Maybe not the Answer?

[Flounder]

Quote: Originally Posted by MCA Heck If I were to use part of the output of the main water pump...I would do a vms and save half of the cost of parts. Even better...do a sieve.

Michael, how are you going to do a Cetus Sieve on a gravity flow BD?

No very easy, only way to do one was what Bill said has been done by the EA team but you'll need to split the line from your bd into the Sieve & then using another pump to bring that water back into the Nexus. This will end up costing more to run it since you'll need a sieve & another external pump.

Bill, hope you don't mind me posting this pic:

[MCA]

If someone needs a Cetus in front of an EAzy....at least one of those is not a great mechanical stage.

I will stick to 410 Answer.....or put a VMS inside an Nexus.

[MysticKoi]

Ryan... no problem!

This gravity-fed Cetus to gravity-fed Nexus design does have some interesting advantages, depending on configuration.

(1) If you have an Eazy version Nexus, then the Cetus/Nexus design provides an excellent way to more efficiently separate out solids, and increase intervals between maintenance.

(2) If you have an Answer 410 version Nexus, the Cetus design uses "less" energy than the Answer (using a Sequence 750).

(3) In either case, the Cetus has a distinct advantage over either Nexus version alone... the wastes are not only separated, but actually lifted up and out of the water (as opposed to settled out below the water line).

Of course there are some disadvantages as well... namely the setup takes up more room than a Nexus of either configuration. Still, a relatively small footprint for the performance achieved, yes?

Kind Regards,
Bill

[MikeM]

MCA: I do not use a sieve prior to my Nexus/EAzy, but I do use a vortex settlement chamber. I have to have a system that allows me to be gone for a week with no attention paid to the pond. Without the vortex, there would be real risk of algae glarf blocking the EAzy during the warmest periods of the year. Even when I'm not on the road or over-extended by late nights, I do not have time during the week to clean the EAzy, but I do have time to dump settlement in the vortex. I would like having sieves rather than a vortex because of their high efficiency. but my filter pit design and site limits would not accomodate it very well. Needed to have been planned that way from the beginning.

[MCA]

I fully understand. My small filter pit is packed with two nexus. I had to do half height showers above them....no floor space.

[koibooi]

Please educate this ignorant koi hobbyist and tell me what is a "VMS"?

I have two Answers inside my settlement chamber. Each Answer feeds a Nexus and each Nexus is fitted with an Easy. The mechanical filtration is therefore - Settlement > Answer > Easy.

One of the Answer pumps have packed up but with the above thread of plumbing a line from your return pump to the Answer, I was wondering if:
1) The remaining Answer pump can not drive both Answers?
2) I replace the 2 x 270 watt power hungry Answer pumps with one 250w pump and T them together inside the settlement chamber?

Any comments?

[MysticKoi]

Koibooi,

Do you live in the UK?

[koibooi]

No - in South Africa

[MysticKoi]

Have you contacted these guys for a replacement pump?

KoiCare
P O Box 4600,
Halfway House, 1685
Johnnesburg,
South Africa
Tel+27 083 652 3550
Fax+27 011 314 5172

Web Site ---> Home

Kind Regards,
Bill

[koibooi]

Yes - they do not have stock. EA stopped working with the original dealer from where I bought my Answer due to some sort of dispute. Only recently these new guys have come on the block after a lengty EA absence in this country and they do not have stock. They want to import a unit from the UK but it very heavy and the courier costs are going to be a furtune. The replacement pump plus courier now cost about the same as when I bought the entire Answer unit.

I have already had about 20 e-mails to Mike Shaw from EA dating back to 9 June 2007. As the unit broke in May this year it was just at the 2 year pump guarantee. Interesting that other Answer pumps have a 5 year guarantee but that is another story.

EA want the original invoice which I do not have. Which koi hobbyist keeps all their equipment invoices? You trust that the things should work and not pack up. Original dealer here have changed accounting systems and also do not have original invoice.

Bottom Line - I don't have the invoice so I can not get a warranty replacement. The local dealer has been changed and they do not have stock. I can get a replacement imported but the costs of the import and the unit is VERY expensive.

So my plans are:

1. Decomission both Answers and sell the spares locally
2. Get an alternative as per my suggestion at the top of running both Answers off one pump