I loved reading this too! As a result of reading these tips and techniques years ago, we always make a 'filter box' from a plastic file folder type container with a handle lid, we've also used shorter ones depending on the pump size. I like for the box to be twice the size or better than the pump. I use hubby's hole saw attachment for the drill to create many holes all over the container, leaving the bottom and a couple of inches of the bottom sides undrilled. I buy the nylon netting in the fabric department at Walmart for maybe 79 cents a yard and wad that up in the bottom, place the pump inside and route your power cable and pump output through the holes in the top. Stuff another wad of the nylon netting over the top and close the box. Sink it into the pond and finish your plumbing. I place a pot of iris or a decorative rock on top to disguise the filter. I do the whole thing for $10 or $15. I do leave the foam filter in place to prevent the netting being sucked into the intake. If you have fish, I highly advise rinsing all of the materials (plastic box and netting) just to be safe.

I have one of each as well as a very handy husband. this is an excellent combination! The external pump is a ? is it a Sequel? 750, and it's ultra quiet. It's at the far side of the pond, there are a few plants in front of it, and I only hear it when I walk around to the far side of the pond. We have a double settling chamber in front of it, which catches everything and has an easy valve for cleaning. Much recommended! It's all ground level, so the pump uses hardly any energy. The submersible is a small one on the skimmer. That one zooms softly, but it's small, so no issue. Taking the filter sponge out of the skimmer is messy, but because it's at the surface it's not hard to do. I always switch the little pump off for cleaning (daily in spring and fall), but even so, after reassembling the sponge and the leaf basket, little bits of stuff often get into the pump or through the pump to the spitters, where it clogs the spitter outlet. We never have anything get stuck in the external pump. DH is the one who brings the external pump in for the winter and puts it back outside in spring. Our winter cold would damage the external pump. We also bring the little internal pump in, since it's at the surface. If we had a big submersible at the bottom of the pond, we'd be able to leave it in the water (although not running) in the winter. :) Mary

I have around the same size pond about 8x13with a waterfall. I just bought a new pump Pondmaster 3200gph Pro-Hydrive submersible real quiet and uses about 180 watts got it at That Pet Place for $140. There is about 4ft rise and 18 feet of 2in. hose to waterfall.Here is a short clip of the waterfall that might be helpful to you on what size to get. Here is a link that might be useful: photo bucket

Hi comelague, This will be hard to describe accurately but here is an idea to think about. Build a side wooden gate into the side of the ditch with the the top equal to the bank height and the bottom 1/2 way to the bottom of the ditch. Outside that gate dig a deep hole and line it with concrete. This is your sump that collect clean water from the top half of the ditch. Make a debris screen at a 45 degree slope if you need to in the ditch. Put a submersible pump in the sump and pump to your trees. This system gets you cleaner water from the ditch and you can leave the gate open most of the time as long as the sump walls are higher than the ditch bank. When a storm comes close the gate if necessary to keep debris and silt out of your sump. Every few years pull the submersible out and clean the sump. You don't need drippers for trees. Just down size the lines to flow freely for the time you need to water the trees. You'll save electricity by irrigating more quickly and get better coverage to the larger root areas. A line with small holes punched in the line works just as good. JMHO. Aloha.