[Mori]

Too many pond pictures here ^%$#*&...I'm going to turn over my stock tank and make it a pond again. Previously it was in my house and held few plants and a lot of fish. I used regular old Eheim canisters on it. But that was mostly fish. This time I want plants. Maybe a few guppies for skeeter control.

Anyway, I don't have any equipment; just a big tub.

The tank is a 2'x2'x6' oval, about 160 gallons. Any recommendations for cheap filtration and/or circulation? Will I be OK without a filter if I don't stuff it with fish?

Any tips? Thanks.

 

[Wasserpest]

Whether you would be okay with or without filter, hard to say. I had a pond without filter for two years, and green water outta my ears. After putting in a little water fall and filter, no more problems, clear water, definitely happier fish! :fish1:

Here is what I did for the filter: I got a cheap water pump (ViaAqua 1800), a plastic box from the $store, a piece of coarse foam sponge, and a bunch of bio balls. Cut out most of the cover and added a piece of plastic grid (inlet). Cut a hole into the side (near the bottom) of the plastic container, rigged a bulkhead out of two plastic Sched 40 pieces from HD, connected some hose to that, then to the water pump. Filled the container with sponge and bio balls, connected it all, and it is running like that now for 2 years without a hitch.

The little waterfall thing (preformed piece from HD) adds a nice little splashing sound to my backyard. Initially I had to clean out the sponge more frequently, but I got rid of my larger goldfishies and now it's mainly minnows and mosquito fish and doesn't need maintenance.

 

[Mori]

Thanks, W.

I guess water color won't be a concern as it's so narrow and deep. Green, blue, same look. I'm going to try to grow big plants that will block the view of the water and hopefully shade it as well. Maybe I'll follow your lead and go filterless and plan to add one when it gets icky.

If it gets icky. I meant "if".

 

[Wasserpest]

WHEN. It is always when. Not if. :flick:

 

[CampCreekTexas]

Hehhehheh! Yeah, it's always WHEN it gets icky. *sigh* I've rarely ever used a filter (have had all sorts/sizes of ponds over the years) and if I have them lightly stocked with fish, loaded up on plants and go easy on the ferts, the pea soup turns to clear water after it's cycled in spring (a month or two after the water warms up to the fifties if I remember right).

Stuff that sucker with plants. Just like in planted tanks, the more plants you have in there at first, the quicker you'll have clear water. The less the fish load, the less N you'll have, so the less pea soup you'll get and the quicker it'll be over. And I don't even fertilize anything anymore until after the water clears. Then I go sparingly, upping it if I don't see any algae bloom and I think I need more.

 

[Mori]

Thanks y'all ( <--lived in Texas long enough to learn the language). Maybe I should plan on a little something sooner rather than later.

There's a psychological hurdle here you know. If I go without a filter, it's a container garden. Add a filter and it's another fish tank.

 

[CampCreekTexas]

There's a psychological hurdle here you know.

:icon_lol: I get what you mean. So indulge your desires for more power and build a koi pond! Those koi people really get into filtration and aeration, mostly because koi are little piggies so it's needed. One of these days I'll have one, but for now I'm happy to play with my little goldies in my unfiltered ponds.

Anyway, if you go Googling for "skippy filter", you'll find instructions for a great little pond filter. You can build it to any size you need.

 

[Mori]

Thanks for the advice. No koi here--if I'm digging that big a hole I'm gonna swim in it!

(by the way, showing pictures of cute cattle isn't the way to make me eat them! )