Getting skint now! Just ordered oase eco to cut power consumption on our 450w pump that is now chucking out just 740 GPH
What is the cheapest way to pre filter?
OUr pond has bottom drain gravity feeding into settlement chamber via 4" pipe where the pump pumps it upto a cloverleaf2 with brushes then chinese matting then 3x foam and flowcore and gravity feeding back int pond from bottom of 4th chamber and also the usual pipe for the excesss.
could I buy a replacement "screen" and fit it in a frame before the pump?
Pre-filter options
Moderators: B.Scott, vippymini, Gazza, Manky Sanke
Re: Pre-filter options
I'd go for a static Kaldness prefilter. I done the simple Vortex, brushes, the Answer but the ststic K1 beat them hands down. Gazza made an easy job of it using a bit of matting to separate the K1.
B.Scott
B.Scott
Re: Pre-filter options
Right so what is the static kaldness prefilter entail? Putting a media in part of the filter before the 4th chamberof foam and flowcore?
Re: Pre-filter options
No, Putting K1 in the first chamber and making all the cirulating water pass through it. Then every couple of days you aerate the static K1 and all the trapped gunk is washed out and you drain that to waste.
B.Scott
B.Scott
Re: Pre-filter options
oh right so will it spill over the lip into the brushes chamber?
Do I just turn on an air-stone under it to dislodge the gunge? then drain that section?
Do I just turn on an air-stone under it to dislodge the gunge? then drain that section?
Re: Pre-filter options
try one of these
http://www.******-koi.com/shop/?prodid=820" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I've just glued a piece of stub 4" pipe into my outlet and then glued a 4" slide valve onto the stub...... then I've got a 4" rubber boot connector and then fixed that onto slide valve and then attached the s/s grid........ placed 50 ltrs of K1 into second vortex and it's doing a fantastic job...... aerated and flush to waste every 2 days.
http://www.******-koi.com/shop/?prodid=820" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I've just glued a piece of stub 4" pipe into my outlet and then glued a 4" slide valve onto the stub...... then I've got a 4" rubber boot connector and then fixed that onto slide valve and then attached the s/s grid........ placed 50 ltrs of K1 into second vortex and it's doing a fantastic job...... aerated and flush to waste every 2 days.
Re: Pre-filter options
you`ve lost me now, new to all these new types of filter, just used CL2 or similar in line ones, can`t quite get my head round the theory of all this aerated or static stuff yet.
Re: Pre-filter options
Hi Andy
The basic principle is that water from your pond (whether from a bottom drain or pump) enters the first, mechanical stage of the filter which is about 50% filled with K1. As the water flow between and through the K1 the crud becomes trapped and only clean water flows to the next, biological stage of your filter.
Then, to clean the crud from the K1 (I do mine twice a week) you need turn off your pump, shut off the flow of water to the filter chamber, aerate the K1 so that the dirt becomes suspended in the water which is then flushed to waste.
Turn off the air, reinstate the flow to the filter chamber and turn the pump back on, top up your pond and the job's done!
That's the easy bit!
The tricky bit is containing the K1 so that it doesn't flow into the next filter chamber or your pump, and doesn't get flushed away when you flush the filter chamber. There are several ways of doing it if you search through the archives, but here are some photos of how I converted my vortex. Hope it helps.
The dirty water from my bottom drain enters the bottom of the vortex.
[img]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d95/kayos ... on006a.jpg[/img]
It then passes up through the slots cut in a plastic dustbin and through the static K1
[img]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d95/kayos ... on002a.jpg[/img]
The water then passes through the slots in the horizontal 4" pipe and flows to my biological chambers (fluidised K1). The white airline is used to aerate the K1 to clean it and the water flows back through the slots in the bottom of the bucket and out of the drain valve in the bottom of the vortex.
[img]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d95/kayos ... on008a.jpg[/img]
This shows the the set up with the bucket and K1 in place.
[img]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d95/kayos ... on013a.jpg[/img]
Good Luck
The basic principle is that water from your pond (whether from a bottom drain or pump) enters the first, mechanical stage of the filter which is about 50% filled with K1. As the water flow between and through the K1 the crud becomes trapped and only clean water flows to the next, biological stage of your filter.
Then, to clean the crud from the K1 (I do mine twice a week) you need turn off your pump, shut off the flow of water to the filter chamber, aerate the K1 so that the dirt becomes suspended in the water which is then flushed to waste.
Turn off the air, reinstate the flow to the filter chamber and turn the pump back on, top up your pond and the job's done!
That's the easy bit!
The tricky bit is containing the K1 so that it doesn't flow into the next filter chamber or your pump, and doesn't get flushed away when you flush the filter chamber. There are several ways of doing it if you search through the archives, but here are some photos of how I converted my vortex. Hope it helps.
The dirty water from my bottom drain enters the bottom of the vortex.
[img]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d95/kayos ... on006a.jpg[/img]
It then passes up through the slots cut in a plastic dustbin and through the static K1
[img]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d95/kayos ... on002a.jpg[/img]
The water then passes through the slots in the horizontal 4" pipe and flows to my biological chambers (fluidised K1). The white airline is used to aerate the K1 to clean it and the water flows back through the slots in the bottom of the bucket and out of the drain valve in the bottom of the vortex.
[img]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d95/kayos ... on008a.jpg[/img]
This shows the the set up with the bucket and K1 in place.
[img]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d95/kayos ... on013a.jpg[/img]
Good Luck
Re: Pre-filter options
Many thanks for that. So the green hose is the airline to "wash" the K1?
My first section is pumpd in at halfway point and flows over into brushes.
[img]http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c180/beck ... est019.jpg[/img]
so could I turn on a 2" round airstone to clean the K1?
My first section is pumpd in at halfway point and flows over into brushes.
[img]http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c180/beck ... est019.jpg[/img]
so could I turn on a 2" round airstone to clean the K1?
Re: Pre-filter options
Probably, but it will depend on the air pump, size of the stone and the amount of K1.
I just used a piece of speedfit plumbing pipe and drilled some 2mm holes in it - the bigger holes seem to move the K1 better than an airstone.
I'm sure you could convert your first chamber, but you need to work out how you will contain the K1 - it can be awkward, believe me it gets everywhere!
Cheers
I just used a piece of speedfit plumbing pipe and drilled some 2mm holes in it - the bigger holes seem to move the K1 better than an airstone.
I'm sure you could convert your first chamber, but you need to work out how you will contain the K1 - it can be awkward, believe me it gets everywhere!
Cheers
Re: Pre-filter options
Been pondering! My CL2 has a lid and your dustbin seems higher than the top of the vortex. Would a circle of jap matting sitting on top stop the K1 flowing over??? or a lid?
Re: Pre-filter options
Air pump is blagdon KA65 (upto 65L/min)
Wouldn`t know how much air to use but if I left an air supply in it and just turned it on to clean even if I turned all the other taps off in the pond.
How long to you "air" it for cleaning?
Wouldn`t know how much air to use but if I left an air supply in it and just turned it on to clean even if I turned all the other taps off in the pond.
How long to you "air" it for cleaning?
Re: Pre-filter options
Your air pump should do it without any problem! I divert the air from my fluidised/chaotic/aerated K1 chambers (i.e. the biological chambers) to clean the static K1. You only need to aerate it for a couple of minutes and then divert the air back to the biological chambers and flush the static K1 chamber.
Again I use speedfit pipe, fittings and shut off valves - much cheaper than anything from a koi dealer.
Try these links.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/13133/Plumbin ... -Taps-15mm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/50422/Plumbin ... l-Tee-15mm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Screwfix only sell the pipe in bulk, so I usually buy the 2m lengths from Wickes when I need some.
Not sure if the matting/lid idea will work as I've never tried it - but someone on here probably has!
As the K1 gets dirtier and the channels start to block, the low of water actually lifts the K1 a bit. I don't know if this would actually lift the matting and let the K1 escape under it and into the next chamber
(but don't clean it too often as some dirt in the system actually helps to catch smaller particles). 
Cheers
Again I use speedfit pipe, fittings and shut off valves - much cheaper than anything from a koi dealer.
Try these links.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/13133/Plumbin ... -Taps-15mm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/50422/Plumbin ... l-Tee-15mm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Screwfix only sell the pipe in bulk, so I usually buy the 2m lengths from Wickes when I need some.
Not sure if the matting/lid idea will work as I've never tried it - but someone on here probably has!
As the K1 gets dirtier and the channels start to block, the low of water actually lifts the K1 a bit. I don't know if this would actually lift the matting and let the K1 escape under it and into the next chamber
(but don't clean it too often as some dirt in the system actually helps to catch smaller particles). Cheers
Re: Pre-filter options
Thanks Bob
What air pump are you using.
I was thinking of using 15mm pipe to put air in static to clean but interested to see how you connected your hose to air pump etc?
Andy
What air pump are you using.
I was thinking of using 15mm pipe to put air in static to clean but interested to see how you connected your hose to air pump etc?
Andy
Re: Pre-filter options
looked today in jewsons and hopeless,ended up buying 1" soft pipe from charlewood koi and making a loop cable tied and drilled 2mm holes and sank into static K1. not ideal but jewsons had no rend caps for 22mm pipe. the flexi 1" with 2mm holes bubbles like buggery though, amazing crap came out of waste pipe.