I bought a 15l ultra zap filter for my pond, which is placed after my sand filter, now I have a 7500lt pond and i'm pretty confident that the ultra zap is just too small a bio filter for my pond. So now I'm thinking of just buying another sand filter and filling it with bio media, sealing it and having this as an additional bio filter on my pond system.

With this be fine, can I do this with a sandfilter and just fill it up with medium and add it onto my existing system??

I have a .75 speck pump to a 3 bag sand filter to a 15lt Ultra zap bio filter to a 15w UV light. Now would I have to place the new sand filter with bio medium before the UV light or can I just place it after the uv light. Why I ask is I bought a 2nd hand UV light(just replaced with a new globe) which had joins glued on etc etc so the way it is setup now is quite intricate and I dont want to cut and rejoin, it would be alot simpler if I added the new sandfilter after the UV light. Also wouldn't really have much space to work with where the UV light is now.

Please advise

Cliff,

I would ad another 15lt ZapBio Filter to the system, and it will be much cheaper.

System placing; ,a 75kW pump - a sand filter - 2x15lt ZapBio Filters - UV light - the pond
I think to split the “line” from the sand filter to the two Boi filters will be better.

Hi Pieter,

Thanks for your reply, what if I can get a good 2nd hand sand filter for R400- R500, would you still say go with the ultra zap????

I still intend keeping the 15l ultra zap on my pond....with the additional sand filter I intend on adding.

Clif,

It will work, but it will take up more space and filter media.

If you are in Johannesburg, you are welcome to visit me, to have a look at my systems.

This is the system on my 6 000lt Q-Pond

I am in JHB, In Modderfontein, think u'r krugersdorp which is a good distance from me, would be worthwhile tho to make the trip - thank you for the offer. Think it was on your system that I saw a baki system built into the waterfall, was thinking of doing that but i'm even more limited for space there. My filter setup I have placed in my garden beds etc with all my plants covering overeverything so to really add another sand filter would soon "dissolve into the back ground so not too fussed about that.

Was thinking of filling the sand filter up with the plastic sponge medium in orange bags that I get from another guy, would probably pay around R200 for the medium which is not too bad......you think that would be ok???

See Orient sells similar bags for R19.50 a bag, you think this would be OK to have inside the sand filter??

Cliff,

It should be ok for a Bio Filter.

last question.....do you see any problem with me putting it after the UV light???.......shouldn't as I see most systems with baki showers etc where this could only be after the UV light...if there was one.

Picking up a 4 or 5 bag sand filter tonight from a mate for R500

Cliff,

The UV light should be the last in line back to the pond.

Another question regarding sand filters. I get excellent reconditioned second hand sand filters and swimming pool pumps from free.

Am thinking of the following setup:
Bottom drain → pump → 1st sand filter → 2nd sand filter → 3rd sand filter → 55W UV light → pond
Will add ball valves between filters to bypass one or all if need be.

Would this setup be sufficient for a 30kl pond?

I would suggest running bottom drains to a settlement chamber first.
Then pull the water from the settlement chamber.

Bottom Drain to Settlement - pump - sand filters - uv light - pond

Quote :

I get excellent reconditioned second hand sand filters and swimming pool pumps from free

Organise for a new found friend there choina!!!!

yes, chris,

can you get hold of something in the .25kw range?

Please bear me in mind when you do come across one.

Thanks man

Chris,

If you are going to use only sand filters in a row( one after each other) it will reduce the water flow tremendously.

The best is to split the line, so that the filters run parallel to each other. The best are 3bag sand filters ( easy to turn when open once a month).
It is not advisable to bypass a sand filter, if a sand filter is off or bypassed more then four hours it is like a time bomb.............bad bacteria will invade your pond, if you don’t backwash the filter first for about five minutes.

A good system for a 30 000lt pond

2 x 1,1 kW pumps ( two separate systems) containing;

Two bottom drains,1 pump, split to 2 x 3 bag sand filters ( 3-5 mm sand) each with a 50lt zap bio filter and Valves to regulate the pond returns.

Here is a photo of my 40 000lt pond system:



There is no settlement chamber on any of my ponds!

Very interesting to see.... Will definately keep this setup in mind when doing mine.

Hi Chris.
Try using 6mm zeolite instead of the 3- 5mm gravel.

I used gravel for 25 or 30 years and changed to zeolite last year. There is a big difference in flow rates - i.e. better and when backwashing the bed breaks up easier because the zeolite is lighter than the gravel.

Regards,
Chris

Chris N,

Will the Zeolite disintegrate over a period of time, like oyster shells doing?

Appreciate the input with the Zeolite but once again there's no freakin place in PE to buy it from!! I'm getting so frustrated with all of this. Spent the last week trying to get hold of a koi net (the 1m diameter) and could only find it in JHB and then it costs R700 with postage and everything.
Doesn't anyone on this forum have the capital to start a proper Koi business here in PE, you'll make a killing!!!!

I have a combination filter system; a bit chaotic and definitely not as neat as the ones on the forum, BUT, it works.

Have a look and excuse the mess!!
https://koionline.forumotion.com/posts-on-pond-building-f17/rebuilding-my-pond-t782-195.htm

The water is still not 100%, but I will get there, because before I rebuilt the pond, the water was as clear as anything.

Hi Chris, Abundance of Oysters shells in Knysna, I know they deliver to the Cape. Maybe a friend can bring you some with from the garden route, not a pleasant smell to transport though.