HydroSieve Compact Sieve Bottom Drain

[Jojoartie]

Hi All,
Has anyone used a HydroSieve Compact Sieve for bottom drains by Russell Watergardens on their build or re-build?
Looking to use it from retro bd to pump to bead.
Just looking to see how well it worked for you.
Thanks.

[Noahsnana]

I have not used one
It may be an option for prefilter instead of the Aqua Sieve II or Zakki

[Billy]

I have not used one
It may be an option for prefilter instead of the Aqua Sieve II or Zakki

For the price of either you can buy a rdf.

[Jojoartie]

For the price of either you can buy a rdf.

Unfortunately, i have been stung bad by the rdf route. Totally temperamental unit. There is no one in my area that will touch them to try to fix them and i have been told they work best gravity fed which is not my situation on this particular pond.

[Jojoartie]

I have not used one
It may be an option for prefilter instead of the Aqua Sieve II or Zakki

Thats my thought as i will need something before my bead and the zakki is out of my price range unfortunately.

[Noahsnana]

For the price of either you can buy a rdf.

Billy offer a solution for a pre filter for a pond that is retro bottom-drain over short wall > pump>bead Seems the only solution is the Aqua Sieve II Zakki or this Hydro Sieve

[BWG]

Ponds with very little to filter probably OK. Otherwise must be emptied much too often to be effective and useful.

[Jojoartie]

Ponds with very little to filter probably OK. Otherwise must be emptied much too often to be effective and useful.

So what can be used on a limited budget for a retro bd before the pump? I have to think there are many people with pump fed ponds at least 10yrs old. What was done?

[FishAddict12]

I have one of the HydroSieves on my gravity fed bottom drain lines. If I neglect my pond for long the mesh basket clogs quickly and I have to wash it out every day or every couple days to keep the waterflow good to my pump (also the housing doesn't hold its shape once installed in the ground so getting the basket in and out is a pain in the rear.) In fairness I have had ongoing pond construction so the pond has had long periods of time where it has been shut down and so it has had to filter lots of extra debri and algea. I think it's okay but I wish I would have spent the extra coin and done a gravity Sieve or the Zakki Sieve. It's unfortunate that their is such as huge price difference between the HydroSieve and something like the Zakki Sieve, but I suppose it's a little bit of you get what you pay for deal.

[KingstonKoi]

I've visited a pond that has the Russell Watergarden HydroSieve. It was positioned during a pond remodel between the bottom drain and skimmer at patio level. The owner was happy with it's pre-filtering ability. He said it was easy to open, lift out and rinse. He also added a major filtering mechanism up by his waterfall (can't remember the details) but as far as the HydroSieve went, he was pleased with it.

[icu2]

I've never had one myself but was just talking to another ponder about them and I steered them to Cheryl who I know used them
but replaced them with a Cetus sieve. I thought she had taken both out but she does still use one along with the Cetus. Her comments
were that "...she still uses one and they work fine as long as you don't mind emptying them a couple times a week especially in Spring with algae."

[BWG]

Never had one either. People in clubs we were members of said they filtered decent but certain times of the year plugged very fast. Either pond algae or other seasonal debris from plants. If pond is near trees and plants that shed anything it plugged the basket quickly.

[BWG]

Curious how you're installing this with a retro bottom drain?

[Billy]

Billy offer a solution for a pre filter for a pond that is retro bottom-drain over short wall > pump>bead Seems the only solution is the Aqua Sieve II Zakki or this Hydro Sieve

Pump fed rdf.

[pkdaly]

I have an 8,000 gallon pond with fifteen larger koi. I used the hydrosieve for almost a Summer. It clogged way too fast for my fish load, I even purchased a second basket, but was still having to clean them both several times a day. I even tried rolling quilt batting loosely and putting that inside. That helped prolong the need for cleaning but went for an actual sieve within two months. I was pleased with how well it worked, and if you have a small pond, goldfish or a few koi it may work well for you.