Pond filtering/emptying questions

[mom2jedi]

In the very early pre-planning stages of considering ducks. Love the above ground yard timber ponds I've seen others post and will most likely go that route instead of trying to dig in the clay soil we have here in sunny San Diego. One plan I saw didn't have a filter, just a drain. Another is in the building process and they are putting a filter in a separate box. I am trying to determine how often the pond would need to be drained if it did versus did not have a filter and it was large (say 4'x8') and I only have two ducks (at the most 4). I want to use the duck water for our garden and because we are such a dry climate conserving water as much as we can is encouraged. Would a pond that size stay clean enough for twice a week emptying or would it need to be every other day? If I'm emptying it that often would I still need a filter? Or is the filter what allows the pond to stay relatively clear for every other day/twice a week emptying?

Also, since I have such cruddy soil, grass in the run just would not survive for long. To prevent stinky mud puddles, is pea gravel or sand a good substrate?

 

[Scottingitup]

Go with gravel, sand will get dragged into the pond causes further filtration problems.

 

[TLWR]

I didn't want to dig through rock hard clay either.
How deep are you thinking of going with a 4x8 - just consider gallons and how often you are filling that. I hope that I'm not having to drain a 950 gal pond too very often, even if I am using that water in the veggie garden.
I'll be using non sand around it and on the steps going in - probably rock, but haven't gotten that far yet.
Just got home from work and changed so I'm about to go out and start filling mine! Won't be ready for ducks for a little bit yet though.


My 3 ducks' current pool is the kiddie one with a slide. I go about 4 days and now that it is hot out, it HAS to be emptied no later than day 4. I don't fill it all the way either - but it turns green with floating algae. Even the ducks avoid it LOL

 

[mom2jedi]

Quote:
Yours is the one I'm watching! LOL Hm, that is a lot of water. Wasn't thinking about that part! Huh, now I might have to rethink the whole thing.

I'm not going to be using that much water for the garden, not by a long shot.

Well, how much water do ducks need? I mean, I've seen all the kiddie pools ppl use and hate having to dump them so they eventually go to a pump type system. Am I thinking too big maybe? Would 2 ducks not need that much space? Or would having it large keep it clean longer? Ugh.

 

[Sore Thumb Suburbanite]

I don't think you would need to completely drain the pool to clean it to an acceptable standard, if you drain enough for watering every day as well as add fresh water often (I'm in orange county and the water evaporates so fast out of pools, I imagine its the same for ponds too) and have a filter to boot, you should be fine. I'm planning on putting in some mosquito fish and plants into the pond I'm building next month, I really want it to be more on the natural side and not just for ducks.

I think if you have a few ducks you can half the size of your pond too, so a 4x4 pond with a garden watering hose attached to the drain with a filter should be really easy to manage.

 

[TLWR]

Quote:
Seemingly, not much

I filled up the small cement mixing bin for Blue since it is easier for her while her wing heals. I had all 3 in there yesterday and again when I got home today. I'm sure that's what they played in all day as their big pool and the one next to the garden are green - I'll drain those for them tomorrow and refill.

oh yeah, the pic

 

[CO-OP_COOP]

what kind of duck is the grayish=blue one?

 

[jason_mazzy]

If you dig a nice size pond you may be able to get away with an aerator instead of a filter. add some mosquito fish and you will have duck heaven.