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    Thread: Pre filter question

    1. #21
      icu2's Avatar
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      Quote Originally Posted by azkoipond View Post
      1200-1500


      What about these diy micro screens?
      I think most builders of them still are emptying every day or more than once a day?
      I've never gone that route so hopefully one that uses them can chime in to what their routine
      is like.
      --Steve



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    2. #22
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      Quote Originally Posted by icu2 View Post
      Okay, here's a drawing of a pretty standard way that many small ponds are filtered. The SC could be a 55 gallon barrel as they'll work for
      about 2k gph flow rate, which is the limit of a s/g filter too. The prefilter could be a 5 gallon bucket with media like bacti-twist in it to catch
      debris that doesn't settle. It'll obviously still require maintenance but should give you a little more time than a small priming pot:

      Attachment 601128

      If you choose this route let me know... I've got some bacti-twist I used to use that I could send you. My old SC/prefilter:

      Attachment 601131

      It's "old school" but it worked before sieves, RDF's, etc., and it still will... just more maintenance.
      So this would be adding another 55 gal drum and building that with a pre-filter as in pic?

      How often would maintenance be expected with this setup. I have no leaves or anything like that, would just be pond stuff and maybe dust basically.

      My other concern is space. I don't have a large backyard, so two 55 gallon drums is not ideal.
      Last edited by azkoipond; 05-07-2020 at 01:13 AM.

    3. #23
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      Yes, the 55 gallon barrel is basically empty except for the 5 gallon filter near the surface of the water. Heavier solids sink to the bottom
      of the settling chamber (SC). The prefilter 5 g bucket has lots of holes drilled in it to allow water to flow through the media and go to the pump.
      The 55 gallon SC has a drain at the bottom (2" or prefer 3") to allow draining debris to waste. Then you pull and rinse the bacti-twist
      of debris and put back in the prefilter. Refill the SC and you're done till next time. You know the routine for a S/G filter.
      Like I said, there's no free lunch. Cheaper DIY options take more work.

      It's almost impossible to estimate really but mine would go for 1-2 weeks before having to clean the SC. S/G fitler is also about the same.
      Fall (with more debris) or summer (when feeding more) can create conditions where you need to clean more often... you have to just watch
      and be flexible with what you see.
      --Steve



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    4. #24
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      Quote Originally Posted by icu2 View Post
      Yes, the 55 gallon barrel is basically empty except for the 5 gallon filter near the surface of the water. Heavier solids sink to the bottom
      of the settling chamber (SC). The prefilter 5 g bucket has lots of holes drilled in it to allow water to flow through the media and go to the pump.
      The 55 gallon SC has a drain at the bottom (2" or prefer 3") to allow draining debris to waste. Then you pull and rinse the bacti-twist
      of debris and put back in the prefilter. Refill the SC and you're done till next time. You know the routine for a S/G filter.
      Like I said, there's no free lunch. Cheaper DIY options take more work.

      It's almost impossible to estimate really but mine would go for 1-2 weeks before having to clean the SC. S/G fitler is also about the same.
      Fall (with more debris) or summer (when feeding more) can create conditions where you need to clean more often... you have to just watch
      and be flexible with what you see.
      That's very acceptable maintenance. I wonder how often it would be with the strainer basket instead.

    5. #25
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      Again, it's hard to even guess. Maybe it'd be the same as if you had a SC... or it might be once a day clean out procedure.
      You might try the BD to priming pot first and be resolved to the fact that you might need to redo things if it doesn't work out.
      As they say, every pond/system is different. Sadly there's really no set answers.
      --Steve



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    6. #26
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      Quote Originally Posted by icu2 View Post
      Again, it's hard to even guess. Maybe it'd be the same as if you had a SC... or it might be once a day clean out procedure.
      You might try the BD to priming pot first and be resolved to the fact that you might need to redo things if it doesn't work out.
      As they say, every pond/system is different. Sadly there's really no set answers.
      Can the 55 gal sc you mentioned be installed above ground ?

    7. #27
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      Quote Originally Posted by azkoipond View Post
      Can the 55 gal sc you mentioned be installed above ground ?
      The top needs to be at pond level, like the drawing shows... so it'd depend on if the pond is above
      ground level.
      --Steve



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    8. #28
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      Quote Originally Posted by icu2 View Post
      The top needs to be at pond level, like the drawing shows... so it'd depend on if the pond is above
      ground level.
      Ok. No this is an underground pond build.

    9. #29
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      I don't have room for that big of an underground filter. I'll have to go another route��

    10. #30
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      @icu2 Steve, please correct me if I'm wrong...if the OP is going to gravity feed the 55gal SC from the BD, isn't his choice of BDs limited to...say 3" BD??? Flow rate from a 4" BD would be too much for the 55gal SC to handle right?

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    11. #31
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      You're right, a 4" BD is probably overkill if you're going to gravity flow 2k gph... but a good thing about a
      SC is if you plumb the BD near the bottom of the SC barrel, you're going to be about 2 1/2' below pond
      level. So when you close the valve from the BD and empty the SC barrel to clean, when you open it to
      refill the barrel, there's an enormous amount of flow initially from that pipe, which always flushed my lines clear.
      Plus a 4" BD and pipe gives you the ability to upgrade later to filtration that flows more if you want.
      --Steve



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    12. #32
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      I was planning on a 3 inch bd

    13. #33
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      Do you think one of these larger strainer baskets would do well enough in my pond to only need cleaning a couple times a week. Considering I don't deal with any leaves, needles, or much debris at all?

      https://michigankoi.com/product/high...r-priming-pot/

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