Check with a good plumbing supply store for a product called spaflex.
It is a sturdy by flexiable hose that you can use between the rigid pipe
and the pump.

"Dan" wrote in message
...
Bonnie, thanks for your suggestion. I have an external pump that is
connected thru the side of my Veggie Filter by a 2 inch PVC pipe. I may
be
able to run the pipe into a basket type set-up like you mention.

"Bonnie Espenshade" wrote in message
...
Dan wrote:
My bottom drain and surface skimmer are gravity fed into the VF and
then
pumped from the VF into a bio-filter where it then falls back into the
main
pond. The only problem I have, is my make-shift prefilter on my pump
gets
clogged and needs to be cleaned about once a week. However, the
prefilter
is necessary on the pump intake so that the pump doesn't get clogged
which
is a much bigger job cleaning. Any suggestions for a good pump
prefilter?


Hi Dan,
I use a slotted planting basket filled with bioballs, put in
the pump and then put all into a meshed laundry basket (with
a slide closure). Then I lower the laundry basket into the
pond. It is easy to raise, just get a pole and hook the
rope closure. I rarely have to clean this filter. Others
have filled the basket with lava rocks, but I found them too
heavy.

--
Bonnie
NJ