GOT A POND +- 25-30 000LITRES
2 BOTTOM DRAINS
SETTLEMENT CHAMBER
1 VORTEX
BUBBLE BEED FLTRATION
2 BIO FILTERS
IS TIS FINE OR MUST I ADD ANYTHING ELSE TO IT

Hi Mohammed,

I don't think one vortex will take all your sediment out, the norm is 3 in line. I have 3 and my last one is always full of muck. But because of the settlement you may get away with 2

What is the size of your bio filters?

But why do you ask is your pond not clear or do you just want to spend some money?

Bio boosters are extra large
Flo rate / hour 10000 liters
I just feel my water clearity could be better

Hi Mohammed

I was afraid of it, what pump do you have installed, if your pond volume is 30,000Lt then a flow rate of 10,000 will only give you a turnover of once every 3 hours, if your stocking levels are anywhere near the norm then that is too slow and you will not have clear water.
In fact you will be heading for amonia problems.

I also have my doubts in the ability of a bead filter to produce crystal clear water.

Please tell us your stocking levels and the pump you are using, I am concerned.

You also don't mention a UV sterilizer, do have one, this time of the year you need them and make sure the globe is still doing its job.

pump is 1.1 kw
yes i do have uv light

Hi Mohammed

Is it at all possible to measure the actual flow back into your pond?

Can you tell me the dia of your suction and delivery lines and approximate length's of both.

Wonder why you only have a flow rate of 10,000 lt. Something is wrong and I suspect it is your pipe diameters.

THERE ARE 2 BIO BOOOSTERS
EACH ONE HAS A FLOW OF 10000
SO THE FLOW COMBINED WOULD BE 2000

SORRY 20000

Hi Mohammed,

So your pond is not flowing at 10000lt's per hour but the bio filters specify on them that they are for a 10 000lt pond?

Your 1.1 pump should be turning you water over effectively every 2 hours, depending on bends etc. I have a .75 on my pond and my water is crystal clear and I have my odd bend here and there, altho I did really try and keep my bends down to 45degree bends, altho do have 90 degree bends here and there.

When last did you replace your UV globe? They really only have a life span of 9 months or so.

Think the only thing I would do is add a sand filter after all your current filtration just before the water flows back into your pond just to polish the water and take all fine debris out of the water. This will make quite a difference, as well as just checking on the UV light.

The vortex with it's brushes, bead filter and 2 bio boosters I'm sure is more than adequate as bio filtration for your size pond.

Just my opinion.

Hi Cliff

I think there is already enough restriction for the pump and adding a sand filter will just increase our problem, yes I agree a Sand Filter will produce crystal clear water if we can get the dirty water to it fast enough.

The flow has to be measured before I can recommend anything.

I think the sediment is just not removed fast enough.

If we reduce the feeding for 3 or 4 days we will soon see.

Mohammed,

Replace the bubble bead filter with 2 x 3 bag sand filters in parallel.
The 1,1 kW pump will handle it with ease! ( I run 2 x 4 bags sand filters per 1,1kW pump)
If your filter system is working, you don’t need a UV light!
You are welcome to visit me to have a look at the water clarity.

How big are the Bio filters?

Mail me. I cam help you with any modifications

Cliff the uv is about 3 monts old

I am sure the current system worked last season why would it be necessary to change everything. The above suggestion could cost in the region of 12 to 15,000 Rand.
And even if you have 10 sand filters without a decent flow rate you wont clean your pond.


The 1.1Kw pump may not be installed correctly as we see more and more. And then it will not do the removal of the sediment during higher feeding rates.
I only run a .75Kw pump on one filter and you are also welcome to come and see my water clarity. And my pond is the same size as yours.


Mohammed you are welcome to call me. or pm me

Mohammed,

You should visit both ( in one trip) and then make up your mind........................... R 15 000

This is what the cost will be:
2 x 3 bag sand filters(including sand); installed = R 5 000

PS: But you have 2 x ,75 KW pumps on your pond!!!!

And what about the cost of the bubble bead that is being discarded.

arme Paul. Poor Paul...

Marius,

Moet nou nie 'n ding begin nie..........................

Quote :

And what about the cost of the bubble bead that is being discarded.

You could remove it, and sell it! This will then cover some of the cost of the sand filters, or you could leave it in the system as a further “bio filter” between the Sand filters and the other Bio filters already part of the filtration system.

As a bonus a “My way” air aid conversion could be installed for free as well!

Neville, Pieter: Take this the right way please! I hate forums because everyone gets all pissed off with everyone else. So this is largely tongue in cheek and part of the fun of filtration!! It's a different but same point of view...

I cannot believe you guys are advocating poor old Mohammed to use sand filters on his system without explaining to him first EXACTLY what the implications of these old dinosaur relic fossils are!

:-)

As you are both - You Neville and You Pieter *finger pointing vigorous like* - advocating the use of two sand filters surely the quickest cheapest simplest finish and kla easiest option is to add one single additional bead filter? That'll klap your clarity one time and sort out any lingering bio filtration issues.

We've argued about this before gentlemen. The difference in clarity between a bead filter and a sand filter is subjective. When a bead filter matures, my opinion is that it gives as good a clarity without any of the downside of a sand filter. Plus, because you never change the media it makes a darn fine bio filter as well. If you need to polish the water then a sand filter right at the END of the filter system is possibly acceptable (provided you maintain it properly Mohammed - and this is work no matter which way you slice it).

Now, if your settlement chamber is working as it should - the vast majority (90%+) of rubbish should stay right there - easy to be rid of. The vortex, even if it is a large one, will not have enough residence time for any muck to settle in it without additional mechanical media to help - such as brushes. This is because a 1.1kW pump will pull water through the vortex far too quickly. To make this work you would need three vortexes in PARALLEL - i.e. each one fed one third of the total water volume to keep the flow rates as slow as possible (within reason).

Depends on what you want. Gin clear water is fine and well but it is not necessarily the same thing as healthy water.

Also you can save yourself a lot of cash by ditching that power guzzling pump and using two smaller submersibles in the settlement chamber direct. One for each filter line (bubble, bio, UV) per se - and you can chop your power bill by half. That'll pay for all the kit in no more than a two to three years. Depends on your current installation of course and what changes you can make.

Regards,

William

Thanks William.

I agree with a lot of what you are saying, but we still do not know how much water the 1.1 is pumping. Your suggestion of using two low wattage pumps mat very well be a good idea, but only if we will then achieve the correct flow rate. And before we know that, I am not prepared to make any suggestions. I have not yet in any way advocated that Mohammed needs to install a sand filter in fact I disagreed to that. I did say that I have my doubts whether a bead filter can produce crystal clear water and still do.

At this stage it is speculation as to what is needed here to produce crystal clear water, and I was only busy trying to extract the info when I was hijacked.

I would always try my best to avoid the keeper spending more money, unless of course it is the only solution.

Thank you anyway for a different and senior approach to the problem,

I think one should visit the site in this case.

Hi Mohammed

William

Neville wrote:

The flow has to be measured before I can recommend anything.
I think the sediment is just not removed fast enough.
If we reduce the feeding for 3 or 4 days we will soon see.

What I am trying to say is, the sediment is not removed from the pond fast enough.

It could be due to overstocking, inadequate performance by the 1.1 Pump, due to Blocked bottom drain, Pump wear and tear or blocked impeller, Pipe diameters.

You surely cannot install extra filters before you have checked all this.

I say again tell me what is the "return flow into your pond"

guys thanx for all the advice etc....
perhaps if possible I would be honoured to have for all of u to do a site visit .
Contact me for further details
regards
Mohammed

Hi Mohammed

Thanks, will do just that. Will there be samoosas and tea.

plentiful

William,

You do not like sand filters period!
Sand filters are the best mechanical filters for Koi ponds. At the moment I am running 5 ponds on a sand filter system, with Koi up to 94cm!
Anyone could visit me anytime, regarding the clarity of my pond water.
When using a sand filter, you don’t need, a settlement chamber or a vortex! Water could be draw direct from the bottom drain.
If a sand filter is set-up the right way, you only need about 5 minutes every third day to back wash it.

Regarding Bubble bead filters (I know you are selling them, so you need to advertize them) my modest opinion is that it is a “time bomb.”
I was at UltraZap, and they have one on their pond. After they demonstrated how it works, and done a back wash with the air blower I asked that the filter be opened.
I was really disappointed to found the beads inside the filter very dirty and it smells like a fish factory.
That is a storage place for unwanted debris and bacterium.

You mentioned:

Quote :

Plus, because you never change the media it makes a darn fine bio filter as well.

All filters should be cleaned!!!!

Quote :

Now, if your settlement chamber is working as it should - the vast majority (90%+) of rubbish should stay right there - easy to be rid of. The vortex, even if it is a large one, will not have enough residence time for any muck to settle in it without additional mechanical media to help - such as brushes.

So what you are saying is that all the above is needed to compare water clarity equal to that of a sand filter?
If so please compare the cost!

Lastly, paying good money for Koi I need to see them al the time, so clean water is essential to me.

Hi Mohammed

Very pleased to hear your problem is resolved, dam bottom drain can you believe it.

I just had the feeling all along that it was something like that, hence my request's on knowing your flow rate.

Luckily you did not install all those filters.