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  1. #1

    2 Different Dealers still non the wiser

    Evening all, I know the drum question has been asked ALOT and I’ve read a lot of them. But I’m still no closer too a decision.

    I’ve visited 2 koi dealers in the Merseyside and surrounding area. One looked like Evolution Aqua had thrown up and the other Oase.

    One doesn’t have any drums and the other suggested a proficlear premium compact. As it’s a combi, my concern is the limited bio, and based on reviews the amount it uses per wash too clean the drum (on a meter).

    I’ve got a 3000 gallon pond, two bottom drains and a skimmer too Cetus sieve. As I’m still in the construction stage was looking to run both BD into Drum and skimmer into sieve returning to bio filter before returns too pond.

    Question is with a budget of roughly £2000 what drum would you recommend?

    Like the look of a Draco solum 25, but again some feedback wasn’t great.

    As always appreciate everyone’s time replying.



  2. #2
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai phil45's Avatar
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    fitreau hf 30 ..works a dream for me its on a 2000g pond with 2 10,000lph pumps

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    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    I don’t think either EA or Oase actually has the best product for you, which means you cannot really trust advice given by their dealers.
    The Draco Solum is a good drum for the money, and definitely worth considering if you can afford a bio chamber or shower to go with it.
    Most of the high quality drums around fall outside your budget unfortunately.

    Ideally you would be looking at drums with 3 x 4” inputs for your BDs and skimmer. And with a potential flow rate cable of turning your pond volume over at least once an hour. Sometimes you won’t get the advertised turnover in reality so you need to slightly overspec this. A 2 hour turnover is ok if you can actually achieve that once it’s up and running.
    Last edited by Feline; 30-09-2020 at 03:13 PM.

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  5. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
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    I'm in a similar boat to you. 2600 gallons.

    Currently running a drop in Draco within a Nexus which has been 100% reliable, however in the peak of summer it is at its limit and cleaning every 6 minutes.

    There's lots of expensive high quality drums I'd love to own but the reality is the Draco custom package containing a Solum 16 and separate bio chamber looks good value for money compared to the alternatives, with the advantage they are UK based and carry spare parts available for immediate dispatch. At the moment this is the most attractive package for me.

    Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

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  7. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Spongebob's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nilsac View Post
    Evening all, I know the drum question has been asked ALOT and I’ve read a lot of them. But I’m still no closer too a decision.

    I’ve visited 2 koi dealers in the Merseyside and surrounding area. One looked like Evolution Aqua had thrown up and the other Oase.

    One doesn’t have any drums and the other suggested a proficlear premium compact. As it’s a combi, my concern is the limited bio, and based on reviews the amount it uses per wash too clean the drum (on a meter).

    I’ve got a 3000 gallon pond, two bottom drains and a skimmer too Cetus sieve. As I’m still in the construction stage was looking to run both BD into Drum and skimmer into sieve returning to bio filter before returns too pond.

    Question is with a budget of roughly £2000 what drum would you recommend?

    Like the look of a Draco solum 25, but again some feedback wasn’t great.

    As always appreciate everyone’s time replying.
    Sounds like you visited a certain dealer in Warrington. What you actually need is 2 Nexi......
    Fibreglassed/5000 gals/4.5 m Tunnel/Spindrifter/Twin drums/Bio chambers/Beads/Showers/Remora ASHP

  8. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Gosai Jampot's Avatar
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    I recently changed from a Nexus 200 (installed 15 years ago) to a Synergy 35 drum and anoxic baskets on 2250 gallons, and would offer the following thoughts:-

    Nothing ever went wrong with the Nexus - no moving parts Though on removal and cleaning I did note some cracking at the air pipe unions
    It doesn't come in left / right hand versions so weigh up access to valves in the prospective location. Mine eventually became un-managable due to the contortions required when cleaning!
    It will happily live outside particularly if you treat it to a lid.

    I was fortunate to buy the Synergy 35 used off a member here otherwise was looking at the Draco range on grounds of cost.
    It takes a surprising amount of room by the time the pipework and pumps are connected.
    I'm not on a water meter so haven't concerned myself with consumption, but do recall that 2 or even 3 rinses of the Nexus were required which was a fairly considerable volume of water.

    With 2 bottom drains (and enough room) I'm inclined to agree with Spongebob. A nexus on each bottom drain running independently means one can always be running while the other is undergoing maintenance and I would return the sieve direct to the pond without bio filtration. You should be able to locate returns to provide great circulation with a set up like that. Use the same pumps all round so they are interchangeable in the event of breakdown.

    Don't be afraid to buy any nexus s/h, just clean them well.

    Jim
    I don't keep fish, I keep water. I don't keep fish, I keep water. I don't keep fish I kee........

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  10. #7
    Thanks for everyone taking the time to reply, if I pushed the budget which one would people have....

    QK 35 or a Burton BD-500.

    The QK brand seem really popular, and there’s a lack of information on the burtons brand. But Burtons is uk based so easy parts and the updated version has stainless steel drive.

  11. #8
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai phil45's Avatar
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    flow rate on the burton would sway it for me ....looks a good bit of kit too

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    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Either would be a good option I think. Going with the higher max flow is probably the most future proof, if you’re otherwise happy with the spec of them.

  13. #10
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai hippo's Avatar
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    Just undertaking an upgrade as well . Ive decided on a Draco Solum 16 Drum for my 2500 pond . That came in at £1300 .

    Started looking around for a bio chamber . I think the Draco one is around £450 . Also looked into buying a made to order plain tank and was quoted £300 .

    I ended up buying a 2nd hand fiber glass tank on ebay for £25 . Its actually bigger than what I wanted , but should be ok . Worth a look on there , as quite a few similar items for not much money .
    Colin

    2500 Gallon Fibreglass Pond
    Draco Solum 16 , 400l Bio Chamber

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  15. #11
    Great thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. Spoke too Chris at kitsukoi who has them running (burtons) and he was full of praise so going to punt for one of them. You can do too much research and never make the right choice.

    Different question, but save having lots and lots of topics.

    Variable speed pumps , buy a larger model than needed and run it at ie 30% or a more appropriate size model for the pond and run it at 60%?

    Does it make a difference as I imagine watts per hour would be similar?
    Last edited by Nilsac; 01-10-2020 at 06:42 PM.

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  17. #12
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nilsac View Post
    Great thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. Spoke too Chris at kitsukoi who has them running (burtons) and he was full of praise so going to punt for one of them. You can do too much research and never make the right choice.

    Different question, but save having lots and lots of topics.

    Variable speed pumps , buy a larger model than needed and run it at ie 30% or a more appropriate size model for the pond and run it at 60%?

    Does it make a difference as I imagine watts per hour would be similar?
    I would always overspec and go for one bigger than needed. Running them at 50% seems to be more efficient that running a smaller one closer to max. Also they seem to be quieter at a lower %, and should help with longevity also but I don’t have any evidence to back that theory up.
    The best thing is that if you make any filter alterations etc. in future you won’t need a bigger pump if you buy big.
    Another consideration is the size of the inlets and outlet. The larger ones have 2” inlet and outlet which is advantageous if you already have 2” pipework. Even if you don’t, it’s less flow resistance.

    Oh, and one other thing, they never actually give you the advertised flow rate when actually installed. So you need some leeway.

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  19. #13
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai hippo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nilsac View Post
    Great thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. Spoke too Chris at kitsukoi who has them running (burtons) and he was full of praise so going to punt for one of them. You can do too much research and never make the right choice.

    Different question, but save having lots and lots of topics.

    Variable speed pumps , buy a larger model than needed and run it at ie 30% or a more appropriate size model for the pond and run it at 60%?

    Does it make a difference as I imagine watts per hour would be similar?
    I replaced my hailea T series 18000 with a Jabeo 20k variable . Really happy with it . Very handy to be able to tweak the speed to suit your set up . Mine`s running at around 14k and using 90w per hour , which is about a third of what my old hailea used . Think theres a lower limit of 30% power which can be used on this one .
    Colin

    2500 Gallon Fibreglass Pond
    Draco Solum 16 , 400l Bio Chamber

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  21. #14
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Spongebob's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Feline View Post
    I would always overspec and go for one bigger than needed. Running them at 50% seems to be more efficient that running a smaller one closer to max. Also they seem to be quieter at a lower %, and should help with longevity also but I don’t have any evidence to back that theory up.
    The best thing is that if you make any filter alterations etc. in future you won’t need a bigger pump if you buy big.
    Another consideration is the size of the inlets and outlet. The larger ones have 2” inlet and outlet which is advantageous if you already have 2” pipework. Even if you don’t, it’s less flow resistance.

    Oh, and one other thing, they never actually give you the advertised flow rate when actually installed. So you need some leeway.
    This is spot on advice. I spoke at length to a dealer last week who had researched EA pumps in fine detail, he mentioned running an EA 10,000 at close to max v running a 20,000 at say 50%, the difference was substantial in watts used with the bigger pump paying for itself in no time in saved electricity. He mentioned he wouldn’t dare publish his findings knowing EA, but suffice to say the listed wattages and flow rates for all EA pumps are completely wrong.
    Fibreglassed/5000 gals/4.5 m Tunnel/Spindrifter/Twin drums/Bio chambers/Beads/Showers/Remora ASHP

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