Curious but why so many S&G filters in the one circuit? What is the capacity of each one?
To answer some questions about this filter upgrade .
The pond was built about two years ago by a local So Cal pond “expert’’ .
It has (2) 2 1/2’’ bottom drains T’d Together into (1) 2 1/2’’ line 😢 which is plumbed up to the filter house. In addition , there is a check valve buried somewhere under the pond 😢. That “expert” installed a huge pool pump and an ultima 20,000 bead filter. There is also a skimmer plumbed with a 2 1/2’’ line that was bushed down to 1 1/2’’ at the skimmer . All that , fed up to the top of the waterfall , which is approx 8’ above the pond .
The pond owner had continuos problems , inadequate filtration , and horrible energy cost’s. A few bandaids were attempted , but to no avail.
We were introduced , I agreed to check it out , and came up with a plan . So, because it was set up with direct suction , and limited bottom drain sizing , Zakki sieves were the only option (in addition to being one of My favorites) .
So now , how to add more mechanical fines , and more bio filtration , yet still keep energy cost’s down ?
Since the property above the pond is on a hill , We didn’t want to add any more head height than was necessary , and certainly didn’t want to have to pump all filtered water up to the top of the waterfall.
We agreed on a plan to build two separate systems , the largest includes (2) bottom drains , (1) large Zakki sieve, a large Performance Pro variable speed pump , (6) 55 gal sand & gravel filters , and a 6’ Rio Storm stainless shower filled with about 30 cu ft of ceramic media .
In order to save head height on this bottom drain /bio circuit , I came up with a way to have the shower outlets return water to the pond , at the lowest point possible in the waterfall .
The shower outlets are about 1’ above the point where they return to the waterfall , and I installed (5) 3’’ Lines buried under the deck and dirt , multiple 3’’ Lines were used to keep the profile low .
Below is where they enter the waterfall .
An overall picture of the waterfall showing elevations .
The (6) sand and gravel filters on this bottom drain circuit , gravity flow into the top of the shower filter , so their outlets are about 6’’ above the shower .
This entire circuit only added about 1’ of additional head height over the showers height to the entire system , by returning the water to that low point in the waterfall .
The top of the waterfall is now fed by a smaller pump on the skimmer circuit , and the difference in water flows between the smaller flow from the waterfall top , to the larger flow from the BD circuit on the waterfalls bottom , is hardly noticeable. It all blends in at the bottom over a wide waterfall weir .
The skimmer circuit starts with a big box skimmer set in the sidewall of the pond . It was set in concrete , and was bushed down from 2 1/2’’ to 1 1/2’’. Since We were going to remove the skimmer basket , and let a small Zakki catch all the skimmer debris , I wanted to remove the necked down 1 1/2’’ section , and take full advantage of the 2 1/2’’ pipe . I was able to chisel out the concreted in pipe , and surgically remove the 1 1/2’’ section , love My Dremel 😃 .
So , now , the skimmer is able to draw as full a flow as possible through the 2 1/2’’ Line, and it’s working pretty good , even large leaves make it through to the small Zakki .
One major warning though , if You are going to remove a skimmer basket, make sure to install some type of fish safe skimmer guard to keep Your fin kids from getting hurt .
Here’s a nice design We made with an idea that Rickshaw found .
Professional Rickshaw Model not included
The skimmer guard is installed to be removable
So , the skimmer circuit includes a small Zakki sieve , a 5500 Ish GPH Performance Pro pump ,and (2) 55 gal sand and gravel filters that are up on the hill, in order to gravity feed to the top of the waterfall.
Last edited by catfish whiskers; 07-12-2018 at 12:29 AM.
Some videos of the pond today after running for about 8 months
https://youtu.be/q0C5Yr3QseA
Here’s the S&G filters in comparison to running and being cleaned
https://youtu.be/D8DszwRvme0
https://youtu.be/nViLM7gz1Wg
I build them with 3’’ filter Outlets , and 4’’ waste outlets , the video shows them being cleaned with the pump running at full force , and a 2 hp blower boiling 2 filters at a time at full force .
I make screen covers that are installed in the 4’’ waste outlets , they keep the sand in when boiling with this much force.
That screen is a good idea. What is the mesh made from?
Just beautiful! Only thing you missed was a phoam Practionator on the output of the bakki.
Regards, Ken
The most powerful point of suction in the pond occurs at our checking account. It's all Marges fault!
Excellent stuff.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Saint-Go...90-M/202091906
I wish I can have a filter system like this for my 15k pond. Beautiful work
How many kilowatt-hrs per month?
I have read and re-read this thread several times now. Wow, what a beautiful pond, and beautifully executed filter system. Congratulations to both of you. I am going to keep studying the pictures of all those pipes, and when I start building my upgrade, it should seem nice and simple.
Question: Does of any of the flushed debris get caught in those waste screens on the S/G filters? Is it ever a problem?
Last edited by pickerel; 08-10-2018 at 08:35 AM.
That’s a great question , I don’t have the answer , but the OP did say that both His electrical bill and water bill are cheaper now . The main pump is a variable speed sine wave pump from Performance Pro . The main filtration was set up so that it returns to the pond at the lowest point possible , and it added only about 1’ of additional head over the height of the shower filter . All the backwash water is saved in those 1200 ish gallons of storage tanks , and then used to water the property.
No , because of a few reasons . First , because most of the debris is caught in the sieves, but a S&G filters down to a pretty fine level anyway , so most of the debris that is flushed out very small , but also after blowing to a boil , the blower is turned off , the screens are removed and the filter is flushed to waste for another minute , before the filter is put back to return to the pond .
Understood. I was just asking for curiosity. Years ago I was envious of a really nice koi pond - until I added up all the pump amperages. A quick mental calculation came to around $600 a month just for the pond - and that was back when rates were cheaper. I guess if he can afford it, more power to him, so to speak.
Last edited by kimini; 08-10-2018 at 11:09 AM.
How much do you pay per kilowatt-hour in So. California? Here in South Carolina it's about $0.12.
My average at My House (not this pond ) is $.21 , that includes tier one up to 1,000 kWh at $.15, tier two up to 3,000 kWh at $.19 , and a 10% city tax.
So does the waste water all just gravity flow out of the totes to the yard through the (what looks like) 2" pipe?
I'd imagine the s/g filter waste water is similar to what I get out of my rdf and the waste water I flush from the
trough on the pond bottom and I was trying to come up with something that will work like these do and still be
able to handle all the solids that probably settle to the bottom.