This is Solo's write up on veggie filters if
you are interested in exploring that option.

"The essence of a plant filter is a water proof container with the
water from the pond
being pumped in one end flowing thru the roots of various plants and
flowing back
into the pond at the other end.
It needs to be long enough that solids settle to the bottom OR have
filter material
that will slow or hold the solids (and get rinsed out periodically).
It needs plants of different kinds to maximize removal of all wastes.
it needs sufficient amount of plants to remove in one day all the
wastes produced by
the fish load in one day. It needs plants with extensive roots and/or
plants that get big so they used up more
nutrients. It needs to be only 8-12" deep so it doesnt go anaerobic."

Good filtering plants that many RPMers use are
water hyacinth
water cress
water celery
water iris

I like watercress as it gets going really early in the
spring. Water hyacinth take over when the weather
gets hot. Both mulitply like crazy.
Water celery is also a good grower (just don't have
any experience with it).


k :-)
http://tinyurl.com/6bguh ~ new pond keeper info
http://tinyurl.com/yp64db ~ slide show of pond