A little $$$ pond filtration upgrade

[zek]

Good job Ethan. It's a low cost mod that improved the pond considerably. The additional depth will likely save your fish some winter.

There are very few people out there that don't look at their pond and think about what they will do next time when they renovate. Most people plan on our kids educations, etc, etc..., and improvise to one extent or another. It's all part of the journey and getting there is half the fun.

Nothing wrong with pond mutts either as long as they are friendly. The shy ugly ones though...

[velvetbone]

Ethan,
I can't give any advice. But still being in the planning stages it was educational for me to watch your mod proccess.
You decided to go with the narrower cinder block for space savings.
The filter pit that you built was 4ft deep by 6 ft long. Correct?
How wide?
How are the walls of the pit holding up?
Did you, or do you now think a drain is needed in the filter pit?
If you have a drain or think one is needed what diameter would you suggest?

Thanks for sharing your project. I am getting closer to beginning my dig.
It is nice to know you can get help on this forum!!

By the way good luck with the little one they grow up way too fast!!
Be sure that you followed Lizardbreaths advice.

Vince

[Ethan25]

Quote: Originally Posted by velvetbone Ethan, I can't give any advice. But still being in the planning stages it was educational for me to watch your mod proccess. You decided to go with the narrower cinder block for space savings. The filter pit that you built was 4ft deep by 6 ft long. Correct? How wide? How are the walls of the pit holding up? Did you, or do you now think a drain is needed in the filter pit? If you have a drain or think one is needed what diameter would you suggest? Thanks for sharing your project. I am getting closer to beginning my dig. It is nice to know you can get help on this forum!! By the way good luck with the little one they grow up way too fast!! Be sure that you followed Lizardbreaths advice. Vince

The inside dimensions were 60 inches by 44 inches I believe. The narrower cinder blocks worked fine. In hindsight, I would have used some rebar to hold them up straight all the way up, but I just used 1 foot rebar pieces for the bottom pieces. It will be fine for several years I am sure.

The walls are holding up fine. I am on completely level ground, so I did not consider any sort of drain, because I had no place to drain it to. I may put a roof over it (waterproof), which will keep moisture from getting under the concrete and cracking it.

[skday]

I think it looks great, Ethan! I'm no help with critiques, though, I am contemplating my own upgrade. Your re-do is very impressive, with bottom drain and filter pit, and I think it is great that so many folks helped you out. Congratulations!!!

[Birdman]

Good Job Ethan, looks very nice.

[Ethan25]

Thank you both. So far, getting great settlement out of the SC, even though I am passing a large flow through it. My guess is that it's due to the angle the pipe comes in, allowing stuff to fall out of the flow.

Water is crystal clear, and I have had the UV off for almost 2 weeks now with no ill effects (not by choice; submersible pump in skimmer failed....waiting for a replacement).

THanks,
Ethan

[Ethan25]

So, Look what I did two weeks ago!

First, my 4" pipe coming in from the BOttom drain had a fernco fitting before the ballvalve. BAD IDEA. I was doing some work, planning my filtration upgrade and the pipe seperated from the fernco. 10,000 gph of water into the pit, flooding my Sequence pump, and making me jump out as I had electrical stuff in the pit. The GFI circuit tripped, allowing me to go back in with a 4" FERNCO cap, and using the strength of Samson (or just plain Ethan), I pushed it on the end of the pipe and tightened it.

Long story short, I did quite a bit of upgrading, including re-routing my incoming BD line to the side of the pit to open up the floor plan (pardon the pun). Now, the huge 4" ball valve sits under a block and wood shelf made to set the airpumps on. If you remember, this pit is small. I did all I could in it. The pit is just under 4'x6'.

What do you think? Before all of this, I had added an ANSWER 325 unit in the 55 gallon SC, which is dumped once to twice a week. This replaced my old DIY rotating screen.

added : boiling fluid bed of 2 cubic feet of K1 (35 gallon barrel,works well!)
57 watt Ultraviolet UV
1 Pondmaster 60lpm air pump for fluid bed
3" knife valve in-between barrels

this all runs TO a Laguna filter falls where I have two rows of japanese matting at the end for bio, and brushes and two rows of quilt matting to catch fines (throw out bi-weekly).

AMAZINGLY crystal clear water now. And check out my bio....already mature in just 2 weeks.