mucky water

Hi noksucow, well, I dug my wildlife pond in '93 after doing some research and decided against using a filter and pump as I wanted to use more natural means to keep it in balance. I can honestly say that it's stayed clear and clean since the first day after the water settled after filling.
So having no experience in the area of filters and pumps I can't help.
Having said that, you posted several times on the subject of keeping a pond clear and in balance and I, and others, have given advice to plant marginals, oxygenators etc in sufficient numbers around the pond. That system will give you a pond in balance and almost Gin clear water if you plant enough marginals etc to take the nutrients out of the water and stop algae from using those nutrients to grow and make your water murky once the plants start to establish themselves..