Will a pond boxed filter slow the water flow rate to my waterfalls?

[fishkill]

I am finishing my 2 ponds interconnected to each other by a waterline supplied by a submersible pump. I plan to add a contained filter but I am afraid this will slow the flow rate and water can't reach my 4' tall waterfalls. I bought a 3500L/hr pump but havent bought the contained filter yet. On the way back of the water cycle I am using a gravity filter of 2 smaller ponds with foam, plants and gravel, filter cloths connected by a creek. Will an enclosed filter hinder water flow? Guys selling me equipment have no idea. Help!

 

[sohfatfish]

It would definitely hinder water flow in the sense that all 3500 litres of water wont be flowing thru the filter per hour. Friction, pressure and blockage in the filter media will all cause a slow down in flow rate.

 

[guppy]

If you enclose your intake pipe in a submerged box filter made from a 10g (approx) lidded plastic tub, like rubbermaid makes, that contains a screen, five gallons worth of coarse sponge, a divider made from eggcrate, and 5 gallons worth of lava rock, you will have a basic box filter that won't impede your flow by all that much. Reducing the diameter of your uplift tubing to the waterfalls should allow you to maintain a 4' lift even if the flow is reduce a bit, everything is a trade off, the more filter you use the greater the reduction in flow but the more often you need to service your filter. I have used a similar rig in a 4'x8'x2.5' above ground pond, with weekly cleaning of the sponges, with good results.

 

[fishkill]

thanx aLot guppy and sohfatfish......nice input..... can't buy this Sera encLosed pond fiLter for quite a sum and sacrifice my very nice waterfaLLs........i opt for an overhead fiLter instead (hidden of course) and have another submersible pump excLusivLy for the water cycle of the both ponds being fed thru waterfaLLs...im puttin up a webpage for this setup so u can view dem nice project[/SIZE]....by the way im an artist and a landscaper

 

[sohfatfish]

Oohh cool.. we love to see the picts once its done up. Glad to be of assistance to you.