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Thread: Filter and returns..
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21-01-2020, 02:49 PM #1
Filter and returns..
Afternoon all, I posted my build project plans last year and I'm still in the planning stage and saving money stage! All is planned apart from the filter and returns. In short the pond will be approximately 7500 litres or 1660 gals. With 4" bottom drain to a filter house/shed.
I originally thought vortex to nexus, then from help here decided on sieve to Nexus. Then I spotted the Filtreau drum filter or the OEM version so decided on bottom drain to drum to moving bed to return. So the first question I guess is if you had the choice of the two options which would you choose and why?
The second question is, I have decided to incorporate an in wall skimmer, if i went down the drum filter route, would it be in order to plump that into the drum also? after all the stated drum has 2x 4" inputs.
I have even thought of just returning the skimmer water via a small inline pump straight back to the pond from the skimmer just to add flow to the pond whilst collecting large debris in the basket any drawbacks to this?
Last question (for now ) Would 4" pipe work be used to what ever filter(s) i choose to run, then from filter(s) should I reduce it to 2" pipe to the pump probably a 15k vari pump back to the pond either via 2 inlets or 1 inlet and the other to a cascade type water fall..
I am not made of money and the budget has tripled already, but I want to get it right from the start.
Cheers all
Jay
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21-01-2020, 02:52 PM #2
Convert skimmer to 4 inch and gravity to drum few on here have done that
Sent from my F5121 using TapatalkFreddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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andikoi Thanked / Liked this Post
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21-01-2020, 02:58 PM #3
Thanks Johnathan, I've asked JBR plastics for a quote on the drain and their construction skimmer so will enquire about what size outlet it has. So from your reply that's 1 vote for the drum filter set up. If money was no object Id look at a different drum/combo unit but as the pond is the size it is if I went down the drum route, I think the Filtreau/OEM one will be more than adequate.
Jay
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21-01-2020, 03:01 PM #4
100% drum. Could you not save a couple quid by buying a drum only unit and building a moving bed? Draco seem cheap drums
Sent from my F5121 using TapatalkFreddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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andikoi Thanked / Liked this Post
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21-01-2020, 03:13 PM #5
I did look at Draco, the minima combi unit. Its the same price as the OEM/Filtereau units. It states up to pond volumes of 2000 gallons. So that could still be an option.. I was going to build my own moving bed anyway, as it seems easy enough and I like making things.
Jay
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21-01-2020, 04:01 PM #6Freddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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21-01-2020, 04:23 PM #7
the minima only has 1 3 inch inlet and outlet and a 3 inch waste unless you talk to tony at draco and ask for a 4 inch inlet,you could T off before inlet and run BD and skimmer in but you would have to put valves on to get the correct pull from each,ideally more from BD,and if you wanted more bio then return over a shower,but for the price i would say a stand alone draco or AEM and seperate bio chamber with helix-13 in it,a draco solum 16 and a draco bio units only about £1500 and has 2x4" inlet and outlets..ideal for you,,,,,oh by the way deffo drum is way to go lol,,,,andi
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21-01-2020, 04:52 PM #8
Hi Jay, definitely a drum all the way and the Aem is a good price but shop around as you can get it for £995 delivered Inc pump and UV.
I have the Draco 25 on a 3000 gal pond and been going great for two yrs now and no probs at all,it is plumbed into the water mains so the mesh stays nice and clean.
Made my own bio from ply and fiberglass,my opinion is the minima is too small ok for a grow on but the bio is tiny.
A bio can be made from a small ibc think they are about 100 gals only need the inlet and outlet.
Skimmer, I use the bog standard one with a 6ins to 4ins rubber connecter then 4ins to drum,you need 4ins or 3ins on the skimmer.
Up to you on the bottom drain,but I have an ordinary 4ins one for £20 as I dont like air in the pond but that is my preference.
Best to plan it all out,a home made shower is great and cheap to make.John
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21-01-2020, 05:04 PM #9
Thanks John,
That's 2 votes for a drum.. i kind of guessed that the minima was too small, hence why I was looking at the £995 ones delivered. I have seen there has been 1 or 2 issues with them but nothing recent, that has been published anyway. One of my issues is going to be waste water as the sealed drains at my house are uphill from the pond location. But I am going to install a water but to collect the waste with a pipe near the top as an overflow running to the back of my garden, which happens to back onto woodland. The other slight problem is feeding the pump to the drum although I do have an outside tap at the rear of the house near the pond. I'm definitely going to make my own moving bed.
I'm looking at the in wall (same size as blocks) skimmer for ease of the installation, yes they are more expensive but look easier to fit!
My plans are into a second A4 notebook so far lol
Thanks again
Jay
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21-01-2020, 05:32 PM #10
And thanks Andi, i didn't see you post above Johns! 3 votes for the drum then! So with the AEM / Filtereau drum, it has 2x 4" inlets, will they self balance? one from the skimmer and one from the drain. I guess so, but then I have no experience with large volumes of water just Aquariums.
Do you think 1x `15k vari pump will be enough or should i pay more for a 20k? I think they are cheaper to run. Ideally I would like 2 mid returns and a return to a water blade so 3 in total. So plumbing wise whats the best way to achieve this from the pump? Id want to incorporate a ball valve to turn the blade off. Would ball valves on all returns be better?
Jay
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21-01-2020, 07:01 PM #11
Drum with 2 in 2 out
4” from skimmer and BD
1 to mb pumped return 2”
1 to shower/something else 2”
Buy a couple of the cheap pumps from coastal koi (aqua eco 20k) and they have 2” connections and free unions.
Quite impressed with the one I have so far, it’s doing the same job as my Auga’s which cost considerably more and the wattage it’s showing is very low although it’s very early days. If it’s still running ok in couple of years I’ll be happy.
Keep it simple
Don’t forget your valves, you want one either side of every piece of equipment you might want to isolate in the future.
4” ones are flipping massive and expensive, 2” ones are not so bad.
Again, the ones from coastal I’ve found to be as good as the more expensive type. They don’t leak and the handles don’t fall off. You hopefully won’t need to use them very often but when you do you need them to work.
Never used slide valves so can’t comment but others have found them to be a bit leaky.
Use rubber bends etc. So much easier to take apart if you have to change stuff. The EA ones seem to be the best I’ve used and not silly money.
Nab stuff secondhand if you get the chance even if you don’t need it yet, particularly pipe fitting etc.
People usually have a few odds and sods left over, I know I do lol.
Plan, plan, plan!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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21-01-2020, 07:22 PM #12
you would have to put a ball valve on each line from BD and skimmer to balance the flow,really you want BD pulling more than skimmer,i have 2 BD each to its own drum then each has a variflow 20k at 70% [106w] to return either over my bakki shower or underwater via 2" pipe plus my skimmer is converted to 4" to a nexus 200 then back to pond using a jeboa variable 12000,altogether im using 300w on pond,as to the plumbing you could have 2 exits on bio chamber each feeding a pump,then just pipe and ball valve off where you need it to go,as for returns one each end of pond so it returns water towards skimmer or you will end up with dead spots,,,,,andi
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