Welcome to Koi Forum. Is this your first visit? Register
Page 3 of 3 FirstFirst 123
Results 41 to 56 of 56

Thread: Drum Levels

  1. #41
    Quote Originally Posted by bigcarpchaser View Post
    I’ve a 35 supplies by 2x4” feeds, a skimmer and BD. 2xAuga 20k variflows.
    When the drum is clean I can whack the pumps up full blast and it’ll just about keep up but as soon as the dirty side is half full it’ll run dry so “35” is optimistic to say the least.
    When I speak to Deano next I’ll tell him to put another inlet in a 35 lol
    I posted earlier in the week on another thread if I were doing it again I’d go “55”.
    The OP’s problem imo is related to being borderline on flow from bottom drain and the skimmer only having a 3” outlet. He also mentions 90 degree bends which if they’re elbows instead of swept bends could be contributing massively to loss of flow.
    I’d check both lines by shitting off one at a time and seeing what difference it makes. For a quick check you can feel the flow if you put you hand in the drum at each inlet to compare. You can feel it if the difference is significant.
    Open the bottom drain up a bit as well to try and also close it up and try.
    Bit of experimentation required I think.
    And if he can get to the back underneath of the skimmer then I’d be modifying it to 4” as other members have done. If I get a chance I’ll search a few threads where this has been done before, I’m pretty sure a Certikin skimmer exits behind the pond wall as 99% of them do. It’s a faff but worth doing for the sake of a rubber boot, a bit of pipe and some glue.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    So the 35 is restricted by the screen and not the 2x4inch drains? I was led to believe the 35 would handle more than 35k lph and was underspec. I'm glad I went for the 55 now.

    I only have 2 bottom drains currently but will be adding a skimmer to it next year.
    Last edited by kikokuryu John; 06-06-2020 at 06:39 PM.

  2. #42
    It’s not restricted by the screen, it’s restricted by only having 2 inlets, well, mine is. Guessing the combi only has 2 as well?
    Drums run at peak flow when the screen is clean and that’s the number the makers quote, they rapidly lose flow as the screen clogs. Imo they should quote a minimum and maximum


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. #43
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Adult Champion NickK-UK's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Posts
    1,538
    Thanks / Likes
    1745
    Quote Originally Posted by bigcarpchaser View Post
    A 4” pipe will give you around 5k gallons without any restrictions, probably substantially less in a real life pond situation with a couple of 90 degree bends chucked in.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    The figure I have in my head is 15,000lph through a 4" BD gravity fed. Well that's what I'm planning using!

  4. #44
    Quote Originally Posted by bigcarpchaser View Post
    It’s not restricted by the screen, it’s restricted by only having 2 inlets, well, mine is. Guessing the combi only has 2 as well?
    Drums run at peak flow when the screen is clean and that’s the number the makers quote, they rapidly lose flow as the screen clogs. Imo they should quote a minimum and maximum


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Is a skimmer capable of flowing as much as a bottom drain even with the same size pipe?

  5. #45
    I’d have thought it depends on how far away it is from the drum/filter, how deep the bottom drain is, there’s probably a lot of variables, bends etc.
    Mine for example is about a meter closer than the BD, if i put my hand in the dirty chamber both inlets are flowing about the same.
    They can pull a hell of a lot if they’re set up right. I can’t tell you what’s right as mine is working great but it’s probably a pure fluke lol


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  6. #46
    Quote Originally Posted by NickK-UK View Post
    The figure I have in my head is 15,000lph through a 4" BD gravity fed. Well that's what I'm planning using!
    I expect that’s achievable, 3500 gallons ish.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  7. #47
    Senior Member Rank = Hassai big h's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    East Yorkshire
    Posts
    872
    Thanks / Likes
    1155
    Quote Originally Posted by NickK-UK View Post
    The figure I have in my head is 15,000lph through a 4" BD gravity fed. Well that's what I'm planning using!
    I .When i had the Synergy 35 it would run all day at 20,000 through one bottom drain

  8. #48
    I’ll have a play with mine tomorrow and see what I can blast through it one supply at a time Drum Levels


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  9. #49
    Quote Originally Posted by bigcarpchaser View Post
    I’d have thought it depends on how far away it is from the drum/filter, how deep the bottom drain is, there’s probably a lot of variables, bends etc.
    Mine for example is about a meter closer than the BD, if i put my hand in the dirty chamber/oth inlets are flowing about the same.
    They can pull a hell of a lot if they’re set up right. I can’t tell you what’s right as mine is working great but it’s probably a pure fluke lol


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Well hopefully it will be ok only time will tell, I'm hoping to flow 7-8k gph. 1 of the bottom drains which is the one with the longest run is capable of flowing just over 4k gph, this isn't exact as it was timed how long it takes to fill the 1st chamber/barrel. The other drain is on a much shorter run but I've never been able to push it really as the 30k vario is currently only on 1.5 inch pipe.

  10. #50
    Senior Member Rank = Yonsai bicolormoth's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    South Manchester
    Posts
    248
    Thanks / Likes
    200
    '' . . but I've never been able to push it really as the 30k vario is currently only on 1.5 inch pipe.''
    5000g, Drum Filter/Gravity, + MBB, Skimmer-Sieve-Shower.

  11. Thanks NickK-UK Thanked / Liked this Post
  12. #51
    Yea, 1.5 is a bit restrictive in terms of return size, when you look at 2” you immediately think, jeez, that’s big but it really isn’t lol.
    I reckon with ponds it’s better to go large and restrict if required than go too small and push the limits. Having done a few ponds now I’d even be tempted to put at least one more bottom drain than looks to be required and even up the returns (underground where not “in view, so to speak) to 4”.
    I’ve been playing with airlifts tucked in the corner of the pond and the flow you can get through a 4” pipe is incredible when you actually see it as opposed to looking or feeling it underwater.
    My little fish love swimming against the current, they wiggle past the window going upstream then 2 minutes later they’re going backwards past it, 2 minutes later they’re at it again, it’s rather amusing watching them play. After half an hour of having a little rest in another corner they’re off repeating the process all over again lol.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  13. #52
    Quote Originally Posted by bicolormoth View Post
    '' . . but I've never been able to push it really as the 30k vario is currently only on 1.5 inch pipe.''



    Alright then, "pull it".


    I didn't see the point in using 2 inch pipe as the sieve only has a 1.5 inch outlet and the EA 110 uv have stupid fittings that are restricted from 2inch to 1.5.

    I will be replacing the pipework and installing an amalgam next weekend hopefully, if the drum arrives.

  14. Thanks bigcarpchaser Thanked / Liked this Post
  15. #53

    Drum Levels

    Good lad, you know it makes sense Drum Levels
    Your fish won’t know what’s hit them once you wind that beast up full blast lol.
    Exercise is good for their body shape, nobody wants a fatty in their pond eh?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  16. #54
    Quote Originally Posted by bigcarpchaser View Post
    Yea, 1.5 is a bit restrictive in terms of return size, when you look at 2” you immediately think, jeez, that’s big but it really isn’t lol.
    I reckon with ponds it’s better to go large and restrict if required than go too small and push the limits. Having done a few ponds now I’d even be tempted to put at least one more bottom drain than looks to be required and even up the returns (underground where not “in view, so to speak) to 4”.
    I’ve been playing with airlifts tucked in the corner of the pond and the flow you can get through a 4” pipe is incredible when you actually see it as opposed to looking or feeling it underwater.
    My little fish love swimming against the current, they wiggle past the window going upstream then 2 minutes later they’re going backwards past it, 2 minutes later they’re at it again, it’s rather amusing watching them play. After half an hour of having a little rest in another corner they’re off repeating the process all over again lol.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    I picked up a 3m length of 2inch pressure and a swept 90 a while ago, I took the pump off the sieve and placed it into a big blue tank with the full 3m length of 2inch pressure pointing straight up and the 90 on the end. The difference was outstanding, it was easily pumping more using less power but with more than double the head, I can't wait to see the difference in flow over the shower.

    I might take a video before and after to compare the difference.

  17. Thanks bicolormoth, NickK-UK Thanked / Liked this Post
  18. #55
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Adult Champion NickK-UK's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Posts
    1,538
    Thanks / Likes
    1745
    Quote Originally Posted by kikokuryu John View Post
    Alright then, "pull it".
    I didn't see the point in using 2 inch pipe as the sieve only has a 1.5 inch outlet and the EA 110 uv have stupid fittings that are restricted from 2inch to 1.5.
    I will be replacing the pipework and installing an amalgam next weekend hopefully, if the drum arrives.


    I have a Varipump 20,000 - the same it has 2" connectors. Although it may have 2" the water is under pump-driven pressure. I currently have 1.5" on the temporary pump-fed setup.

    Will be running a 4" BD and 4" Skimmer and two 4" returns, the final filter box acts as a sump, with 2x 4" airlifts and/or the pump returning through mid-water returns (2.5" and 2") for winter.

    Like you - I'll put a UVC in rather than a in-line, then it would be in it's own chamber in the garage.

  19. #56
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Sansai Paul2005's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    West Midlands
    Posts
    100
    Thanks / Likes
    45
    Hi , have read with interest your post having just converted over to drum and bio system
    I have single 4 inch BD and have converted skimmer to 4 inch.
    I set my drum up to my chosen water height but did allow myself a margin both up and down on the pool water level as I knew that you get "heads" when the pumps are on.

    My drum was second hand & had a number of holes that had to be sealed when the height of water in the drum was just below the chute, I also had to turn the lid round as it was on the wrong side (Profidrum SS 65)

    As it turns out the water level also drops on both dirty & clean side when pumps are on.
    I have had 5500 on drum only & 10000 on bio.
    I now have 13000 on drum & 17000 on bio.
    I also have a swimming pool pump on no 2 outlet on bio to turbo charge the cleaning if I need it.

    so i think i can pull somewhere in the region of 60000 litres per hour 13000 through drum only and 47000 through bio.

    Now if I do this level in dirty side of drum will easily drop 100 - 200 mm & drum will be on every 5 mins.

    Pulling 12000 through filter & 17000 through bio still drops my water below the holes that I have filled so I don't have to worry too much about those.

    I heard that to maximize drum filter screen area , the drum should be installed so that the water when pumps are off will overflow down chute but when running you will have maximum water height. I didn't do this because i didn't think that the chute could cope with what would be 100's of gallons going over it.

    I just put overflow in top of skimmer, My drum is oversize for my pool Approx 5000 galls so i can afford to have the water level less than what it could be.

    On my old system which was vortex I still used that swimming pool pump and vortex water level only dropped maybe 20mm.
    Just thought I share my experience with you.

    Cheers

  20. Thanks bigcarpchaser Thanked / Liked this Post
 

 
Page 3 of 3 FirstFirst 123

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:56 AM. Online Koi Mag Forum
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3
Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

vBulletin Improved By vBFoster® (Lite Version), © UltimateScheme, Ltd.