Hi all

I would just like all feedback possible regarding settlement chambers and sand filters.

I know there's no right or wrong when the question arrises to install a settlement chamber or sand filter, but I would like feedback from the guys who has experience with the different setups.

Which setup will work the best:
1) Pond → sand filter → biofilter → pond
2) Pond → settlement chamber → pond

Will setup 1 be sufficient on it's own? I'm in the process of revamping my pond and I can't make up my mind as to what the best setup would be.

I have had experience with both and are currently using setup 2 except i have a bio filter after my pump before the water returns to the pond.

How big is your pond?
How many fish?
How much solid debris like Leaves are around?

For a setup of < 12 000 L ill go for setup 1.
For a setup of > 12 000 L ill go for setup 2.

You can go with setup 1 for bigger ponds if you are going to clean your sand filter very regularly. Sand filters work very well but are not for the lazy or for the poor. Sand filter requirement swimming pool pumps, that means high wattage and lots of electricity and the way Eskom is going not many will be able to run those in the long run. A settlement chamber will help to extend the cleaning of the Sand filter to weekly.

Chris,

I am running Set up 1:

Bottomdrain > Pump > Sand filter >UltraZap Bio Filter > Pond with 50mm pipes

Quote:

Will setup 1 be sufficient on it's own?

I have 4 ponds all running on this system since 2005, with no problems at all.

However, some keepers run the following system:
Bottomdrain > 110mm pipes > settlement chamber/ voltex > 50mm pipes to Pump > sandfilter > UltraZap Bio filter > Pond

Pieter, your last mentioned setup is what I'm aiming for but I wanted to know whether any of the 2 I mentioned would be fine to start the pond off and then later adding on.

Was thinking of option 1 and then later adding a settlement chamber before the pump to end up with:
Pond → settlement chamber → pump → sandfilter → pond.

Chris,

I have found that modification to an existing pond always ends up with problems.

In your case it is possible to modify the “set up” in a later stage, but remember that you should foresee that the pipe work from the pond must be changed to accommodate the planned settlement chamber, which you must take into account when “building” the first stage of your build.
The best is to run the pipes past the spot where you aim to place your settlement chamber in such away that the pipes could be modified without difficulty.

Quote:

Was thinking of option 1 and then later adding a settlement chamber before the pump to end up with: Pond → settlement chamber → pump → sandfilter → pond.

Please note that you still need a bio filter somewhere between the pump and the pond!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the settlement chamber (having 3 different compartments with different media) act as a biofilter??

Also if I refer to your post it would be better to start off building a settlement chamber and later adding on the sand filter or would it be better to just stay with the sandfilter and biofilter setup and then later adding a second sand filter connecting it to the 1st sand filter?

A settlement chamber is one chamber only. If you can, build the settlement chamber now....will save yourself a lot of replanning and repiping down the road.


My filtration works as follows:

Skimmer ---------------------------------------------------------->\
Bottom Drain -> Settlment Vortex -> Pre Filter Vortex -> Pumps -> Sand Filter -> Bio Filter -> Pond


Heres a link to my pond build.

Chris,

Quote:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the settlement chamber (having 3 different compartments with different media) act as a biofilter??

You refer to a low gravity bio filter combo, with more then one chamber, with the first chamber use as a settlement chamber.

I a referring to a vortex type “settlement chamber” which is “open” from where the water is sucked by a pomp, pumping the water to a sand filter and a sealed Bio filter before it goes back to the pond, and will cost more then “Set up 1" mentioned in your original posting.

I have no problem pumping water direct from the pond to the S/f > Bio filter > Pond>



This is my filter system on my 6000lt Quarantine Pond.
Bottom Drain > ,75kW pump > Bio filter1 >Bio filter2 > back to the pond
with no settlement chamber.

Oom pieter is daar 'n drein in die onderkant van daai pump chamber? Hoe kry jy die water weg van die SF.

Seuntjie,

Nee, jou Oom was nog dom, moet nou pyp by die heel onderste gaatjie in druk om water weg te voer, as ek die sand filter oop maak om the draai.



Met gewone backwash is daar in ondergrondse afvoer pyp.