Dangerous Brian pays another visit

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:36 am

What a loverly day it was yesterday for a bit of filter modifications, had to make up a bit of a temporary cover. Got absolutly soacked putting it up, then it collapsed once into the pond. Few more braces and screws and hey presto dry inside!

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... IM0261.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... IM0260.JPG[/img]

I havent been impressed with the settlement area I created earlier this year. It does settle out the solids and doesnt seem to upset the water in any way, with a once a week hoover. But it's not large enough really for the throughput I want, so it had to go.

I have 3 bottom drains, so each drain will now be filtering seperatly. 2 of the drains will have pairs Vortex's attached, the third will pump to a double Bakki Shower, with the skimmer and a mid water feed. Each pair of Vortex's will work in a similar way to a Nexus. It will have the normal vortex sellement and then static K1 in the first Vortex, then in the second Vortex it will have aerated K1. Then pump and a newly designed HX and back to the pond.

So rather than spend Ã‚Â£200-Ã‚Â£250 on 3 4" ball valves, I made up some 4" isolators from 2" pipe and some rubber toilet pan connectors. These act like the unit used to isolate the middle outlet pipe on Nexus units. I'll show some pictures of these later, but easy to make.

Here's a picture showing one in place.
[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... IM0256.JPG[/img]

I had to cut away some of the fibreglass slope where the 3 bottom drains enter the chamber so I could connect low enough. Connection will be using the rubber boots and I'll be fitting 'T's. The 'T' part will feed the filter, the upstand will allow the isolator to be retained in place. This means all I have to do in the future is just push it down to isolate the incoming flow.
[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... IM0264.JPG[/img]

This picture shows the 3 'T' in place, with the 'T' on the right having the 4" pipe going off to the second set of vortex's.

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... IM0263.JPG[/img]

More later ........

dfinn · Post by **dfinn** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:11 pm

Hi,

Looking good Bob, in the last picture is that 4th inlet the mid water feed?

Look forward to seeing the rest of the mods.

Thanks,

Daniel

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:55 pm

Yes Daniel, that's a 3" side wall drain, which has an Aquamaz 15000 on it pumping up to a single Bakki shower.

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:30 pm

You cut away all my hard work

Hope its gone OK mate and you got done what you needed to do without to many problems or too much rain.

I reckon this could be one of the last modifications you will make.........before the new build

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:11 pm

First 2 Vortex's and all associated pipework completed today. Decided to let all the glue dry overnight and will fill tomorrow.

Will add some more pictures tomorrow as well.

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:18 pm

OK Bob so go on give us the low down on whats what so i take it when you say first two is this one set

So is this a static and fluidised K1 and how much K1 do you think you will be using

Will you still be having one of the large K1 chambers

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:25 pm

This is the first 'pair' off of a single bottom drain. First of the pair will act as a vortex, then static K1, The second of the pair will be fulidised K1. Then pumped directly back to the pond via a new HX.

Later off of another bottom drain, I'll do the same again. Got a few concrete bloack walls to remove first, so that may be a while yet!

macaws fly · Post by **macaws fly** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:41 am

great idea with the "T" pieces. itll make it very easy to clean out the bottomdrain pipe work without having to poke anything through the vortex.

i'm sure this is/was a method used years and years ago...
and i bet it saved you quite a few quid in the process..

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:51 pm

Mark - The 'T's with isolators work very well. Haven't seen the anywhere before, but a conversion on Tomy2ponds pond recently by Jules made me think of using the 'T'.

This is the first pair of Vortex's fitted now, off of 1-bottom drain. 50 litres of K1 in the Easy and another 80 litres aerated in the 2nd vortex. A sequence 10000 is returning the water back to the pond. Haven't measured the pump output, but in a short run with no obstructions, it looks to be doing a good job judging by the drop in levels!
[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... IM0291.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... IM0292.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... IM0293.JPG[/img]

Now I just need to demolish 3 more adjoining chamber walls and remove the benching, see picture. All concrete blocks/bricks/render/fibreglassed, so some effort is needed. Then I'll be able to fit the second pair of Vortex's, constructed in a similar way.
[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... IM0294.JPG[/img]

What I've decided to do it to actually take more out. Where yo can see some grasses and a pine tree behind the 2 low lying conifers, I'm going to remove all of that. The grasses are actually in an old vegetable filter, built of concrete blocks and concrete! This will create a walk into filter bay and perhaps a small seating area. This will mean taking out the side walls of at least 2 of the old filter chambers, so once again a big demolition job. Just need some Strong boys who dont have much to do at weekends!
[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... IM0295.JPG[/img]

Oh yes, then I have to add the poly carb roof/pergola, nearly 40 foot of it! I think this lot will keep me busy for another year or so.

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:49 pm

Looks like i will have a couple of busy weekends coming up in the future then......i will hold all the power tools this time Bob and when you get in the hole with one i will be getting out

Looking good mate how big is the bio vortex

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:52 pm

It's a 2-footer Gazza.

How much K1 do you have in yours?

It's been a quite affair this time, no near-misses - LOL

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:57 pm

You can read me like a book Mr Hart

I have about 120lts if i remember correctly but it all got a bit messy when i started the conversions as i took some out then added more

I do know that in all i have bought 350lts of K1 in total and its all in there somewhere....well thats without some that has escaped over the years from an overflow or two

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:04 pm

I've got an 80 litre air pump running it, what about you?

80 litres of K1 was just about all that would fir in there. I added another 20 litres, then it stopped moving about in places, so removed that 20 again.

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:09 pm

Hi Bob,

I have only got 40's working mine and it around OK how low did you put your bottom grid

Are they the same size vortexes as mine and have you got the home made air ring

I was just about to say i much have less K1 but remember the last lot we bought that was 100lts wasn't it as that went into my last chamber when i removed the matting

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:11 pm

Speedy fit air ring, very near the bottom.

Air pump is some 20+ feet away though, so maybe when I move it nearer it will add some more. It is belting air through the K1 though.