Gravel vac info, please

[Jennie Beth]

Sorry if this info is in here somewhere already...I searched around and didn't find it, so here goes...

I have never had a pond/gravel vac and am interested in finding one to keep the build-up of fir needles at the bottom of my pond from fouling the water. Some questions..

1. I have seen them anywhere from 80-400$ What am I looking for?
2. Do they have enough suction that I need to worry about sucking up fish or my gravel? I am using a mixture of pea gravel and drainage rock (3/4").
3. Will they even work on a gravel bottomed pond? I did post a question in the pond forum, but no response...I may have phrased it poorly, not sure.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jen

 

[McLendon]

I may wrong but I have never known anyone that used a Vac on a pond.If may ask how big and deep is your pond

 

[Jennie Beth]

My pond is still under construction, but will be 8' diameter and 2' deep. I saw one advertised as a pond vac that uses a garden hose to provide the suction. Apparently it uses the hose water for suction but doesn't put any hose water into the pond(?) to keep from adding chlorinated water. It looked alot like a shop vac with a floor tool head on the end of the hose. My yard is surrounded by big old firs and they drip needles EVERYWHERE....

 

[Jennie Beth]

Here is a link to one I have seen...
http://www.lilyblooms.com/-c-33.html

 

[wannabefishguru]

did some research on drsfostersmith
these two might be what you are looking at
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5312+14808&pcatid=14808
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5312+14261&pcatid=14261
they are electric (kinda worries me) and can handle 3/8"debris
this one is from python
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5312+12830&pcatid=12830
non electric but i don't know how lage of debris it can handle, and the tube looks big.

if you have used a gravel vac in an aquarium, i am pretty sure that it is basically the same. i can't say that they wont suck up fish, i know i have with a standard siphon gravel vac but for gravel it is a matter of how much suction is being applied with the elcetric, the water one(python) can be controlled with the hose valve.

i hope this has helped.

ps with the python it won't add chlorinated water unless you want to(not recommend but can be in small amounts along with quick use of a dechlorinator(i must advise this is a quick and uneccesary action)

another website http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754885
under the picture of the packaging you will see on the left it has the hose with the water valve that you can swivle to open for suction or close for filling.

 

[Jennie Beth]

Thank you for the links and the info! Can you think of any reason I need a 250$ electric one over the 60-70$ water operated one? I figure I could rig a screen for the end of the nozzle to keep gravel out if that is a problem. Might have to clear it regularly, but that's not a big deal. Might even be able to rig an actual shop vac head to fit over that nozzle. Seems like about the same size...

 

[wannabefishguru]

i wouldn't spend $250, and for the rocks being sucked up i wouldn worry to much about that, if they do start getting sucked up i would just turn the water faucet down, and if they do get sucked up they would go into the container.

if you have more mechanical operating parts it has a greater chance of failure vs a simple water operated one.

 

[McLendon]

Two things I would make the pond 3' deep so it does not freeze
Next one of the nice things about a pond is that you really don't do things like clean the bottom gravel

 

[Jennie Beth]

I won't have a problem with all the needles decomposing in the water? I had a pond for about five years- moved and had to leave it - and never worried about the leaves and bits and pieces that ended up on the bottom, just netted them out occasionally, but these needles are about impossible to net. I know pine needles inhibit growth in 'land' plants, and I worried the fir needles might do the same to my pond plants as well as trashing the water for the fish.
See what happens when I start looking for information? My husband accuses me of over-thinking everything...I think he may be right. There I go, thinking again. Ahhh, blissful ignorance...

Oh, the new pond is an 8' diameter, 2' deep galvanized stock tank, so I can't go any deeper. Never had a problem with the old one, which was roughly the same depth, but MUCH prettier and more natural looking. It would ice over except where the falls landed, but not deep enough to be a problem, and not for very long. Sigh, I miss my pond...

ANYWAY, sorry for that. I tend to get chatty when I type!
I think I will bag the vac for now and just keep an eye on things. If it gets disgusting and things are unhappy, I will rethink the whole thing again!

Thaks again for the help,
Jen

 

[colinsk]

I know pine neadles inhibit ground plants by acidifying the soil. I don't know how that works in water. I would check the kH and make sure it does not drop. If it does you can add oyster shells or something to bring it back up.