[koiczar]

Quote: Originally Posted by JosephandGabby Slight change in plans… I picked up a 15’ X 4’ round aboveground pool this weekend. I’m planning to convert it to a grow-out pond after the summer. With over 5,300 gallons of swim area, I think it should do nicely. I plan to retrofit it with a 45mm EPDM pond liner before changing it over to accommodate fish. Filtration will be provided using a 440-gallon DIY filtration setup consisting of eight 55-gallon plastic barrels. To save money, I’m leaning towards using lavarock as media for bio-filtration. I can get as much lavarock as I want for free only 40 miles from home. All I have to do is load it in the truck and haul it away. Mechanical filtration will be provided by a DIY vortex and multiple layers of swamp cooler pads. At this point I don’t have any plans to add a UV clarifier, but I will definitely add a shade screen to guard against predators and to prevent algae blooms. My original plan to build a 10' X 10' X 4' above ground pond is officially scrapped - way TOO expensive! Expect photos and detailed plans to be posted in the Pond Construction section of my website very soon…

Joe

Your filtration is a concern. Using lava rock exclusively for bio isn't the best idea in the world. Remember, you get what you pay for - also, using "swamp cooler" matting - make sure it's safe for fish - most are made of different types of material which contain hazardous chemicals in their make-up. My recommendation would be using Japanese mat or Matala mat - the Matala could be used for both - black/green for mechanical and blue/grey for bio. The stuff is very easy to custom cut and holds up forever. It's also very easy to clean - simply shake it up and down in the filter, then remove the water. This media will actually give you much more square feet of surface area for bio-filtration than lava rock will.

Mike