Filter configuration

[Jon W]

Hi everyone

I keep changing what's left of my mind about the filter configuration for my growing on pond. This means that I spend a lot of time looking at it and no time building the plinths to stand the filters on and sorting out the pipework. I wonder if anyone can help me with the following conundrum;

Pond is 1,800 gal with one Spindrifter bottom drain and a skimmer with 4" pipework. The kit I have available is;

1 Cloverleaf CL3 multichamber filter
2 x RTF upflow filter chambers
1 24" vortex
4 tier shower

My plan at the moment is;
From the bottom drain - to use the vortex as primary settlement followed by the CL3. First chamber as static K1, second as fluid k1, third Jap matting and 4th as either empty for adding treatment e.g. oyster shell for buffering) or more K1/Jap matting. Pumped by a Aquamax 10,000 giving roughly pond turnover once per hour

From skimmer - pass through 3KW elecro heater, then over shower (ultimately 50Kg of BHM, but initially 20 Kg of BHM in top 2 trays with flocor/K1/K3 in the rest). Pump Sequence 12000, giving approx turnover of 1 1/2 pond turnover per hour.

Can anyone improve on any aspect of the above?


Thanks

Jon

[vippymini]

all sounds fine, but i'd put the heater on the main filter as otherwise your putting heated water at the top of the shower only for it to cool by the time its reached the bottom. just money thrown to the atmostphere

[Jon W]

Hi Jane

Whole thing is indoors and will be encased in polycarb so I'm not too worried about heat loss via the shower (my main worry with the shower was adequate gassing off without unduly reducing insulation but I think I've got that sorted). I put the heater on the skimmer line because it will probably need a separate electrical feed and I wanted to keep the run as short as possible. Are there any other factors that would make having the heater on the BD?

Thanks

Jon

[steveW]

Its just the standard way that you put the heater on BD as there will be less chance of it running empty and burning out
even indoors you still dont want to be wasting elctricity, at todays prices

usually the UV is on the skimmer line, i note you dont mention a UV , you will still need unless the pond is dark 24/7

[Jon W]

Hi Steve

Hadn't thought of the self emptying pond situation - I think I will stick it on the BD afterall.

To be honest I was going to try it without a UV. My 300 gal hospital tank is in the same location as the new pond and has been running for about 8 months without UVe and the water has remained perfectly clear. What I might do is try it without but leave plenty of space so I can retro fit one should I end up with a pea soup!

Cheers

Jon