The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: kate7590 on January 08, 2015, 03:37:24 pm

Title: Pond filter/ pump for duck pond
Post by: kate7590 on January 08, 2015, 03:37:24 pm
We really want to dig a proper pond for the ducks in the orchard. does anyone else have a pond with a pump/ filter that doesn't need emptying and cleaning constantly?
Title: Re: Pond filter/ pump for duck pond
Post by: Womble on January 08, 2015, 03:45:08 pm
What's the purpose of the pump?  Is it for filling / emptying the pond, or just for recirculating the contents via the filter to clean up the water?
Title: Re: Pond filter/ pump for duck pond
Post by: kate7590 on January 08, 2015, 04:46:30 pm
Just for keeping it clean :)
Title: Re: Pond filter/ pump for duck pond
Post by: kipper on January 08, 2015, 05:23:10 pm
Im interested on the replys for this one as ive just bought a 10 foot x 10 foot x 4 foot deep solid plastic pond for my ducks and geese but not got as far as thinking about filters etc
I was thinking about possibly a bottom drain as they are messy and will soon turn the water to pea soup so i thought empty it completely every few weeks and refill

Good luck with your project
Title: Re: Pond filter/ pump for duck pond
Post by: Womble on January 08, 2015, 05:26:27 pm
Well, I've used a hydrocyclone before for something similar in an industrial setting:


(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Hydrocyclone-cross.png)


I've never thought what I'd use on a duck pond though. 


Any sort of cloth filter, sand filter etc is going to block pretty quickly, and then have to be cleaned out like you say (nice!!).  The advantage of something like the hydrocyclone is that it operates automatically to blows the sludge clear, usually on a timed cycle.


How deep are your ducks' pockets?  ;D
Title: Re: Pond filter/ pump for duck pond
Post by: kate7590 on January 09, 2015, 07:46:28 pm
Any idea of websites i can check out for what id need and to get a rough price? :)
Title: Re: Pond filter/ pump for duck pond
Post by: hughesy on January 13, 2015, 05:41:59 pm
Any attempts at keeping a duck  pond clean by filtering will be futile. It's hard enough to keep a fish pond clean and they aren't constantly carrying mud and shite into the water.
Title: Re: Pond filter/ pump for duck pond
Post by: roddycm on January 13, 2015, 06:00:42 pm
I went to buy some hens from a chap a few years ago and he showed me his other animals... I was really impressed at how clean his duck pond was (he had several call ducks in a pen with a fiberglass fishpond) so I asked him if he had just cleaned it, he said he hadn't cleaned it for months. His secret was a UV filter and a bunch of koi carp that ate most of the emmmm "waste"... I never tried it, but i always remember it! Maybe google would have more details on this idea!