My new biological filter

[Yvonne G]

This is a mini-version of what my neighbor built for my big pond. This one was built by my son-in-law and we used a heavy duty garbage can - $15, some PVC that we had on hand, a section of garden hose - $5, a sump pump - $50.

The garbage can:

The sump pump:

 

[ascott]

That is fricken sweet....I can neve wrap my mind around how to make one of those...I mean, I can do lots but for some reason my brain hits a dead zone somewhere between the idea and the hands....lol..

What size of trough is that Yvonne?

 

[Yvonne G]

600 gallon

 

[68merc]

Cute pond turtle. Have room for another?

 

[Yvonne G]

Cute pond turtle. Have room for another?

No thanks...this type of turtle has to live alone. She's quite grumpy.

 

[LindaF]

nice set up!

 

[Yvonne G]

I forgot to mention the filter material. I went to the Dollar Store and bought about $30 worth of those green pot scrubbers. I folded them in half (so they wouldn't stack together). I had to place them under something heavy overnight to make them stay folded in half. Then you toss them into the garbage can. The water circulates up from the bottom through the pads, good bacteria grow on the pads and over time eat the waste in the water.

 

[Brewster320]

Very nice snapper! How big is she? Mine isn't that large yet but I've been wanting to put him in a pond in the near future. Have you ever had problems with her claws tearing through the pond liner?

 

[Jacqui]

Cute pond turtle. Have room for another?

No thanks...this type of turtle has to live alone. She's quite grumpy.

Takes after her caretaker, I see! (even tho the caretaker is not the grump she wants us all to think she is)

So those flat square scrubbers?

 

[Yvonne G]

No, her claws don't tear the liner. Its quite thick. Also, I have gravel on the floor of the pond. She doesn't climb the sides.

Yes, the flat, green pot scrubbers similar to scotch brite.

 

[Saloli]

I like your filter a plant based bio filter I've built many of these. Yep Snappers are territorial. Is it an Eastern or Florida?

 

[acrantophis]

Very cool pics! I love snappers! Always wanted a big one like that in a pond like that. I have hatched several dozen wild babies as a kid and released them as 29 4" chompers into a nearby lake. The mother was hit on the road and in Bad shape. It was very traumatic for me. I could see the eggs so I put them in an incubator with a bunch of bearded dragon eggs. 102 days later they hatched!
Creative filter idea with the hyacinth. I keep a pond in which water lettuce grow like crazy. As soon as their roots hit the bottom they really flourish. Wondering, could you feed your water plants to your tortoises?

 

[Yvonne G]

Yes, the tortoises will eat the hyacinth, and its pretty nutritious.

 

[Nixxy]

Absolutely love it.

Snappers are so cute.