Making a pond filter is not that difficult. If you follow the proper guideline, you can easily build your pond filter. In this guide, I will discuss how to build a koi pond Filter. So let’s get started.
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How to Make Homemade Filter for a Fish Pond
A trash bucket can be turned into an effective koi pond filter. This filter is capable of handling any size of koi pond. This is a great idea to make a homemade filter.
Tools Needed to Build Trash Can Filter
For making this filter you will need a 10-gallon trash can. The trash can must be durable and heavy-duty. For filtration, you need to buy a high-quality pump. Here I will recommend you to use the J BAY DCT Marine Pump which is quite small and efficient. It will take less space inside your koi pond. This pump has come with a well-functioned controller.
Through this controller, you can easily speed up and down the water flow. For the media of your trash can filter you can use little cheap sponges. You will find these sponges in any hardware shop or fishery. You can also use regular pot scrubs.
You also need a polybag along with the sponges. Remember one thing, never use fire-resistant poly bags. You will find this kind of polybag on Amazon or Walmart. You will also need to manage lava rocks for the media.
The other material and tools needed for building the trash can koi pond filter are: Trash can lid, 1-inch uniseal, 90 degrees, and T-shaped PVC connector, 1 inch PVC, 1 inch PVC End Cap, drill bits, PVC cutter, terracotta pot, any kind of basket with hole, etc. Now let’s dip into the building process.
How to Build Trash Can Pond Filter
At first, build a hole in the lid of your trash can. Now position the trash can along with its lid next to your koi pond. Put the trash can on a steady flat surface. Otherwise, it will crack and leak. Now you have to make another two holes so that the water from the filter pours down into the pond.
Now take the uniseal and attach it inside the whole of the trash can. Uniseal is meant to fit this kind of curved plastic surface and they can easily pop right into the trash can. It controls the direction of the water flow.
Now it is time to set up the pump. The jBAY DCT Marine Pump will help to filter your pond over 10 times in an hour. You have to attach the PVC pipe right onto the pump. Now you have to put the pump into the water.
If you put the pump directly on pond water, it will drain the water of your entire pond. For preventing this problem you can take another plastic trash can and drill a bunch of holes in it. This plastic can will work as an overflow.
The water will fill in and fall from the trash can. And then the water will go to your pump and go up. It will just drain that trash can and the rest of your water is safe. You can also use a terracotta pot instead of a trash can.
Now you have to measure the PVC attached to the pump and cut the rest using a PVC cutter. After that, you need to attach the 90-degree elbow, another piece of PVC, and another 90-degree elbow one by one. And finally, attach another pump. And put the whole pump into the hole of the trash can lid. Now, the pond water will go into the filter.
For making the filter return you will need a couple of more pieces of PVC. Put PVC into another two holes of the bucket. Don’t forget to use uniseal to prevent water from leaking. Filtered water will return to the pond from this PVC.
For making the media, you have to put a terracotta pot and some lava rocks inside the trash can. Then put the sponges inside a basket and put in on top of the pot. Now put the polyfill on it. Polyfill will work as padding.
Bog Filters in a Barrel
For making a bog filter in Barrel you will need a strong barrel, heavy-duty, and UV stabilized. For the plumbing, you need to have two t-shaped PVC and two unseals a PVC pressure pipe, a couple of elbow fittings, a hose, and one ball valve.
The setup of the filter is very easy. You can use a pump according to your need. At first, drill a hole under the barrel, attach the initial, and put the PVC pipe into it. This is the cleanout pipe of the filter. Attach the valve with the PVC pipe. Attach a hose pipe on another side of the valve. This hose will drain the filtered water right down to the bottom.
Now you have to set up the pipe for the inflow. A t-shaped PVC is attached at the bottom of the pipe. This pipe allows the solid materials to settle on the bottom of the filter while the clean water rises to the top and returns to the pond.
Another t shaped pipe should be attached vertically at the top of the pipe to prevent the water from draining out of the filter. Now you have to put rocks and gravel inside the filter. This will become a shelter for the good bacteria that keep the water clean.
You should use the large rocks at the bottom of the filter and smaller rocks onto it to create plenty of empty areas. In these areas, the solid materials will be stuck.
How to Make a Vortex Pond Filter
Vortex pond filters are very effective for koi ponds. This filter removes most of the waste materials from the water. In the vortex, filter water creates a whirlpool due to gravity, and all the debris and waste particles dropdown at the bottom of the filter chamber.
To make the pond filter system, you need to buy a vortex cone from the store. Make sure the size of the pond is suitable for your pond. Now measure the vortex cone from the top cone to the bottom and mark a point at 32 inches distance from the top.
Now you have to use a drill machine to drill the point. Make a 4-inch diameter hole. This hole is for setting up the inlet pipe. This pipe lets the waste materials fall to the base of the vortex.
