Duck Pond Filter & Shower with lots of pictures.

[SJUDD]

Thank you!

It's easy to convince him. Just let him change out the pool for a couple of days. Mine holds about 125 gallon and that's 1041.25 pounds to dump. It's not about the ducks, it's about my aching back, not to mention the water bill.

and the mosquito's.

and the muddy mess in the run.

Okay, mostly it was just fun to do,

but the other stuff is what I told myself.

I like making useful things.

Well, if you ever get out to California, I am sure I would have LOTS for you to do

 

[TTeddy]

Great set up you have done!
Can you give us any idea as to how much it cost you altogether to construct?

 

[OldGuy43]

Thank you!

I didn't really keep track, but as best I can remember the pump cost about $60.00 with the 2 year extended warranty, the plumbing parts (pipe, valves tubing etc.) was about another $70.00, the bucket and lid cost $5.00, the screen wire around $15.00, and the pool itself was about $35.00. (You could save a lot right there by buying it at end-of-season.) The GFI outlet was another $15.00. A bag of QUIKRETE® (for setting the post) cost about $5.00. The rest of the stuff I had laying around or found. [all prices are in US dollars]

The short answer = approximately $200 (US), more if your starting with nothing.

I actually spent a lot more on this project, what with trying about 4 different pumps and lots of different plumbing configurations before figuring out what worked.

NOTES:

1. This system will not keep the water clear or algae free (A cup of bleach every 3-4 days keeps the algae down nicely.), but it will remove a lot of the duck poo and trash from the pool.
2. About every 6 months you may want to completely drain the pool, remove it and clean a little bit from under it.
3. 
   If you keep ducks and chickens together there is the possibility that a chicken will get in the pond and drown, but that's true even without a filter/shower. We've lost one that way.
4. If the valves get hard to turn a bit of olive oil on the ball part can be used to lubricate them.
5. If a valve gets clogged up just open the valve fully for a few seconds and return it to it's original setting.

The temps are supposed to get down below freezing tonight so I guess I'll find out if we have that problem solved. I'll report tomorrow.

 

[OldGuy43]

I promised a report, but since it only got down to freezing for a very short period of time I really have nothing to say that would be definitive.

Maybe tonight.

 

[OldGuy43]

I'm happy to report that after two nights of hard freeze the pond has remained unfrozen. We've even had one or more ducks swimming on it at these lower temperatures.

The first night I left both valves wide open. Last night I left the one to the filter/shower in it's less than "fully on" setting and it is clogged this morning. I do not yet know if it's frozen or just clogged, but the flow from the lower outlet has kept the pond from freezing.

 

[neohiobiker]

I just let the water hose trickle into the pool most of the day. I'm on a well

 

[Shayna]

This idea is so cool and I would love to do something like that for my ducks in the summertime.

I can't help but wonder if a miniature version without electricity would be possible for inside their pen... I'm not sure how well the syphon effect would work since the bucket sits higher than the pond, but it would be very neat to run something small and non-electric by syphoning water into the bucket which rains back down into the pond.

Also, I probably think this because I'm a fish person too.... But it seems like it would be a good idea to put in a filter floss pad (or just really fine screen) inside the bucket, and maybe aquarium carbon to give the water some additional filtration.

Thid idea has me thinking....

Great work!

 

[OldGuy43]

I just let the water hose trickle into the pool most of the day. I'm on a well

Lucky you.

This idea is so cool and I would love to do something like that for my ducks in the summertime.

I can't help but wonder if a miniature version without electricity would be possible for inside their pen... I'm not sure how well the syphon effect would work since the bucket sits higher than the pond, but it would be very neat to run something small and non-electric by syphoning water into the bucket which rains back down into the pond.

Won't! The reason a siphon works is because of the difference in air pressure.The outlet still has to be lower than the inlet.

Also, I probably think this because I'm a fish person too.... But it seems like it would be a good idea to put in a filter floss pad (or just really fine screen) inside the bucket, and maybe aquarium carbon to give the water some additional filtration.

If you make one of your own you'll quickly learn why a a filter floss pad (or just really fine screen) is not a good idea. Been there, done that. Filters too much and clogs up to quickly. As I've said before, I've spent a lot of time working the bugs out of this system.

Thid idea has me thinking....

Great work!

 

[Shayna]

I appreciate the response. I suppose that will save me some trial and error. I hope there is some way to move the water without electricity, but I get the logic with the syphon not working...

I could see the clogging issue too in duck water....

Thanks for the info.

 

[BackYardChknLvr]

wow this sounds like a really good idea.. i so want to build a pond for my duckies this summer so bad.. but i have to figure something out on a really low budget since i'm a low income and i basicly put all my money in to my chickies and duckies.. but at least i'm set on food for about 8 months since somebody handed me like 15 coupons to D&B for Chicken and duck feed.. Buy one get one Free my poor car had like 700lbs of food in the back seat... hmmm but this is a great idea cause this winter its been really really harsh for me i've gone threw just 5 heated water bowls in just 2 months since we have had a cold front but i'm crossin my fingures its supposed to letting up soon... Time to take your build and start trying to plan my self a pond this summer after i build my new coop