Pond Filters and pumps

[nickle_pickle]

Help! I have no idea what I’m doing (how’s that for a plea for help?). Right now, it’s pretty cold outside and my dbt is indoors. Last summer, I made this pseudo raised pond/enclosure for her and it had a cheap little pond filter and pump (I think it was a pondmaster 1000). I think the total setup cost about $70. Of course, she also got pneumonia and I nearly lost her, and there was a time when all the fish floated to the top. She did have several airstones, too. Um…I think my setup could use improvement. It looked like it didn’t know if it should be an aquarium or pond. So I need suggestions: 1-what’s a decent pond filter and pump? I need one that’s a reasonable price range, preferably under $150 (I could find it cheap on Bigalsonline). 2-do I need additional aeration or would putting something like a fountain head work? 3-does she need heat in her water (she does when she’s indoors)? We’re in Iowa. She rarely comes out of the water when she’s outside. 4-plants. Does she need them or will she just get tangled in them? This is not a decorative pond in the slightest, so it doesn’t have to be pretty as much as it has to be functional. On the downside, I can’t tell you how many gallons our pond thing is but it’s about the size of a small-medium kiddie pool and 18-24 inches deep. She has a sandy basking area and a slate basking area that RARELY uses but we’ve caught her there. Thanks!

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