Started researching filtration. Such a vast subject and so much out there already. People have contributed so much to this subject that this little blog neither does it justice nor wants any credit.
One thing that I decided from early in the beginning is that some form of filtration is needed. I went to take a look at a ready made you bute filter that was suppose to handle the size of the pond - the fellow at the pond shop was nodding his head and I was shaking it. Neither the price nor the size convinced me that it is worth getting. I have seen ponds turn green very quickly, my father had one, and that algae can clog any filter in hours. A little thing the size of a bucket is not going to cut the mustard - I dont believe it and its not cheap to experiment with. Something that a previous owner did say too was, when its cold and went you don't want to be fiddling with 'O' rings making sure that it has sealed properly.
So I quickly moved to a biological filter. These consist of a chamber with media which relative to its volume has a large surface area. The media can be anything from pea gravel, larva rock, kitchen scourer, chopped up conduit etc anything to increase the surface area so that the 'good' bacteria can colonise and digest. Apparently the good bacteria also consumes nitrates in direct competition to algae hence the growth of algae is controlled. I also am a firm believer that some form of mechanical filtration is still required prior to the water is forced through the bio filtration media. Notice I said forced as again I do not believe that if you had to pour the water from the top and rely on gravity alone will work, after a while water will not go down through the bio media filter.
One drawback which I think is also important is aesthetics. These things may work but some of the web sites I have seen look more like a reverse osmosis plants.
So the defining criteria are;
1) Must work successfully
2)Must be easy to clean
3) Must look good
So to cut a long story short I have come up with something which I believe encompasses all three.
My research and quite interesting to look at too:
http://www.geocities.com/ghawkins_ca/barrelfilter.html
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/filters/myfilter.html
http://leisure.prior-it.co.uk/build-diy-pond-bio-filter.shtml#buildit (very good)
http://www.skippysstuff.com/biofiltr.htm
http://www.josephandgabby.com/pond/diyfilters.htm
http://www.exit109.com/~gosta/pond.sht (very good and practical)
