Size and quantity of filtering has little to do with the size of the pond.
It is all about the number and size of the residents. With a small fish
load, and small amount of feeding, the sides of the pond will provide all
the biomedia needed. The stream with any rock to cause the water to splash
and turn, will provide a large amount of filtration by itself. The only way
to know if you have enough is to monitor the ammonia and nitrites. If they
do not go to zero fairly quickly, a matter of a few weeks in the spring,
then you need some other filtration. The small area at the top of the falls
can be planted with marginals and these will add greatly to the filtration.
Like Jan, I would look for something outside the pond, rather than in the
pond. Outside is much easier to clean and maintain.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html
"robv60" wrote in message
oups.com...
My pond has about a 15-20' long sloping stream/waterfall that empties
into the main body of water. I have been looking at biofilters, plans
and ideas people have posted on this forum and doing a lot of reading.
My question is, instead of sinking and pumping water through a huge
bucket in my pond, filled with whatever media, Couldnt I simply line
the bottom of the stream bead with more rocks and maybe even mix in a
fair amount of lava rock and/or other media for filtration? The water
flows pretty nicely through the stream bed, wouldnt this effectively
filter my water to some degree? Wouldnt the flowing water from the
"falls" running around the rocks essentially be the same thing as
pumping water through a filter box filled with lava rocks? Seems like I
could spread the filter media out over a larger area and provide a more
natural look to the pond while at the same time filtering. Functional
and unnoticable filtration that simply looks like part of the pond
rather than an unsightly 55+ gallon bucket sunk in my pond. The pond is
2835 gals. I will be using(whenever it gets here) a 3500 GPH pump that
pumps 2785 GPH @ 5' to power the waterfall and circulate the water.