Fish Pond Cleaning

[ivowatson]

Anyone knows where to buy equipment to clean a large fish pond? Can't see the fish anymore. Thanks.

[gosompoi]

Clean pond water for your garden fish pool is not difficult to accomplish if you understand a few basic principles. All fishponds need three things: clean water, fish and oxygen.

Oxygen is probably the most important element to a healthy water environment, with the exception of the water itself. The fish require oxygen. Another organism vital to a healthy fishpond is bacteria. They will literally eat and thrive on the wastes and nitrates a healthy fishpond produces.

In the construction of a homemade pond water filter, you are not filtering the water. In reality, you are treating the water with a natural bacterium that consumes the nitrates from the fish waste. This bacteria thrives in a habitat of small nooks and crannies. It also relishes fast moving water filled with nitrates and oxygen. The same type of water environment is found in flowing streams with a gravel bottom.

Let us examine the data you will need for your homemade pond water filter.

First, what is the size of your pond? This should be calculated in square feet. A rectangular pond is simple. The area is an easy calculation of multiplying the length times the width.

A circle is just as easy. Take the total distance across, called the diameter and divide that by two. Let us say we have a ten-foot diameter pool or 10 feet across the pond. The radius would be five feet. Next, square the radius which is five, 5 x 5 = 25. Now all we have left to do is multiply by Pi. We can simplify the number to 3.14 since this is not too critical. The resultant formula is 25 x 3.14 = 78.5 square feet. The actual formula for area is, Area = 3.1416 x Radius^2 (^2 = squared).

Now that we have the area of the pond at 78.5 square feet, we can now calculate the area of the filter material. We can also figure how much water we need to pass through this filter in one hour.

Our imaginary pond is on the average four feet deep. We multiply 78.5 square feet x 4 feet = 314 cubic feet of water. Water has a capacity of 7.48 gallons per cubic foot. Round up to 7.5 gallons. Total capacity of our fishpond is 314 cubic feet x 7.5 gallons/cubic foot = 2355 gallons.

A good rule of thumb for any pond filter system is to pass at least half the total volume of water through your filter system every hour. We will need a pump that can push 2355 gallons x .5 hour = 1177.5 gallons. Round this up to approximately 1200 gallons per hour. It is always better to calculate a little more water flow than too little.

Now, with these two important numbers on paper we can proceed to calculate the size of the filter our pond will need.

The surface area is 78.5 square feet with a pump hour capacity of roughly 1200 gallons per hour. The filter system should have a surface area of about one third the area of the pond. In our case this would be, 78.5 square feet/3 = 21.2 square feet. This is a large sized filter, especially if we take this as the total surface area.

The bacterium prefers to live in small nooks and crannies. This is where lava rock or any other porous material comes into play. Materials with lots of small holes (such as lava rocks) are a perfect fit for these bacteria to thrive in. The lava rock has a vast surface area due to all of those tiny holes. The action of the water flowing over these rocks provides abundant oxygen for the bacteria to grow and devour the fish waste.

The filter surface area from our imaginary fishpond is 21.2 square feet, or approximately, an area a little larger than four foot by five feet. If you were to take the small lava rocks and spread them evenly on the ground, one layer deep in a four-foot by five-foot square. This would be your surface area of the filter.

A large plastic 30-gallon trashcan is a perfect receptacle for the filter material. The volume of this container will fit for our recommended filter area. Scoop those rocks up and place them in the 30-gallon plastic trashcan. You will notice that they fit with room to spare. In fact the more lava rocks you add, the greater the filter area.

The above calculations were the difficult part, now the fun begins. The plastic container is paintable and you may match the colors to fit any background. Alternatively, you may choose to hide the filter by stacking landscaping rocks around it.

The method described below is for a gravity flow system. This method works well for creating a nice waterfall that greatly enhances the oxygen content to the fish.

1. Drill 12 holes in the container. The holes should be facing the pond side with a 3 x 4 pattern, three holes high with four holes across. The hole spacing is approximately five-inches on center. The holes should be no less than one and one half inches in diameter. The lower row of holes should be six inches from the bottom of the container. This is important if your pump fails, as the bacteria will die after five to six hours from lack of water and oxygen. This small water reserve will give the bacteria a chance of survival if your pump fails.

2. Line the inside of the container, covering over the exposed drilled holes, with one-quarter inch screen mesh. An 18-inch by 18-inch square piece will fit nicely. This will keep the lava rocks from falling out of the holes.

3. Move the filter to the pond edge. Under the container, install a heavy-duty plastic sheet, six mil or greater in thickness, and drape it into the water. You can trim the excess later. You should elevate the filter container a few inches so a greater waterfall effect is achieved. You may contour the gravity flow by using the plastic sheet. Form any soil and rocks so the water will flow into the pond. Make sure the container is level and properly seated.

4. Carefully add the lava rocks. Take care not to disturb the mesh screen--it needs to remain in front of the drilled holes.

5. Stack the remaining rocks around your filter for stability and the proper effect for a natural background.

6. Attach the outlet pipe from your pump into the container. This can be done any number of ways. One method is to loop the hose under the handle of the plastic trashcan. You may secure the pump hose with a couple of plastic wire ties to the handle. Be sure that the end of the hose is under approximately six inches of the lava rocks to keep it from spraying about.

No cleaning is required as the constant flow of water and oxygen should keep the bacteria growing and healthy.

[jcgodber]

All good info but sure glad the question wasen't "what time is it?) then we could build a new clock

[alaninkarachi]

All good info but sure glad the question wasen't "what time is it?) then we could build a new clock

Bit unfair. I appreciatd the posting from gosompoi. Thanks

[petertucker48]

That was a great reply any chance of a few photos if you have made a filter similar to the one recommended.

Any idea where I can get Lava stones in Thailand.

Have been trying to make a filter for 6 months now with varying degrees of success.

[ivowatson]

Yes, great information, thanks a lot!

I think I'll need to read it a few more times as I'm not really "technical".

So you say I don't have to clean the pond? The water will be clear when I follow your instructions?

That would be great. Thanks again.

[steelepulse]

I use a sand filter similar to a swimming pool filter, then I use a swimming pool type vacuum to clean out the algae that settles on the bottom.  However there  are plants that can prevent the algae buildup and keep the water clear.  Look through older posts in the "plants & pets " forum here for more info.

[MHM]

I've actually given up cleaning my fish pond as an endless chore 2 months ago and got well beyond the 'can't see the fish' phase. Funny thing is, recent rains have cleared the water no end and I can now see the bottom (& the fish). Thai way - when in doubt, do nothing.

[randomchase]

I've actually given up cleaning my fish pond as an endless chore 2 months ago and got well beyond the 'can't see the fish' phase. Funny thing is, recent rains have cleared the water no end and I can now see the bottom (& the fish). Thai way - when in doubt, do nothing.

for ivowatson original post

the best way to learn anything is over someones shoulder. however Go to Dons cafe Rawai

outside there are two fish pools ask Khun Moo to look at the method and construction .simple and cheap and will keep the water clear providing the filter fabric is cleaned daily [water only]

also pm me with your email and i will send you step by step pictures and text.plus the requied on going steps to ensure clear water randomchase

[Valentine]

That was a great reply any chance of a few photos if you have made a filter similar to the one recommended.

Any idea where I can get Lava stones in Thailand.

Have been trying to make a filter for 6 months now with varying degrees of success.

Coral is available in the pond shops & is a good alternative to lava rocks.

[FarangRed]

I have just bought one Vacuum cleaner for a fish pond not tried it yet I'm going give it a go today see how it works, my friend bring it over from Germany.

[ignis]

Myself made 2 filters using wellie bins, have 2 large pumps, now I lined the bottom of the pond with 1 1/2" blue pipe into grid pattern with bends and T's all along the pipes I drilled holes [all face the bottom].. The whole of the bottom of the pond is cleaned not just one area, 5 years on and this system is still working fine..

On my filter bins, the water arrives in the top, passes the white fiber filter, then the dense blue fiber filter, then the Lava stones, the outlets are a 1/3 way up so any mess that passes the fiber filters will lay at the bottom, I also drilled a hole and fitted a tap at the bottom so drain the bins every week.. I clean the white fiber every day, renew every week. the dense blue fiber filter I clean but have not replaced in over a year.

Works well for me. I have a very large air pump with 12 air stones + 2 big direct air pumps on 24/7 and a waterfall on from 7am to 7 pm.

Arrived not long ago in Thailand from Germany is a Pond cleaning system like what is used for Swimming pools, with back wash and cost 5,400 baht, friend has just installed it to his large pond

Edited July 25, 2009 by ignis

[ignis]

I've actually given up cleaning my fish pond as an endless chore 2 months ago and got well beyond the 'can't see the fish' phase. Funny thing is, recent rains have cleared the water no end and I can now see the bottom (& the fish). Thai way - when in doubt, do nothing.

If you fish are Koi, then the colour will not be good, Koi need at least 7 - 10 days in clear clean water for the full colour to come back...

Sorry don't understand the reason in having fish if you can not see them

[chercheur888]

Myself made 2 filters using wellie bins, have 2 large pumps, now I lined the bottom of the pond with 1 1/2" blue pipe into grid pattern with bends and T's all along the pipes I drilled holes [all face the bottom].. The whole of the bottom of the pond is cleaned not just one area, 5 years on and this system is still working fine..

On my filter bins, the water arrives in the top, passes the white fiber filter, then the dense blue fiber filter, then the Lava stones, the outlets are a 1/3 way up so any mess that passes the fiber filters will lay at the bottom, I also drilled a hole and fitted a tap at the bottom so drain the bins every week.. I clean the white fiber every day, renew every week. the dense blue fiber filter I clean but have not replaced in over a year.

Works well for me. I have a very large air pump with 12 air stones + 2 big direct air pumps on 24/7 and a waterfall on from 7am to 7 pm.

Arrived not long ago in Thailand from Germany is a Pond cleaning system like what is used for Swimming pools, with back wash and cost 5,400 baht, friend has just installed it to his large pond

Any idea of the brand name and where I can buy this in Phuket?

Thks

[mdrichard]

I have just bought one Vacuum cleaner for a fish pond not tried it yet I'm going give it a go today see how it works, my friend bring it over from Germany.

Are pond vacuums available in Thailand?

[mikebike]

If you're the DIY type try www.skippystuff.com - great filters, our coy pond is four years crystal clear!!