pump inside diy pond filter tote? how? I've seen it somewhere...?

[LiveMermaid07]

Hi ya'll!

I know I've seen a picture/guide to this somewhere, but I can't find it.

I'm looking for the instructions on making your own pond filter with a rubbermaid tote where the pump is in the filter. Any one seen these?


The particular 'pond' I have is a 35(? at least)g tote, it's up on cinder blocks in a shallow hole in the ground. I'm thinking of either hiding the filter just behind the 'pond' on the ground (stepping stone) behind it, OR, another idea was if I stack 2 cinderblocks (and maybe 2 blocks wide for support if necessary) and put the filter on top behind the 'pond' - and slightly above - then I could have a waterfall effect for the return.

Either way I need a way to get the water out of the 'pond' (pvc, hose, combo?) to the filter and back out to the 'pond.'

Since it's so small I really don't want to have to put any more equipment in the 'pond' and take up what swimming room the fish have left.

It is still in the planning stages, but the sooner I can get it done the better!

Thank you!

 

[LiveMermaid07]

bumpity

 

[LiveMermaid07]

I'm guessing it would be kinda like a sump design?

 

[mott]

I think I saw that somewhere too, can't find the link tho. I think it would be easy enough to do like a mini sump or something just add a barbed outlet at the bottom of the bucket and place the pump after the bucket or inside, just gotta find the right pump for your needs.
I think that's how the guy in that link did his because I remember it was not pressurized.

 

[Arakkis]

ok yes you can run it that way but it has an inherent problem. if you water level is lower than the level of the tube(s)feeding the sump, you'll get an airgap which usually kills the motor which usually needs to be full of water to work.
So the tubing has to be at pond level, be it underground or whatnot. You would use a standard pond pump, though i would rather use one with threaded ends so i can attatch unions like a danner. the water is drawn through the pipes and filling into (note add a snorkel here to prevent back draining when power is out) into the sump to flow back into the pond after going through your choice of filter media. Now you will need to get an over size pump because it's a lot harder to suck water than it is to blow it out.

Anyhoo.. just musings and retrofits to things i've done in the past

 

[fshfanatic]

This is what I did for my above ground cinderblock pond. It requires 2 5 gallon buckets and a bucket lid.

1: Drilled a hole in the bottom of one of the buckets and inserted a bulkhead. Filled bucket with nano bioballs.
2: Cut the bottom of the second bucket off. Leaving a 3" lip. Then drilled 1/8" holes every 1/2 inch. Creating a drip plate.
3: Dropped home made drip plate into bucket and put lid on.
4: Drilled a small hole in lid for waterline off of fountain.
5: Placed filter on ledge of tank and it hasnt moved since.

 

[LiveMermaid07]

I think I got the wrong pump for my orginal idea
this is it here
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170681479706?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Only the one I got does have a little sticky up part where the one in the picture has a hole on top.

So I guess this one has to go in the pond tote, but it's pretty small so not so bad.

However, I don't see an intake, - I think the sticky up part is the output right? - I had thought there would be a sticky out part for both the output and the intake and I just add tubing or something and stick a sponge on the intake to keep smaller things and stuff out. But that doesn't seem to be the case lol.
I assume the intake is somewhere along the 'grating' (though looking inside it I can't see anywhere where the water would go...?)
So I guess there's not a way to put a sponge on the intake with this one??

I'm worried it might get clogged really quick. I had kinda expected that when I first turned it on I would have to rinse the intake sponge out every few minutes for the first few hours - it's very algae-y in there right now.

It didn't come with instructions, company said they had discontinued that model and didn't have any boxes or instructions left. I just sent a query to see if they have instructions for a similar model they could send me.

 

[LiveMermaid07]

I think I like the waterfall return idea, so hopefully, I 'm going to try that.

Another question I have, assuming this even works lol, in the winter, I know that I'm suppose to remove the pump from the water and clean it, but what do I do with the filter??
I've recently seen a lot of them with no tops and plants on top of the filtering stuff. I'm assuming the plants would need to be taken inside.
But whether it's open or not, what do I do with the rest of the media/filter?
I assume it should be kept wet right?
Would I just put a lid on it and leave it out?
It would definitely freeze, but without the pump pumping water through it I guess the water will go out the intake and outtake of the filter... and then the stuff isn't wet anyway...
lost and confused lol!
please help me with info, thanks!


I painted the filter box, it takes 7 days to be chip proof, so hoping to drill it soon, but I need to know what I'm doing first lol.
Am I suppose to put in some kind of flap that can be closed on the filter's intake and outtake?

I'm sure I have more questions, but my brains a little foggy from the coffee right now lol.