Pool to duck/goose pond!

[jostas]

Well, we are converting our in ground pool into a pond. We got way too busy here on the farm to close it up for the winter, and really where we are it's really only warm enough to use it for two months out of the year anyway.

Has anyone here on the forum done this before? It's a really large pool, 12ft deep at the deepest end. We're going to let our four geese and 8 ducks hang out in it. Does anyone have ideas on how we can make it a self sustaining system? TIA!

[rbarn]

Problem is dealing with debris.
Plumbing, pumps and filter system all need to be modified.

How much you willing to spend on it ? Willing to get in there and break concrete and run a new bottom drain system ?

I suggest researching it on Koiphen forum. They were a great help in setting up my concrete hole to be a sustainable and healthy pond.

[jostas]

Originally Posted by rbarn

Problem is dealing with debris.
Plumbing, pumps and filter system all need to be modified.

How much you willing to spend on it ? Willing to get in there and break concrete and run a new bottom drain system ?

I suggest researching it on Koiphen forum. They were a great help in setting up my concrete hole to be a sustainable and healthy pond.

It is still a fully functioning pool system with a bottom drain in the deepest end, is that able to be modified? Thanks a lot rbarn, will look into to koiphen forum.

Do you have any documentation of converting your own pool over to a healthy pond you could link me to?

[rbarn]

I am just finishing a ground up install with a pool am putting in. So it was not a conversion.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/po...-koi-pond.html

You cant really reuse the exist pool bottom drain. Pond drains are bigger and specialized to keep fish out and have built in air diffusers.

This is an excellent thread on how to do this.
http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showth...ond-conversion

I can also get you in touch with the pond contractor I used here in Houston to help spec stuff out and give ideas.

www.wlimproducts.com has many of the special filters and poop separation tanks.

Dont cut corners and you will enjoy it much more. How about 2-3' foot koi cruising around in your "duck pond" ?

[jostas]

Originally Posted by rbarn

I am just finishing a ground up install with a pool am putting in. So it was not a conversion.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/po...-koi-pond.html

You cant really reuse the exist pool bottom drain. Pond drains are bigger and specialized to keep fish out and have built in air diffusers.

This is an excellent thread on how to do this.
http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showth...ond-conversion

I can also get you in touch with the pond contractor I used here in Houston to help spec stuff out and give ideas.

www.wlimproducts.com has many of the special filters and poop separation tanks.

Dont cut corners and you will enjoy it much more. How about 2-3' foot koi cruising around in your "duck pond" ?

We aren't interested in making it a koi pond. We have a vegetable/fruit farm and just want it to be a low maintenance natural pond eco system that the ducks and geese can enjoy. I guess we still need something to to filter out the poop though!

[rbarn]

Originally Posted by jostas

We aren't interested in making it a koi pond. We have a vegetable/fruit farm and just want it to be a low maintenance natural pond eco system that the ducks and geese can enjoy. I guess we still need something to to filter out the poop though!

Unless you want it to quickly become a stagnant mosquito breeding swamp you are going to have to set it up like you would a koi pond. Plenty of other kinds of critters you can put in there besides koi.

The bottom drains and settling chamber system is going to be the critical part in making it "natural eco system" in a concrete hole. Have to have circulation, and have to have a way to get debris off the bottom through a proper bottom drain.

The fewer corners you cut in the beginning with proper pumps, drains, and filters will make all the difference down the road with maintenance issues.

Again its all about time and budget. Google "natural swimming ponds" too for other "sustainable backyard pond" ideas.

[jostas]

Originally Posted by rbarn

Unless you want it to quickly become a stagnant mosquito breeding swamp you are going to have to set it up like you would a koi pond. Plenty of other kinds of critters you can put in there besides koi.

The bottom drains and settling chamber system is going to be the critical part in making it "natural eco system" in a concrete hole. Have to have circulation, and have to have a way to get debris off the bottom through a proper bottom drain.

The fewer corners you cut in the beginning with proper pumps, drains, and filters will make all the difference down the road with maintenance issues.

Again its all about time and budget. Google "natural swimming ponds" too for other "sustainable backyard pond" ideas.

thanks for the info rbarn