duck pond filtration

[nathanmouse]

So Im getting ducks this spring. 5 to be exact. This is one aspect im not sure about, as ive had conflictin results from the internet. so our pond is (im going to try to describe it as well as possible) not moving water, its water level, though nearly flush with the ground, the water table is right below ground level. its circular, about 20 feet around, with a small island in the middle. it is 3-4 feet deep in all places, there is not really any slope from ground level to the bottom, its a straight drop, though past ducks have had no problem gettin in and out. so my dilema is, does it need to be filtered? And if so what kind of filtration system do i need? any help is appreciated.

 

[buff goose guy]

If you see in any way unhealthy water i would start to filter it.

 

[Amiga]

Start now designing your filtration system. Even a few ducks, with unlimited access, will overwhelm the pond with nutrients if there is nothing to remove them.

That said, take a look at aquackponics also called duckponics, look at OldGuy43's filter, there are some great ideas out there. You can probably use a solar powered fountain as part of the system - using the enriched water to grow food for yourselves or the ducks or both would be brilliant!!!!

 

[nathanmouse]

Start now designing your filtration system.  Even a few ducks, with unlimited access, will overwhelm the pond with nutrients if there is nothing to remove them.

That said, take a look at aquackponics also called duckponics, look at OldGuy43's filter, there are some great ideas out there.  You can probably use a solar powered fountain as part of the system - using the enriched water to grow food for yourselves or the ducks or both would be brilliant!!!!

thanks! Though the aquaponics thing sounds cool, I'm already going to have my hands fulldo you think one of those single unit filtration systems with a fountain and a box that sits at the bottom of the pond would work?

 

[norcalbirds]

No the ducks will have more load on that little filter! You need to figure out how much sun the pond will get a day. The more sun the worse it gets and the last thing u want is warm stinky water. I would build one out of any tote garbage can or similar water tight container. Put a inlet and out let with lava rock or filter beads and you got a great filter. Put the inlet in the top and let the water slowly go through the rocks for best filtration. There's a million ways to do this but it is cost effective and u can be very creative.

 

[nathanmouse]

No the ducks will have more load on that little filter! You need to figure out how much sun the pond will get a day. The more sun the worse it gets and the last thing u want is warm stinky water. I would build one out of any tote garbage can or similar water tight container. Put a inlet and out let with lava rock or filter beads and you got a great filter. Put the inlet in the top and let the water slowly go through the rocks for best filtration. There's a million ways to do this but it is cost effective and u can be very creative.

It took me a minute to process what you said but I think I get it. Your talking about having a container of sorts full if stuff for a filter, and using a water pump to get the water up to it, and letting it flow through the container and back into the pond?

 

[dheltzel]

Even with great filtration you will need a lot of maintenance, cleaning the filter and doing water changes. Somehow the poop needs to get out of the pond. Water changes are most efficient as long as using a lot of water is ok. The waste water is "polluted" by some standards, but if you can pump it into a garden or other place with plants you want to grow better, it is great. Organic gardeners make something called "manure tea", which is exactly what you will be pumping out of that pond.

 

[Amiga]

Have you looked at what OldGuy43 did? Definitely worth your time.

 

[nathanmouse]

Even with great filtration you will need a lot of maintenance, cleaning the filter and doing water changes. Somehow the poop needs to get out of the pond. Water changes are most efficient as long as using a lot of water is ok. The waste water is "polluted" by some standards, but if you can pump it into a garden or other place with plants you want to grow better, it is great. Organic gardeners make something called "manure tea", which is exactly what you will be pumping out of that pond.

Water changes are not going to happen. It's too big to do that, our well wouldn't be able to supply enough water, and if we were to let it fill naturally it would take a week.

 

[nathanmouse]

Have you looked at what OldGuy43 did?  Definitely worth your time.

looks cool, but our pond is definitely not a kiddy pool. Do you think it would work on our scale?