I've decided to take a couple of board out from the pond and drop in some large gravel beds to help with the filtering and also to get some plants back against the wall.
I picked up a couple of deep planters and after working out where the holes and connectors needed to be i got them set up. It looks a weird contraption but it should work with the lip sitting on the decking boards and the other ends supported with the plant pots under water.
I had to cut away part of the decking board so the planters fit without altering the covers. Got them cut, painted and set back in.
The planter on the right is the inlet compartment which will guide the water flow through to the compartment on the left where the exit holes are. In effect taking the water right through the gravel.
Here they are filled and working great. I'm hoping that this final stage of the filtering will make the water crystal clear.
I just need to get some plastic mesh to go in the middle under the water to protect the fish from the magpies .