Shaun/Dave T,
I do think like others that I wouldnt want a filter full of crap sitting there, potentially polluting my pond water. I cant get over cleaning it every 2-weeks, or even every 2-months. If it's poop, I dont want it in my pond/system.
Cant get my head round this design.
Block built filter debate
Moderators: B.Scott, vippymini, Gazza, Manky Sanke
Some good points and an excellent discussion. Thank you for posting your pictures Dave and Shaun welcome to the Board.
1 question for you both. If you were to build your block built filters again what would you change?
I am still looking for some one to sell me block built filters and the reasons why. I would also like to know what ORP and TDS readings you have. Thanks Gents.
Jules
1 question for you both. If you were to build your block built filters again what would you change?
I am still looking for some one to sell me block built filters and the reasons why. I would also like to know what ORP and TDS readings you have. Thanks Gents.
Jules
Bob
I dont have a filter full of poo just sitting there,it is more of a thin layer of brown dust along the length of the settlement so is not confined to one area to build up. I cant understand why you can not get your head round this design when the Japanese breeders are still useing block filters and have done for many years. I have a question: Why dont we see any Nexus units out in Japan?
Jules: The only changes i would do to my filter is i would have put two slide valves on the two 4" exit ports in the settlement instead of two stand pipes i use now which can be a bit awkward to lean over and fit them on.
Other wise i would not change anything if i was to build again as i think you get a lot more volume of water for your money which equals more retention time in the filters which cant be a bad thing.
Jules the only downside i can see with these filters are like you say you cant take them with you if you move.
Regards, Shaun.
I dont have a filter full of poo just sitting there,it is more of a thin layer of brown dust along the length of the settlement so is not confined to one area to build up. I cant understand why you can not get your head round this design when the Japanese breeders are still useing block filters and have done for many years. I have a question: Why dont we see any Nexus units out in Japan?
Jules: The only changes i would do to my filter is i would have put two slide valves on the two 4" exit ports in the settlement instead of two stand pipes i use now which can be a bit awkward to lean over and fit them on.
Other wise i would not change anything if i was to build again as i think you get a lot more volume of water for your money which equals more retention time in the filters which cant be a bad thing.
Jules the only downside i can see with these filters are like you say you cant take them with you if you move.
Regards, Shaun.
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Bob Hart
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Hi Shaun,
Many if not most of the Japanese dealers have water running through their filters 24/7 and this dilutes any 'poop' issues. I think this is how they can get away with filters that many of us would shy away from.
Do you change much water from your system? I would be concerned about KH being used up, maybe you could explain some more to us about how the system works, what you add to the water, if anything? Do you take reading of the KH/pH?
Many if not most of the Japanese dealers have water running through their filters 24/7 and this dilutes any 'poop' issues. I think this is how they can get away with filters that many of us would shy away from.
Do you change much water from your system? I would be concerned about KH being used up, maybe you could explain some more to us about how the system works, what you add to the water, if anything? Do you take reading of the KH/pH?
Alright I will admit to having a settlement system, admittedly it is only 1.2 m by 1 m so it could be bigger!! 
Clean it once every 2 month?? Clean it twice a week without fail!! I have changed the system to take a whacking great big vortex with static K1 in front now. Flush that everyday and clean the K1 twice a week. The settlement now finally has a fine coating instead of 2 inches of crap. I am so much happier now.
I think I said to Gary Richards, I will shoot anyone who advises a settlement chamber. Now where is my shot gun.
Settlement chambers do work and can work, but not when you have 25 x 24" koi swimming in about 5000 gallons of water eating something like 0.5 kg of food a day!
Clean it once every 2 month?? Clean it twice a week without fail!! I have changed the system to take a whacking great big vortex with static K1 in front now. Flush that everyday and clean the K1 twice a week. The settlement now finally has a fine coating instead of 2 inches of crap. I am so much happier now.
I think I said to Gary Richards, I will shoot anyone who advises a settlement chamber. Now where is my shot gun.
Settlement chambers do work and can work, but not when you have 25 x 24" koi swimming in about 5000 gallons of water eating something like 0.5 kg of food a day!
Hi
The only thing I would change is use a different pump......
If I was move house & build again ..... Id use the same filteration method for sure and probably go bigger with the settlement.The pond would be twice the size (10k) and indoors in a large fish house. I would use a screw type pump to turn the water over instead of my 2 aquamax.The pump standing in the bio chamber returning the water over the wall into the main pond.No pipe runs, valves etc = reduced building cost... this couldnt be done with any other filter on the market.This method would also allow me to turn over twice the volume of water of my existing pond for the same running cost using a screw type pump.
One more thing....My pond is unheated if I was to heat I would not use settlement filteration...instead Id probaly use a sieve & bead.
I think filters of whatever kind boil down to your intentions & what suits your needs at the end of the day.
Also dho...settlemnt of a few feet will NEVER work ...they must be big...
SIZE MATTERS .
The only thing I would change is use a different pump......
If I was move house & build again ..... Id use the same filteration method for sure and probably go bigger with the settlement.The pond would be twice the size (10k) and indoors in a large fish house. I would use a screw type pump to turn the water over instead of my 2 aquamax.The pump standing in the bio chamber returning the water over the wall into the main pond.No pipe runs, valves etc = reduced building cost... this couldnt be done with any other filter on the market.This method would also allow me to turn over twice the volume of water of my existing pond for the same running cost using a screw type pump.
One more thing....My pond is unheated if I was to heat I would not use settlement filteration...instead Id probaly use a sieve & bead.
I think filters of whatever kind boil down to your intentions & what suits your needs at the end of the day.
Also dho...settlemnt of a few feet will NEVER work ...they must be big...
SIZE MATTERS .
I have seen a couple of block built filter systems on smaller pond sizes (around 2000 gallons). These block built filters would probably hold at least 1000 gallons alone and add that onto the volume of the pond and you have a system that is around 3000 gallons. This would mean that for a pond of 2000 gallons you have the running costs of a pond that is 3000 gallons, when heated that is going to make a huge difference.
Putting an Eazy 200 on the same size pond would only increase the water volume by about 100 gallons, meaing that the running costs would be a fair bit lower.
I know block built filters are usually the cheapest option during construction but it makes me wonder how long it would take before it actually starts costing you money!
Putting an Eazy 200 on the same size pond would only increase the water volume by about 100 gallons, meaing that the running costs would be a fair bit lower.
I know block built filters are usually the cheapest option during construction but it makes me wonder how long it would take before it actually starts costing you money!
Sorry don't have 12ft of space for the settlement! So I guess thats the biggest downfall with a the settlement chamber. My total filter length was about 12 ft. I thought that was too big (i.e. taking up too much space) already. So definitely not going anywhere near a settlement chamber again. No problems with block build filter though. Mine works fine, especially now that I have added a vortex with static K1 up front. 
Hi Bob
I will change around 10% every fortnight in the summer, when feeding 120g of growth across 4-6 feeds a day. I don’t add any clays or conditioners to the water but I do have a constant trickle to waste, which means I don’t have to change as much water.
My readings are: Ph 8 Ammonia 0 and Nitrite 0, I don’t test for KH ORP and TDS because I have not got the test kits (sorry).
My system works on a linear flow through the filter, which consists of a K1 chamber of a 150 liters and the Japp matting chamber, which is made up in four cartridges out of 11 sheets of matting. I use 2 Aquamax 5,500 dry mounted on this filter, a UV 55 and two Airtechs one on bottom drain a 40 and a 80 in the filters.
I will try and post some pics of filter and pond.
Regards, Shaun.
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... 2Small.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... 8Small.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... 7Small.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... 2Small.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... 0Small.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com[IMG]http://i49.p ... 5Small.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/457457/IMG_0296.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums[IMG]http: ... 4Small.jpg[/img]
I will change around 10% every fortnight in the summer, when feeding 120g of growth across 4-6 feeds a day. I don’t add any clays or conditioners to the water but I do have a constant trickle to waste, which means I don’t have to change as much water.
My readings are: Ph 8 Ammonia 0 and Nitrite 0, I don’t test for KH ORP and TDS because I have not got the test kits (sorry).
My system works on a linear flow through the filter, which consists of a K1 chamber of a 150 liters and the Japp matting chamber, which is made up in four cartridges out of 11 sheets of matting. I use 2 Aquamax 5,500 dry mounted on this filter, a UV 55 and two Airtechs one on bottom drain a 40 and a 80 in the filters.
I will try and post some pics of filter and pond.
Regards, Shaun.
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... 2Small.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... 8Small.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... 7Small.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... 2Small.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... 0Small.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com[IMG]http://i49.p ... 5Small.jpg[/img]
![://i49.photobucket.com[IMG]http://i49.p ... 5Small.jpg](%3A//i49.photobucket.com%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/457457/IMG_1205Small.jpg){kind=link}
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/457457/IMG_0296.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums[IMG]http: ... 4Small.jpg[/img]
![://i49.photobucket.com/albums[IMG]http: ... 4Small.jpg](%3A//i49.photobucket.com/albums%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/457457/IMG_1544Small.jpg){kind=link}
Hi
I seemed to have made a right pigs ear of them pics.
Will try a couple more here goes:
[IMG]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... _1_3_1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... 4Small.jpg[/img]
Regards, Shaun.
I seemed to have made a right pigs ear of them pics.
Will try a couple more here goes:
[IMG]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... _1_3_1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/4574 ... 4Small.jpg[/img]
Regards, Shaun.
Shaun
Must say that is a beatiful looking set up you have, fantastic effort.
As regards block built over modern small footprint. I too have the small footprint due to limited space. The massive advantage that block built in my opinion has is the complete peace of mind you'd have during your 2, 3 or even 4 weeks in the sun. If l had the space that edge would turn it for me.
Mike
Must say that is a beatiful looking set up you have, fantastic effort.
As regards block built over modern small footprint. I too have the small footprint due to limited space. The massive advantage that block built in my opinion has is the complete peace of mind you'd have during your 2, 3 or even 4 weeks in the sun. If l had the space that edge would turn it for me.
Mike