I'm planning my new Koi pond!!!! And I admit, I like finding outta the box ideas/think'n......so try to bear with me a bit....lol As I try to do a low maintance thing with the least equipment. I know, maybe out too lunch, but it's winter!!!.....Got lots of time to 'ponder'...... If you're a gear junky,.... and like spending your kid's inheritance on the latest......maybe skip to the next thread, so ya don't bust a gut on my thoughts....!!
Short version, for those with better thangs to do!;;;;;I'm thinking of using a large, 4" bottom drain, with a knife valve, and pipe it down the slope into the abizz of the back 40. Rather then pull'n the crap into a settling chamber/filter thingy....what would be wrong with just opening the knife valve as needed to 'flush the toilet'!!!??? Maybe a couple times a week, but it would be pretty simple, wouldn't it? Flush away down the gulley never to be seen or delt with again!!!
Stretched out version, for those that are bored, or helpful;;;; I got the idea from rig'n up my old pond at my mom's cave this spring!!!! That one is just a wee little 1500 gals. 12' dia round, (ya can spit across pothole) with a couple pumps push'n the water in a pretty good vortex,.... that the koi love to 'workout' in!! (No fat koi on my watch....lol) Probably about 3,000gph between the two pumps. But I noticed, the solids that don't make it into the solids handling pump, end up collecting in a nice, neat little pile, right in the vortex center! (like it does behind a barn...) In her pond, someone just has to reach in with a net, and scoop it up...I know, low tech...the way we roll!!! But, if I had put in a bottom drain, some 40 years ago, when I built the pond as a kid....the junk would be collecting right in it.
My new build; 16' dia round, for the best vortex action (just my theory maybe, lol) About 6,200 gallons. 5-6' deep. Sloped floor to the aerated BD smack dab in the middle!! I'm think'n, I'll have two pumps with 3 or 4 'jets' push'n the vortex with about 8,000-9,000 gph.
So, if you're not roll'n on the floor in histarics, and still with me, whatta ya think!!! Craziness, or what!??? Flush the crapper,...... or do I need to go 'mainstream', up into a boring ol settling thingy....????
Yikes! I better proof read that again!!!.... Warning; more whacked ideas come'n, but I'll hit ya slow to start!!!....
Cheers,
KTK