOB filter tank BEFORE the water was shot to the reverse flow plates. PS I take it back about the 3500 gph pump! But there has to be some reason for the need to vacuum that gravel. Maybe the size if the pond and the number of fish? How about losing that metal plate? May be restricting flow. Also, the holes in the piping, are they big enough to allow 3500 gph? Are you restricting fl;ow there? PSS No reason for a smell. I never had any. Too many messy koi for that size filter. Overload situation?
0:10, how many gallons is this tank? I'm off grid and need to clean and disinfect a 50 gallon tank of shallow well water (clear but smells of sulfur), not for fish, but as a reusable solar hot tub. I don't want to use heavy chemicals (like Chlorine or Bromine). I have 12v power and a 12v transfer pump 300 gph low suction. Also have 1500 watts of inverter power I can run for an hour. Lots of clean white sand on the property. Any suggestions?
Very nice system. My problem is the pump gets over whelmed with muck first. And needs taking apart and cleaning twice a week. I’m thinking of putting pump inside a smaller version of what you built and putting that in the pond.
Thanks for the video. Nice set up. I don't have a pond or know anything about one so can't give any ideas on it, but do enjoy other peoples ponds and video's. Might one day have one, you never know! Anyhow, sorry about the health scare and hope things are getting better for you in that reguard.
I love your pump basket system .I have a small pump but has filters on both sides and bio rock filter in centre .I don't seem to see to much debre in the big barel I have that filters the water through and back out am I doing something wrong ? can I REMOVE THE FILTERS with in the pump itself and use a basket idea like you?
I have run my DIY sand gravel filter for about 4 years now and its has been the best filter by far that I have ever owned or made in 15 years of keeping koi. My only concern with yours would be that aluminium oxide is extremely poisonous fish.
Loved the video but have couple of questions. First of all, does the pump pick up all the debris and other nastiness from the pond and take it into the rock filter on your deck? Second, you mentioned that you used a vacuum, a shop vac, I think. Just to clarify, was it a regular shop vac and why would you discard twine of the water from the filtration tank on your deck? Thanks for your feedback.
+Chris Locke The water filters on the way UP through the gravel. It also allows for the filter to "show" if it needs to be cleaned. IF the water flow appears to be low coming out of the output, we take that to mean it is time to clean the gravel. We have been using this for the past 3 years or so. Wouldn't change a thing about it.
You have a decent system. However your metal grate is not a long term solution. Have you considered plastic diffuser? It is a plastic grating found in the lighting section of Home Depot. Since the squares will be too large to hold gravel I suggest you wrap it in window screen. That way no toxic chemicals will leach into your pond.
I'm thinking of using this this type of filter in my koi fish pond but I have a couple questions. do you add any chemicals to the pond, any other filters in the pond, does it get clogged often, and how many fish like damn lol. great video bro. and one more thing. how much would you say it cost to set it up.
Hi Great video, Are you still using this filter? or have you made any changes? and were is the best place to order the bio balls ? and how much did you buy ? Thanks!
+Happy23 chris Well yes, we are still using this filter. As a matter of fact, we just got done cleaning it out today and installing our UV light for the spring. I think I got the bio balls on Amazon or Dr Foster's. I got about 2 gallons worth. I have two 125 gallon freshwater tanks in my basement, so you can never have enough of those.
ouch, pls do not put dissimilar metals together under water in a livestock tank... you're creating lots of nasty chemical reactions, sir. Use plastics.. light diffuser, gutter guards, lots of better options.
I think it would work 100% better if you reversed the way it filters. Just like a regular filter, the dirty pond water needs to pump in on the top of the tub while it filters through all the gravel, all the clean water will then be released from the bottom of the pipe through gravity leading it back into the pond.
This is how commercial swimming pools used to be cleaned. You can reduce the nitrogen load with an easy hydroponics system. Google Kratky hydroponics. Super easy and you have already 95% of the work. Two thumbs up!
I’m trying to figure out a filtering system for my swimming pool, which is a healthy pond with string algae and mosquito fish in it. I want to use some filtering medium and plants in a gravity system along side the pool, and pouring in to aerate. Can you recommend any other resources to me? All help is greatly appreciated!
Go try, I went that route . Got tired of cleaning filters but after a year , water was clear but too much muck in the bottom of filter and not good water quality . No way to clean out 100 lbs of gravel.
Bioballs should not be in first stage filtration area. They will get so mucked up as not to work as they should. Optimally they should be last, or right before carbon filtration. Nice DIY video, thanks!
If that water was stinking then something wrong ,I'm sure you know about the nitrogen cycle.... most of the waste should be getting broke down by beneficial bacteria and it should smell earthy like a lake? If it smells like sewage or a dead fish then you definitely have a problem with the Bio load ... really cool design and concept, I have not seen alot of gravel filters
anyone have ideas on running this during freezing temps? I made one last year out of a large garbage can. Unfortunately the freeze broke the connections and all the water was pumped out and I lost all my fish. any ideas?
We run ours thru the winter without issue. But, just in case something goes wrong, our pump is no closer to the bottom of our pond than a foot or two. So just in case something happens, the pond will not be totally pumped dry. Of course it is recommended to turn off all pumps during winter, since the water going through the cold air tends to lower the overall temp of the water. So, we have tried both to be honest, but a lot depends on ice as well. IF we get an ice covering, we turn off the pump.
How about hooking an aquaponics grow enviroment to your pond... This system will provide the pond with mechanical and chemical filtration and provide you with veggies and or herbs.
sandertel I looked into that last summer. I was doing some research and trying to figure out how to do it and where to get what I needed and that is about as far as I got. I had a health scare much of last year and so far most of this year, so for the most part.... it's done to be honest. The only thing we have done recently was put in 12 Crawfish to help with the other stuff in there.
Wouldn't it have been better if you did it the other way around with the water spraying down at the gravel? I'm just concerned with that metal rusting and putting nasty chemicals into your overstocked pond.
Sonny You are hooked on this hobby. A bit big for me but am hooked too and 80y young. Like Your Video and is up with the best. Very well done, learned a lot from You but do like UV light.. You certainly have a heaven for your fish. Sit down and enjoy it more!
Very nice idea and excellent explanation thank you sir
I like your cage for the pump, our pond is small but with a large home made filter using a water butt as a basis. It is good to see other peoples ideas, thank you for uploading this.
Mike, this is a scaled up version of a reverse flow undergravel filter that I adapted with parts and plumbing for my own use back in the late 70s as an aquarist. Some suggestions: orient the holes down or to the side at the bottom of the unit to help equalize the pressure and upflow through the gravel. Maybe, also add a "T" splitter for the same purpose. Extend the plumbing to both lateral ends of the tub. Notice how the mulm built up at both ends in your video.
This design is super efficient, but some very fine particles will make it up to the water due to the up flow. Use a layer of polyester fiber at the top to catch these and change it every month, or so, as needed.
I never needed to vacuum the gravel. I had a 300 gph filter motor powering the show in 75 & 125 gallon tanks with 2" of aquarium sized gravel on top of the filter plates.. You could look up at the glass tank bottoms and see zero accumulation of anything. Maybe your motor is undersized.
I always got zero readings for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. None of this, of course, negates any other filtration device you want to use in addition. I had polyester fiber and carbon in a HOB filter tank BEFORE the water was shot to the reverse flow plates.
PS I take it back about the 3500 gph pump! But there has to be some reason for the need to vacuum that gravel. Maybe the size if the pond and the number of fish? How about losing that metal plate? May be restricting flow. Also, the holes in the piping, are they big enough to allow 3500 gph? Are you restricting fl;ow there?
PSS No reason for a smell. I never had any. Too many messy koi for that size filter. Overload situation?
0:10, how many gallons is this tank? I'm off grid and need to clean and disinfect a 50 gallon tank of shallow well water (clear but smells of sulfur), not for fish, but as a reusable solar hot tub. I don't want to use heavy chemicals (like Chlorine or Bromine). I have 12v power and a 12v transfer pump 300 gph low suction. Also have 1500 watts of inverter power I can run for an hour. Lots of clean white sand on the property. Any suggestions?
Very nice system. My problem is the pump gets over whelmed with muck first. And needs taking apart and cleaning twice a week. I’m thinking of putting pump inside a smaller version of what you built and putting that in the pond.
Thanks for the video. Nice set up. I don't have a pond or know anything about one so can't give any ideas on it, but do enjoy other peoples ponds and video's. Might one day have one, you never know! Anyhow, sorry about the health scare and hope things are getting better for you in that reguard.
I love your pump basket system .I have a small pump but has filters on both sides and bio rock filter in centre .I don't seem to see to much debre in the big barel I have that filters the water through and back out am I doing something wrong ? can I REMOVE THE FILTERS with in the pump itself and use a basket idea like you?
I have run my DIY sand gravel filter for about 4 years now and its has been the best filter by far that I have ever owned or made in 15 years of keeping koi. My only concern with yours would be that aluminium oxide is extremely poisonous fish.
nice video ,,have you heard about ,,, lave rock tied in net bags as a bio filter better to work with as a in cleaning and filtering then stones
How do you make a pond vacuum using a shop vac?
Loved the video but have couple of questions. First of all, does the pump pick up all the debris and other nastiness from the pond and take it into the rock filter on your deck? Second, you mentioned that you used a vacuum, a shop vac, I think. Just to clarify, was it a regular shop vac and why would you discard twine of the water from the filtration tank on your deck? Thanks for your feedback.
Wrap quilt batting around the baskets you have around your pump, but buy a batting that has at least 40% polyester in it, this method works well
Very interesting information!
How is the filter holding up
the manifold should be facing holes down. Gravity was probably clogging it with debris
if ypu flip the manifold the other way (holes on underside), clogging problem solved. I'm puzzled why the intake is not at the top?
+Chris Locke The water filters on the way UP through the gravel. It also allows for the filter to "show" if it needs to be cleaned. IF the water flow appears to be low coming out of the output, we take that to mean it is time to clean the gravel. We have been using this for the past 3 years or so. Wouldn't change a thing about it.
You can get plastic greating. Use that instead of metal!
when the water is a suitable temp. I drop a few algae eaters in my small pond in addition to a shoe box size filter and the water stays clear.
You have a decent system. However your metal grate is not a long term solution. Have you considered plastic diffuser? It is a plastic grating found in the lighting section of Home Depot. Since the squares will be too large to hold gravel I suggest you wrap it in window screen. That way no toxic chemicals will leach into your pond.
Maybe if you had a run out (drain) under your gravel to get the heavy muck out.
I'm thinking of using this this type of filter in my koi fish pond but I have a couple questions. do you add any chemicals to the pond, any other filters in the pond, does it get clogged often, and how many fish like damn lol. great video bro. and one more thing. how much would you say it cost to set it up.
Hi Great video, Are you still using this filter? or have you made any changes? and were is the best place to order the bio balls ? and how much did you buy ? Thanks!
+Happy23 chris Well yes, we are still using this filter. As a matter of fact, we just got done cleaning it out today and installing our UV light for the spring. I think I got the bio balls on Amazon or Dr Foster's. I got about 2 gallons worth. I have two 125 gallon freshwater tanks in my basement, so you can never have enough of those.
I think I can do this. I already have the 100 gallon stock tank and good motor, so half there. thanks.
ouch, pls do not put dissimilar metals together under water in a livestock tank... you're creating lots of nasty chemical reactions, sir. Use plastics.. light diffuser, gutter guards, lots of better options.
How often are you cleaning the filter? also, do you know how many gallons is your pond? thnx
Steve Armas We are running the vacuum on it maybe once a month. That also allows us to top off our pond which is about 800-900 gallons.
I think it would work 100% better if you reversed the way it filters. Just like a regular filter, the dirty pond water needs to pump in on the top of the tub while it filters through all the gravel, all the clean water will then be released from the bottom of the pipe through gravity leading it back into the pond.
try putting shade cloth on top of your expanded metal
This is how commercial swimming pools used to be cleaned. You can reduce the nitrogen load with an easy hydroponics system. Google Kratky hydroponics. Super easy and you have already 95% of the work. Two thumbs up!
I’m trying to figure out a filtering system for my swimming pool, which is a healthy pond with string algae and mosquito fish in it. I want to use some filtering medium and plants in a gravity system along side the pool, and pouring in to aerate. Can you recommend any other resources to me? All help is greatly appreciated!
Go try, I went that route . Got tired of cleaning filters but after a year , water was clear but too much muck in the bottom of filter and not good water quality . No way to clean out 100 lbs of gravel.
TRY TO KEEP THE CAMERA STEADY, WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE WITH DETAILS
Bioballs should not be in first stage filtration area. They will get so mucked up as not to work as they should. Optimally they should be last, or right before carbon filtration. Nice DIY video, thanks!
huh... you just built a tap water plant filtration system, same cleaning minus the carbon. good job, Im gonna try it.
If that water was stinking then something wrong ,I'm sure you know about the nitrogen cycle.... most of the waste should be getting broke down by beneficial bacteria and it should smell earthy like a lake? If it smells like sewage or a dead fish then you definitely have a problem with the Bio load ... really cool design and concept, I have not seen alot of gravel filters
anyone have ideas on running this during freezing temps? I made one last year out of a large garbage can. Unfortunately the freeze broke the connections and all the water was pumped out and I lost all my fish. any ideas?
We run ours thru the winter without issue. But, just in case something goes wrong, our pump is no closer to the bottom of our pond than a foot or two. So just in case something happens, the pond will not be totally pumped dry. Of course it is recommended to turn off all pumps during winter, since the water going through the cold air tends to lower the overall temp of the water. So, we have tried both to be honest, but a lot depends on ice as well. IF we get an ice covering, we turn off the pump.
Maybe try a submersible aquarium heater running inside the filter chamber?
Maybe place plants under the run off when you clean, or just make a banana circle there.
How about hooking an aquaponics grow enviroment to your pond... This system will provide the pond with mechanical and chemical filtration and provide you with veggies and or herbs.
sandertel I looked into that last summer. I was doing some research and trying to figure out how to do it and where to get what I needed and that is about as far as I got. I had a health scare much of last year and so far most of this year, so for the most part.... it's done to be honest. The only thing we have done recently was put in 12 Crawfish to help with the other stuff in there.
12 crawfish would only add more nitrate into the water
thx buddy
Why NOt add shrimps? Or Cichlids? I believe they eat algae and make the smell go away.
BoTTOM feeders.
the whole problem is you need a powerful blower
Wouldn't it have been better if you did it the other way around with the water spraying down at the gravel? I'm just concerned with that metal rusting and putting nasty chemicals into your overstocked pond.
Put some water plants in it.
TO MANY FISH MATE. YOUR WELL OVER STOCKED.
nice filter set up. I just subscribed. check out my DIY filter on my channel cheers
No...no...no....