I have no idea what I am doing

[shawluvsbirds]

I do have a filter box in my big pond but I only have the built in pump filter in my little pond. I do have to hose it of once in a while as it does get clogged with debris but it unattaches from the pump itself easily so the pump can just stay in the water all the time.

I'm trying to think how hard it would be to get to it to clean it off if it was surrounded by big flat rock. . I haven't bought my pond for the duck pen yet so I'm still weighing my options

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Concrete would work I'd think. . as long as you somehow installed the drain in it first. . will be a p.i.t.a. if you ever need to move it for some reason though.

 

[Kusanar]

A nifty way to handle a pump that may need to be removed, is cut holes and slots in a bucket (big enough for the poop to get through) and then place the bucket where you want the pump, fill in your rocks and stuff around it, then just plop the pump in the bucket, you can even cut a slot in the lid (for the cord) and put the lid back on the bucket to keep duck feet from getting down in there with the pump. You can simply pop the lid off and fish the pump back out if needed.

If you are SURE that you won't be moving the pond, it would actually be a neat idea to put your bucket in and pour the concrete around the bucket with a slight slope going towards the bucket, then the pump will actually be set down below the level of the rest of the pond and all of the water will run over there on it's own.

You can also make a solids filter to get all of the solids out and then put plants in there to make it more natural for her. They will enjoy the dissolved nitrogen in the water from her waste and help keep the water clean as well.

 

[mobius]

Yes I am hearing a little ecosystem starting! I learned a lot from my betta fish...an aquarium testing kit will help you monitor the water chemistry...just a thought! It might stabilize on its own with enough plant material etc! Not sure about that....it would have to go through a nitrogen cycle but I found it highly educational!

 

[Kusanar]

Yes I am hearing a little ecosystem starting! I learned a lot from my betta fish...an aquarium testing kit will help you monitor the water chemistry...just a thought! It might stabilize on its own with enough plant material etc! Not sure about that....it would have to go through a nitrogen cycle but I found it highly educational!

I have a betta in a 20 gallon tank, working on getting it planted, have a powerhead on it and a pond pump that I am working on using to do a small aquaponics setup with the tank to remove even more nitrogen. I MAY be slightly overthinking this... And all because I suck at vaccuming gravel...

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I have a betta in a 20 gallon tank, working on getting it planted, have a powerhead on it and a pond pump that I am working on using to do a small aquaponics setup with the tank to remove even more nitrogen. I MAY be slightly overthinking this... And all because I suck at vaccuming gravel...

I would like to add plants to my existing pond but we have freezing weather here in winter. I don't know what I can get that will live. And then I worry what the ducks can eat. . I'm scared of getting something that could be toxic to them. I need to do more research. .

A nifty way to handle a pump that may need to be removed, is cut holes and slots in a bucket (big enough for the poop to get through) and then place the bucket where you want the pump, fill in your rocks and stuff around it, then just plop the pump in the bucket, you can even cut a slot in the lid (for the cord) and put the lid back on the bucket to keep duck feet from getting down in there with the pump. You can simply pop the lid off and fish the pump back out if needed.

If you are SURE that you won't be moving the pond, it would actually be a neat idea to put your bucket in and pour the concrete around the bucket with a slight slope going towards the bucket, then the pump will actually be set down below the level of the rest of the pond and all of the water will run over there on it's own.

You can also make a solids filter to get all of the solids out and then put plants in there to make it more natural for her. They will enjoy the dissolved nitrogen in the water from her waste and help keep the water clean as well.

Now that sounds like a fantastic idea!

 

[Tlmcq]

I have a betta in a 20 gallon tank, working on getting it planted, have a powerhead on it and a pond pump that I am working on using to do a small aquaponics setup with the tank to remove even more nitrogen. I MAY be slightly overthinking this... And all because I suck at vaccuming gravel...

Get some bottom feeders. I have a 75 gallon set up I rarely vacuum the gravel and only biological filtration, no power head or anything. I have breeding African Cichlids in my tank so everyone must be happy...lol Water is Crystal clear.

 

[Tlmcq]

I would like to add plants to my existing pond but we have freezing weather here in winter. I don't know what I can get that will live. And then I worry what the ducks can eat. . I'm scared of getting something that could be toxic to them. I need to do more research. .

Now that sounds like a fantastic idea!

I live in Ohio and my koi pond turned duck pond has water Lilly aka water lotus. Only thing is that they will absolutely take over if they are not contained. Anacharis will come back next spring as well. Not sure how but I finally got rid of the anacharis I had heard it couldn't be done. My ducks love the lotus and will kinda tear the Lily pads up a bit but are more interested in the stems and roots. And since these plants will both go crazy and take over I let them munch away....keeping all in check

 

[Tlmcq]

I fashioned a filter from an old pool pump I found at a yard sale. The old sand tank had an air leak so I removed it and drilled a hole for tube to fit in 5 gallon bucket. Filled 5 gallon bucket with pea gravel inside a mess laundry bag and used jigsaw to cut a piece from top side of bucket allowing water to flow out of bucket filtered and back into pond. It works but is ugly...lol. If you built up rocks around it and created a waterfall with water coming out of bucket it could be hidden tho. Got the idea from searching thru diy pond filtration on Google. I can also just grab bucket and move away from pond to pump water out of it if needed. Since I used a pool pump they can be expensive to run constantly so I use it after the ducks have stirred everything up. Run it a few hours to cycle the water a few times and then turn it off. Next day you can see to bottom of pond. The water is not Crystal clear like a fish tank or swimming pool but it is cleaner than any natural pond out there.

 

[Kusanar]

Get some bottom feeders. I have a 75 gallon set up I rarely vacuum the gravel and only biological filtration, no power head or anything. I have breeding African Cichlids in my tank so everyone must be happy...lol Water is Crystal clear.

I am trying to get my pH straightened out. Our tap water is almost off the charts high when testing with the api kit. I added some peat to try to bring it down, and it's working, but my fish is swimming around in tea colored water (apparently a good thing for a betta anyway), just bought a light hood, and will likely be draining the tank and putting peat UNDER the gravel to keep working on the pH without it floating everywhere and gunking up the filter. I also have about 9 moss balls in there and one little baby plant that I don't know what it is, but it was marketed as a "betta plant" and was 3 little bulbs in the pack, only one has come up, so I need to dig the other 2 up before they rot...