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  • Results 1 to 9 of 9

    Thread: Will an RDF work for me?

    1. #1
      LobsterOfJustice is offline Senior Member
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      Will an RDF work for me?

      I would like to replace my Zakki sieve with an RDF. I have a 2‘ x 4‘ concrete pad located 19 to 20 inches below pond water level. My main concern is if this placement will work for a gravity-fed set up. My pond is only 2500 gallons so I’m only looking at the smallest RDF models. It looks like the main options are the FREE 20 or the seaside aquatics Eco 20. Right now my zakki seive is fed by a single 3 inch inlet which pulls from my skimmer and bottom drain tee’d together. I am using a 4500 GPH pump on this set up.

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    2. #2
      coolwon is online now Senior Member
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      I think,you are better off than most,you will have to raise the slab to position the RDF height to match your pond water level,as per the RDF

      instruction manual.
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    3. #3
      aquaholic is offline Supporting Member
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      Most drum filters can be set up for pump fed or gravity fed.

      I bought a drum filter a year ago but I am still setting it up so my opinion is not based on real experience (yet).
      Like you, I have a raised tank above the ground level and I will be gravity feeding so I have built a sturdy stand to lift my drum filter up to pond water level height. The pond water level line when water is standing still should be just below the waste chute level. It is much easier to lift the drum than to lower when fine tuning the height is necessary. I could see the drum vibrating and gradually moving so I secured the stand to concrete pad and placed the drum on a 20mm polystyrene sheet (which can deteriorate in sun UV and be eaten by insects)

      It is best practice to have your skimmer and bottom drain enter the drum separately so you can control individual flows easily. This means at least two inlet openings on your drum unless you want more for a future expansion. This concept is safer in principle too as a shared single pipe could potentially clog. I realise your pond is relatively small though.

      Depending on your prospective drum's volume, you may need to add a larger size volume for pump catchment. As the drum screen gets clogged, the water level on clean side will drop - possibly quickly and significantly enough that your pump could run dry as you will be gravity draining unless you have sufficient volume.

      As the drum flushes clean automatically, the total pond volume will lower especially on a smaller pond volume and the water height can be important if your drum relies on float switches to trigger an automatic clean. So you may need a top up system as well. Some drums can use a timer to trigger a clean, regardless of screen condition but you will still lose water.

      Have you considered where the flushed waste water will go to? I am told the waste water can be very sludgy and quite smelly. The waste pipe slope can be too steep (water rapidly runs off leaving behind heavier particles) and it can be too flat.

      I was surprised how much space a drum filter requires as the pipework and valves are quite bulky.

      I am sure there are other items worthy of consideration which may influence your choice of drum filter.

      Hopefully a more seasoned member will add more input.
      Last edited by aquaholic; 4 Weeks Ago at 07:50 AM.

    4. #4
      coolwon is online now Senior Member
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      Hi Alcoholic,you were humming and haring about the Chinese RDF availability of spares and possibly not even being available after a time.

      What make did you eventually settle for?



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    5. #5
      LobsterOfJustice is offline Senior Member
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      Thanks for the info so far. Yes, I was hoping that the pad was at least low enough because I should be able to adjust height upwards with cinderblocks or bricks.

      Is the single 3” drain line a concern? Will that supply enough water to the RDF to pull from it with a 4500 GPH pump?

    6. #6
      aquaholic is offline Supporting Member
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      You should reach out to prospective DRUM supplier for any technical queries as this will test their support & knowledge aspects as well as helping to resolve any of those issues after installation.

      Installation height and flow rates should be readily availible on DRUM specification information.

    7. #7
      aquaholic is offline Supporting Member
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      Quote Originally Posted by coolwon View Post
      Hi Alcoholic,you were humming and haring about the Chinese RDF availability of spares and possibly not even being available after a time.

      What make did you eventually settle for?



      Hello Coolwon,
      I opted for a Burton Drum - self imported from the United Kingdom which took 8 - 10 weeks. Like you in South Africa, the availability and support in far away Australia is non existent apart from email support so I generally stock up on parts at time of purchase to reduce future shipping cost, price hikes and delivery times.

      The chinese drums are cheap enough to buy several at once but the gears and screen were plastic. It's hard to know if your buying from a re-seller or manufacturer or know how long a company will remain in business with Chinese suppliers even if you do overcome any technical issue language barriers.

      Most drums are similar in concept so I looked beyond the mechanism to the electronic controller capabilities too. Burtons are manufacturers who do direct sales. Small enough to have good response and build personal relationships, big enough not to fold later.

      Apart from wanting stainless gears and screen, I wanted 220-240 volts AC electrical which UK has but I did need to change electrical plugs.

      With a stainless screen and gears, I can run a Burton small UV lamp inside to prevent bio film buildup although biofilm does help to catch smaller fines. I will modify my drum to use chlorinated mains tap water for the clean cycle (so no pressure pump needed) which I'm hoping will also prevent biofilm buildup (so no UV required) and be quieter with less electrical cost. This will also stop pond water levels dropping but my pond-tank has auto top up anyway.

      I did purchase a UV, extra lamps, pressure wash pump, spare pressure wash pump, other spares etc. Burtons can custom modification if you request. They manufacture many of the components themselves and have 2 year warranty.

      I've yet to turn it on but very pleased with everything so far however the international currency exchange hurt. I tell myself it's probably worse now but deliberately don't check.
      Last edited by aquaholic; 3 Weeks Ago at 12:05 AM.

    8. #8
      coolwon is online now Senior Member
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      Exchange rate.

      We cringe, which ever direction we go. Ours is 11.71 South African RAND TO 1 AUS. DOLLAR. and RAND 22.75 to 1 GBP. at the moment.

      Dream Koi, in Shongweni, just outside Durban, is now knocking them out to order.

      Stainless steel.Very well made.

      Cost an arm and a leg as per all of them.

      Owns a Laser business in Pinetown outside Durban

      I eventually built one, using 4 x modified scrap,washing machine drums,riding on nylon guide wheels at one end and bolted together side by

      side.

      Laser cut panels of 316 and 304 stainless

      steel, to make up the tank and dirt drain pan.

      A 25 mm 316 stainless steel shaft, bolted by a 3 spoked wide 6 mm s/steel plate to the last drum at the opposite end of the drums and an

      inverter 220 volt to 380 volt variable speed controller to control

      the 220 volt to 3 phase 400 watt geared drive motor.

      ADHD, has held me back from lowering the beast into the pump enclosure, to pipe it up

      The amount of water to waste and the distance to the sewage pipe on the other side of the garden have not made the job any easier.

      The challenge is always to build it up and look at it.
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    9. #9
      coolwon is online now Senior Member
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      Hi Aquaholic,I found a great Tube Video of Burtons Rotary Drum Filter Factory.

      I followed the tour, through all the departments.

      So well laid out and absolutely spotless.

      What a complete set up. I cant believe the size of the market for rotary drum filters, watching the video and the cost of all the equipment to

      manufacture all the different components to build up the drums and other Koi related products.

      I think you made a very wise choice selecting Burtons drums.

      I had never heard of Burtons Drums.

      Thank you very for introducing me to BURTONS DRUMS.

      Cheers.



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