How to make a Mechanical Filter for your pond.
Mechanically Filtering means exactly that, you are mechanically taking out all of the suspended algae and particles that are in your water leaving it crystal clear. This does not affect the biology of the water, and therefore does not cause stress to the fish.
The parts you need to set up your mechanical filter are listed below:-
•
A submersible pump with hose outlet.
A submersible pump with hose outlet.•A delivery hose
A delivery hose•An old plastic bucket or trashcan
An old plastic bucket or trashcan•Assorted old clothing or material (NOT DENIM)
Assorted old clothing or material (NOT DENIM)•A piece of foam to fit into the bucket/dustbin
A piece of foam to fit into the bucket/dustbinFirstly you place the delivery hose on the pump making sure that the hose is long enough to reach from the bottom of the pond into the top of the bucket/dustbin when stood on the side of the pool.
Next take off the filter on the inlet of the pump, the filter housing should have something resembling a cleaning pad inside, take out this pad and place the housing back onto the pump. This stops any small fish or snails being pulled into the pump.
Place the pump into the deepest part of the pond, this will then pump up all the waste into the filter therefore cleaning the whole pond.
Take your bucket or trashcan and punch a few holes (at least 1) at least 1 inch in size into the bottom side of the container, stand it on the side of the pool so that the bottom of the container is just overlapping the edge of the pool, therefore any water that enters the container will exit back into the pond through the exit holes.
Half fill your container with old clothing or material and then fit the piece of foam over the top of this. Ideally drape a further piece of cotton linen over the top of the foam this creates 3 layers of filter medium.
Place your delivery hose from your pump into the top of the container and switch on your pump. Your dirty water should go through the filter medium and come out of the holes back into your pool. You will find that the water leaving the container is much cleaner than the water entering it.
The filter medium will need to be cleaned out every so often. It is best to turn off the pump and take the filter away from the pond. Then remove the filter medium and wash out under a hose. The more often this is done the quicker the pond will become crystal clear. Your pond should be markedly clearer in 24 hours and completely clear in up to 72 hours.
