Pond Filtration Ideas

[kent wallace]

The prefiltration before the Nexus isn't as much of an issue as prefiltration before the pump. A Nexus has it's own prefilter in the center. Direct suction is a high maintenance way to go with the constant cleaning of the leaf traps on the pumps. I'd suggest a Static Suction Prefilter before the pumps which will trap all large debris from the bottom drains and reduce leaf trap maintenance tremendously.
The skimmers are a different story. Gravity flow from two 1 1/2 inch skimmer lines will give you about 1000 gph at a one inch drop so you're stuck with direct suction there. This isn't as much of an issue because what gets past the skimmer baskets is largely bouyant and neutrally bouyant fine particles. You could go with a pressurized bead filter or an open fines filter with gravity flow back to the pond. An easy pod is one type of open filter but Kaldness or any other open floating media would not be my first choice for fines filtering.

[gcuss]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lam Nguyen Thanks Grant. Appreciate your input.

I don't think you'd need more air, but the bottom drain air would help pull debris to your drains.

I think I agree with Kent though on my initial thoughts regarding fines filtration. I think mine has improved with the addition of the easy pod. However, I'm also going through spring time fun with my water, so the improvement may not have been as dramatic in the summer once the water had already cleared and the other filters are running full tilt.

I'll be paying attention to some suggestions regarding media type as I'm installing a new spillway in my pond downstream from my filters and I was going to add some media in the spillway as a final polisher for the water... (the spillway is totally DIY so I can accommodate just about any media that's suggested)


Grant

[kent wallace]

The absolute very best for water polishing is an upflow sand and gravel filter with an air blower for cleaning. Fines filtering is about the density of the media and the rate at which you push water through it. A 55 gal drum sized filter shouldn't flow more than about 1800 gph if it's job is is water clarity. After that it's about a fine mesh and how easy is it to clean. The fine cut "bactitwist" at 3/32nds of an inch wide is my next favorite. Both of these out perform open floating media hands down. Try to keep a flow rate of approx 630 gph for each 1 sq ft of crossection surface area (either diameter in a round tank or side X side of pads or matting in a square tank). The faster water travels through any media the less the media will be able to trap.