Designing for Outdoor Water Feature

[meepokman]

I have an outdoor water feature that was "decommissioned" as it was too troublesome to maintain. Now that I know more about maintaining a tank, I'm looking forward to apply my "knowledge". I have come up with a rough idea and would like to hear everyone's opinions.

Tank
24in x 24in x 5in. (approx. 48.5L)

There is an immersed water pump (Dymax PH 800) that pumps water up (800L/hr) over the water feature.





Challenge

1. The water feature is in the garden, hence it collects a lot of organic matters in the water (e.g. leaves).
2. The water is exposed to high light & heat throughout the day.
3. Due to the decomposing organic matter, the water is rich in nutrients. Along with the sun, the water feature suffers from serious algae problems. (We used to put bleach in the water to combat the algae. That explains the "white" markings on the water feature.)

Design layout

(1) Dymax PH800
(2) External canister filter
(3) Frogbits

Design Considerations
(1) The water pump will be drawing water from the "bottom of the diagram".
(2) The external canister inlet and outlet (coupled with the water pump) are placed such that it creates a clockwise water flow.
(3) Frogbits are added to "deplete" the nutrients in the water.
(4) A rigid plastic mesh will be added across the back so that the frogbits won't clog up the water pump and canister filter.
(5) Canister filter to
- remove finer debris through mechanical filtering
- convert ammonia to NO3.
(6) A rigid plastic mesh will be used to cover the top of the water to prevent larger organic matter to fall into the water and still allow sunlight to enter.


P.S. Anyone know where I can get rigid plastic mesh?

Existing Challenge
(1) I'm hesitant to add fishes in. I need to think of a way to combat mosquitoes breeding.

Comments?

[Urban Aquaria]

You can just put 2-3 endler guppies in the pond to help eat mosquito larvae... they will do the job well (and also nibble on some hair/thread algae too) and the overall bio-load would still be relatively minimal (just feed them a few micro pellets every few days as supplement).

Once you see a layer of green algae film form on the pond surfaces, add in a few nerite snails to eat the algae (they wouldn't breed so no risk of population overload).

Along with frogbits, try to add other smaller floating plants like salvinia natans or minima, those tend to grow much faster and soak up more nutrients, helps fill in the gaps too.

[meepokman]

UA,
thanks for the recommendations. May I ask
(1) why endler guppies as suppose to normal guppies?
(2) are nerite snails totally aquactic? Would they climb out into the garden?
(3) I'm chose frogbit as they are big and can be easily prevented from choking the pump. I'm not acquainted with salvinia natan and minima. Are they easily available in Singapore?

[Urban Aquaria]

UA,
thanks for the recommendations. May I ask
(1) why endler guppies as suppose to normal guppies?
(2) are nerite snails totally aquactic? Would they climb out into the garden?
(3) I'm chose frogbit as they are big and can be easily prevented from choking the pump. I'm not acquainted with salvinia natan and minima. Are they easily available in Singapore?

Endlers stay smaller so less bio-load, more suitable for smaller ponds.

Nerite snails are tidal creatures and do climb out of water occasionally, but they usually then climb back in after a while. If they somehow drop outside the pond, then just pick them up and put back into the water.

You can usually get salvinia natans/minima at most LFS in packets, just check with them. Some LFS may even give you a few clumps for free from their retail tanks too.

[jiajuen900]

Since the pond is shallow, you could try to grow some plants emersed as well. Many echinodorus species will flower nicely in their emersed form.
You could plant them in small pots.

[fireblade]

hi there,

one thing to note is your filter intake and output...think should split them further apart rather then side by side..
maybe you should wash the feature a few times before adding fish just in case the chemical residue is still active after you add water.

[meepokman]

Fireblade, I'm wondering why you suggest placing intake and out take further apart?

[mUAr_cHEe]

Do you have a vision of what you would like the final product to be? Just your water feature running as it was? Clean and pristine?

I always had a vision that a 'nice' outdoor water feature to have is to have one with some algae growing at the water flow parts to give it that 'aged' look. I would run it as it is (without canister), then maybe add rocks with some anubis or wisteria tied to the 'tub'. Apart from drawing nutrients from the water, this also provides cover and shelter to your fishes from predators: cats and birds. I am speaking from experience here.

Although it is a good suggestion from Idol regarding Salvinia Nattans, I do not really recommend any floating plants. This is just my personal preference. I think it would spoil the look of your water feature, and the little plants might get sucked into your pump since your 'tub' is rather small and shallow unless you have some kind of sponge filter running. With natural sunlight, your floating plants would also grow at an exceptionally fast rate especially during the 'dry' months of our little red dot.

Keeping in mind that your tub is small and shallow, pls take note that your water temperature will also fluctuate much more. It can get really warm during the day, 30 plus degrees and really cold at night, low 20s. So you fish choice have to be hardier, guppies and endlers are fine. If you do not really care for what fish or whether you see the fish or not, I would suggest getting darker-coloured fish so that predators will not notice. You can also put a couple of Malayan shrimps in to control your algae in your tub, hard-working, hardy and almost invisible. But I do not know how they will do in the long run. I can imagine that the only problems are being eaten (unlikely since they are almost invisible), temperature (unlikely since this is their natural weather but maybe they are found deeper in the wild) and jumping out (possibility since tank is rather shallow and dependent on 'tub' mates.)

I am trying something similar actually right now but my limits are not as restricted as yours. Let me know if you want Salvinia Nattans. I got too much of them now in my outdoor 'tub'.

[mUAr_cHEe]

(6) A rigid plastic mesh will be used to cover the top of the water to prevent larger organic matter to fall into the water and still allow sunlight to enter.


P.S. Anyone know where I can get rigid plastic mesh?

Some neighbourhood hardware shops do carry but those higher-classed DIY Hardware shops at the shopping malls definitely carry.

I noted in your pictures, you do not get that many big leaves dropping around your water feature. The smaller leaves are fine and do not really require a plastic mesh to keep your water 'clean'. How bad are the falling leaves? Is there really alot? Is it from a tree from your garden or from outside? If it is a tree from your garden, then perhaps you can get your gardener to move it or perhaps change to another tree that does not drop as much leaves?

[fireblade]

for better water circulation...

Fireblade, I'm wondering why you suggest placing intake and out take further apart?

[meepokman]

@muar_chee,

thanks for the suggestions.

The water feature is really more of a "feng shui" item than as a decorative fixture. Hence, I don't have a vision for it other than easy maintenance (no algae, no smelly water). I used to have a small eco-system in the "tub". I went overseas once for 2 weeks, only to return to find the upright cylinder covered in long (>30cm) hair algae.

I'm aware of the possibility of floating plants choking the water pump and filter, that's why I have an additional mesh behind as a form of mechanical filter. I'm not in favour of sponge as it decreases water flow into the pump and filter.

I presume I really need lots of plants to deplete the nutrients in the water to minimise (not eradicate) algae growth.

Malayan shrimp is an interesting suggestion. Do they get along with guppies?

[mUAr_cHEe]

The water feature is really more of a "feng shui" item than as a decorative fixture.

That is what I figured. From a concerned feng shui believer to another, I hope no big difference has happened since you stop running that water feature. If so, then you got to get it running as soon as possible. Just tap water and running it first is better than nothing. We can figure out the rest later. My family suffered a huge shift in the luck department when my dad has to shut down his fish pond with a 2 metre waterfall and all.

Hence, I don't have a vision for it other than easy maintenance (no algae, no smelly water). I used to have a small eco-system in the "tub". I went overseas once for 2 weeks, only to return to find the upright cylinder covered in long (>30cm) hair algae.

Do not belittle algae. As unslightly they are in tanks, they can also be a welcomed addition in water features like that. If you think about it, they are actually your natural plants. No planting whatsoever, they just grow out as the conditions are right for them. They also minimize splashes since they provide a route for the water to flow.

I'm aware of the possibility of floating plants choking the water pump and filter, that's why I have an additional mesh behind as a form of mechanical filter. I'm not in favour of sponge as it decreases water flow into the pump and filter.

Very true. It would then also depend on how you are going to place the mesh too. But you are right, that never occured to me before. I like where this is going.

I presume I really need lots of plants to deplete the nutrients in the water to minimise (not eradicate) algae growth.

True and false. You never know how much nutrients will be in the water unless you actually start running the feature. Even with some shrimps and small fishes, the bio-load will not be that much to really cause a big algae problem.

Malayan shrimp is an interesting suggestion. Do they get along with guppies?

Yes. They do.

[jiajuen900]

Does the water feature heat up on a hot afternoon? Should consider if the temperature might get too high for plants and fish. I had a smaller water feature that would heat up at midday and it practically killed anything I tried to put in.

[fireblade]

please note that the canister might not function properly unless it is those that have a pump installed as the water in the water feature is quite low and the gravity force might not be strong enough to move the water.

[alexhaw]

Hope I can have a space to do that .

[meepokman]

Hope I can have a space to do that .

I'm not sure if you really want a space like that

It's giving me more stress than relieving any.

[meepokman]

Updating on the project.



Most of implementation went according to plan except for the filter.


Added what I believe are frogbits to reduce nitrites.
Installed plastic mesh to keep leaves from falling into the water. Seems to be working very well.


Wanted to buy a cheap 2nd hand canister filter but none was available. Ended up making one.
$3.00 for a 4L plastic box from Toyogo.
$3.00 for the 2 baskets that fit snuggly into the box.
$7.00 for a water pump.
$7.50 for media.
$3.00 for water pipe.

A DIY, outdoor filter for approx $25.00.



My water feature seems to be plagued with this tiny red worms. Difficult to get a clear picture due to the water ripples.
But I noticed that appear at the bottom if there are decomposing material in the water.
(1) Any one has any idea what worm is it?
(2) Pest or friendlies? How to control them (naturally)?

[Urban Aquaria]

Nice DIY overhead box filter.

You can look at camouflaging it by attaching foam/resin rock or wood panels on the sides and top... or maybe even just drape a camo net over it.

The red worm could just be an earthworm that happen to fall into the water, if its really thin and thread-like, might also be tubifex? Both are harmless anyways, they'll usually get eaten up once you add fishes into the water feature.

[fireblade]

nice job done!
I foresee 1 problem with the filter.. that is algea attack in the filter, maybe you can paste oyama black paper all round to minimise the chnace of that.
recently saw someone selling lots of canister filters...

check this out.. I am in no connection with the sellers..
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...hers-clearance
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ent-Eheim-2217

[meepokman]

Nice DIY overhead box filter.

You can look at camouflaging it by attaching foam/resin rock or wood panels on the sides and top... or maybe even just drape a camo net over it.

The red worm could just be an earthworm that happen to fall into the water, if its really thin and thread-like, might also be tubifex? Both are harmless anyways, they'll usually get eaten up once you add fishes into the water feature.

UA thank you.

Where can we find cheap foam/resin rock/wood panel?

I went online to search and confirm what I have is tubifex. However, now I'm hesitant to add fish in as I'm trying to make it very low maintenance.

nice job done!
I foresee 1 problem with the filter.. that is algea attack in the filter, maybe you can paste oyama black paper all round to minimise the chnace of that.
recently saw someone selling lots of canister filters...

Yes, I agree that the filter is susceptible to algae attack. In fact, it is very likely that will happen.

I'm torn between covering it up w/ oyama or resin and leaving it clear for easy monitoring.

I saw the posts on the canister as well. I'm under the impression that Eheim canisters need to be placed below water level for it to work well. That is not possible for my outdoor water feature. Additional, I'm not quite sure I'm ready to put such an expensive filter outdoor and expose it to the elements