Thanks for the link(s). I have mine set up as what I guess is called an upflow filter. Water enters the base of the barrel, flows up through the lava rock, then through the air conditioner filter that covers the top of the barrel and then out into the pond through the spout at the top. A couple weeks ago, I re-ran my piping so that it did not go from the pump to the filter 100%. I now have it split to divert two pipes into the waterfall directly and let the filter box drain slower to give the bacteria time to work. Its too soon to tell if I improved anything yet, but we'll see. I notice a lot of the home-made boxes are using an aeration tower of one kind or another. Is this something that my filter style should be using or should I just have patience and let it alone for a while?

Pond details:
The pond is about 7'x12'x4'. There is a waterfall at the far end containing my upflow bio-filter. I have three Koi (8"), and two Comets, plus mosquito eaters. This is only the second year for the pond and the overly green water compared to last year has me wanting to clean it up faster. I have about 30% coverage on the pond for plants now, Salvania and duckweed plants covering the filter box.


------------------------------
Barefoot Malithorne
"bobkiely" wrote in message news:uwBRa.21049$zy.10137@fed1read06...
Judy, check out this web site http://www.mvwgs.org/filter.htm .
I made this filter about a month ago and it took about 2 hours including
the trip to Loews and cost just less than $20.

I made sure all the filter pieces fit very snugly together to eliminate the
possibility of accidental bypass or channeling.

My water is sparkling clear. Never was that clean before
as I had to clean the filter (Pondmaster 1000) about every 5-7 days and
after 3 days the flow was considerably reduced.
If that doesn't suit your needs for some reason, check out this page - has
about 20 different designs.....
http://www.mikebentley.com/ponds/homemadefilters.htm

BK

"Judy" wrote in message
om...
You mentioned you build your own, could you explain what you use to
build your own biofilter system? It was also mentioned that the pump
would be placed in the pond, what is used to keep the pump from
clogging? Do you use a basket of some sort? I did put together a
veggie filter but I didn't put a drain in the bottom, wow was that
work to clean. My big mistake.




John Rutz wrote in message
...
Judy wrote:
Hi John, thanks for replying, do you have any suggestions on brands
and types of biosystem for outside the pond? Some thing not too
complicated since I am a novice at plumbing. Thanks Judy


not realy I havent used a comercial filter in years been building my
own
but can tell you this if your pond fer instance is 1200 galons look
for a filter that is advertised for 3000 gal in other words at least
twice the size of your pond if not 3x
manufacturers seem to over rate thier filters in my opinion by a factor
of 2 for goldfish and by 4 for Koi







John Rutz
Z5 New Mexico

never miss a good oportunity to shut up

see my pond at:

http://www.fuerjefe.com

John is absolutely correct on this. For a bought filter -
Never take the manufacturers word for number of gallons
filtered. Especially so if you have or intend to get Koi.

I bought a Pond Filtration 3000 more than 6 years ago
for $325. My pond is about 3000... so I thought I was set.
I had 5 or 6 juvenile Koi and 5 juvenile Gold Fish. As the
fish grew so did my appetite for Butterfly Koi. I bought only
2 - an Orange one and an Orange and Black one. Everything
started going haywire three years ago. The Koi grew like
gangbusters.... I added a veggie filter - then I noticed Koi
babies in the pond. I now have 13 Koi and several Large
Gold Fish with quiet a few smaller goldfish. This is how your
filtration will grow - it has to keep up with the fish population.
;-)

Good Luck ..

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"John Rutz" wrote in message
...


Judy wrote:
Hi John, thanks for replying, do you have any suggestions on brands
and types of biosystem for outside the pond? Some thing not too
complicated since I am a novice at plumbing. Thanks Judy


not realy I havent used a comercial filter in years been building my own
but can tell you this if your pond fer instance is 1200 galons look
for a filter that is advertised for 3000 gal in other words at least
twice the size of your pond if not 3x
manufacturers seem to over rate thier filters in my opinion by a factor
of 2 for goldfish and by 4 for Koi







John Rutz
Z5 New Mexico

never miss a good oportunity to shut up

see my pond at:

http://www.fuerjefe.com

look at Jan Jordans demon pond filter its a good well designed filter and a place to start
we can help you size it to your particular needs
John Rutz

Thanks John, Hi Judy,

My website is: http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

If nothing else it shows a diagram, parts, and what maintenance I have to
do. Pump is submersible, but still out of the pond, in its own clog free
chamber. To see the various diagrams you will need to click on *My Filter*
and *Demon Pond Filter* the lily pond shows some of the in-the-pond
fittings. ~ jan

look at Jan Jordans demon pond filter its a good well designed filter and a place to start
we can help you size it to your particular needs
John Rutz

Thanks John, Hi Judy,

My website is: http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

If nothing else it shows a diagram, parts, and what maintenance I have to
do. Pump is submersible, but still out of the pond, in its own clog free
chamber. To see the various diagrams you will need to click on *My Filter*
and *Demon Pond Filter* the lily pond shows some of the in-the-pond
fittings. ~ jan

Judy wrote:
Hi John, thanks for replying, do you have any suggestions on brands
and types of biosystem for outside the pond? Some thing not too
complicated since I am a novice at plumbing. Thanks Judy


not realy I havent used a comercial filter in years been building my own
but can tell you this if your pond fer instance is 1200 galons look
for a filter that is advertised for 3000 gal in other words at least
twice the size of your pond if not 3x
manufacturers seem to over rate thier filters in my opinion by a factor
of 2 for goldfish and by 4 for Koi







John Rutz
Z5 New Mexico

never miss a good oportunity to shut up

see my pond at:

http://www.fuerjefe.com