I've gotten to the point where I am seriously toying with buying a half wine barrel as a pond. However, I'm not sure what to do with filtration. I've got lots of bio media left over from when my father and I made the trickle filter for the 5ft tank, so I would really like to utilise that. I'm planning on making another trickle filter... So it's like this (excuse my shit drawing):



Describing it: You're water sitting in the barrel. The pump sitting in the barrel sucks you in. It takes you out of the barrel, past a piece of foam (mechanical filter), onto a drip plate, which disperses you onto the bio media, then you fall into the sump. The pump in the sump sucks you out of the sump and pumps you back into the tank.
(Note: The seperate sump would pretty much be a replica of what we've got going for the 5ft tank.)

If anyone can think of a better system, where I wouldn't need two pumps, PLEASE let me know. I don't really want to spend the money on two pumps. :\
This pond would sit on the ground - so gravity for a siphon wouldn't be an option, unfortunately... I don't think? AND: I want my filter to be as discrete as possible.

Hmm... Now I'm looking at the filter on this page: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_2/cav...Garden_Pond.htm

I'm thinking that could work.
Obviously, because it's in the water, I wouldn't be able to have as many fish - but I wasn't really wanting that anyway. :)

Thoughts?

The only real problem I can see with your idea is that you are using two pumps, One to pump to the filter and one to pump back to the pond. The problems with that are that if the pumps do not pump identical amounts you will end up overflowing one of them and emptying the other. Also, if one fails, you will do the same and empty one. Your design would work if you use an overflow., From your current design you would make an overflow from the pond into the filter, and just pump the water back from the filter. You could put the filter above the pond and pump from the pond to the filter of course. As long as the final water level of one is lower than the other (or the same) then an overflow will work.

I would get two of the same pumps to eliminate them pumping different amounts - but I had never considered one dying on me. :S You're right. Probably not a good idea.

I don't know how I would coordinate an overflow while still making the thing look good? Or at least reasonable?

I was thinking of something like a giant HOB... But I wouldn't actually hang it on the back, I'd prop it up behind... Have a pump put the water into the filter, then have it overflow back out...



Does that sound better?
I just wouldn't know where to get something that shape to host the filter. :\


Then, the other option (as you suggested) is this:


However, I'm not sure how I would prevent water from just drooling down the sides of the barrel? I guess if I was using a liner, I might be able to make a bit of a lip on the side... But still not sure how successful that would be. :?:

Hmm try this, sorry no picture.

Tap the side of the wine barrel, near the top on one side, with holes big enough for a piece of 1 inch pvc. <one piece per hole> Have those positioned to pour into the bio tower in your filter container. Then run your return line into the barrel. Since the water will already have great gas exchange I would conside running the return line to the bottom of the barrel to promote circulation...

If your filter container's bottom is at the same level as the barrel's bottom you should be able to maintain near the maximum of the pump's out put. If you were really comfortable with your plumbing skills you could plumb the return line through the wall of the barrel close to the bottom. This would help stir up debris... Will try for a pic later if it is needed.

That sounds good, glavie. And I've been thinking about something like that. However, I'm unsure how I would get an effective seal between the barrel and the piping...? What would you recommend?

Are you lining the barrel?

I would think a good screw down compression fitting that tightens from both sides would work.

If you were lining the barrel then I would consider pvc solventing the liner to the fitting carefully.

Give a little more info and we can figure something out.

Yup, glaive hit it pretty much on the head with what I was thinking too.

Look for fittings called "Bulkhead" (or maybe "Bulk head") fittings. They are what you would use when putting plumbing into header tanks etc for house plumbing. They are also used by most people when doing drains for sumps on aquariums. They should give you a water tight fitting what ever way you do it through the side off the barrel.

Yep, my 5fter has a bulkhead on the side - but I'm not sure how well one would work with a rounded barrel? I've yet to actually get the barrel, I'm just planning. :lol: If the barrel leaks, I would line it - but otherwise it would be staying as is.

Thanks for all your help guys!

The individual slats on the barrel should be flat enough to get a bulkhead to seal.