This is a super easy filter from Adam’s pond.  It was created by Adam, 12, son of JWJ, so even grow-ups should be able to do this! Adam’s pond is a small 4 x 6 with a waterfall. You will have to adjust the bucket size to fit your needs. It took about a half hour to build and cost under $10, and is working great.

Step 1: Gather your equipment and materials needed.

   * suitable container with snap on lid
   * pre-cleaned lava rock
   * quilt batting
   * nylon scrub pads
   * pump and filter
   * nylon bag (grapfruit bag or lingerie bag)
   * wood burner or drill

Step 2: Prepare Container.

Adam simply took a wood burner and melted holes in a grid formate, into the top. He then melted holes in the bottom and side for the hoses, and another at the lip for the power cord.  A drill should work just as well.

Step 3: Place pump.

Place the pump with filter, into the bottom of the container, being sure there are no kinks in the hose.  Lay the power cord through the section at the top.

Step 4: Add Lava Rock.

Step 5a: Filter Material

Begin layer in filter materials. Start with a layer of quilt batting...

Step 5b: Filter Material

followed by a layer of nylon scrub pad...

Step 5c: Filter Material

followed by a layer of lava rock.  These were encased in a mesh bag (of any kind - be sure it won’t biodegrade) to make cleaning easier.

Step 5d: Filter Material

followed by another layer of nylon scrub pad...

Step 5e: Filter Material

followed by the last layer of quilt batting, tucked in around the edges.

Step 6: Placement in Pond.

Secure the snap-on style lid.  The filter is ready to be lower into the pond.  Once placed, let it sit a minute or two to allow it to fill with water, then turn it on!

That’s all there is to it!

Notes: Cleaning

Adam had a heck of a time finding good diagrams and easy-to-follow directions  for filters that he could build at a minimal cost. That’s where this one popped up from; it was so simple and took less then a half hour to make.

I do need to warn you: when we first put this in we did have to clean it a couple of times a day until our water cleared up.  Clean up is pretty easy though, Adam just takes out the layers and hoses them off. Now that it’s clear, we have found we can get away with just popping off the lid and hitting it with the jet stream from a hose until it runs clear out of the bottom.

Instructions and photos by Adam and Mom (JWJ) with direction by Adam.  Any questions can be posted through Garden Web, or directly to oscar_the_snowman@hotmail.com



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