DIY shower

[eds]

Ok guys,
I need a bit of expert opinion!
I am looking at adding a shower to my pond next year that will be easy to move to my QT set up. I looked at the gladd fibre option but then was in the garden and saw what I think will be perfect containers - Plastic planting troughs. They are the same size as the glass fibre units, but at a fraction of the price. I was also told the glass fibre units didn't look nice (but plastic planters are ok apparently...)

Anyway the design;
[img]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p169/eds ... filter.jpg[/img]
Each planter will have the base cut out and filter grids stuck in to add strength and stop the media falling out but allowing the water through. 20mm Overflow pipe will be stuck at the top to support the tray above and strengthen the top too.
The base unit will have two pieces of plastic to form a V to send all the water straight into the 2" outlet.

What do you reckon?
Will a 2" outlet be enough? (I have specified 2" as I have 2", but could go to 3" or 4")

And the big question...
With the money I'll save making this should I REALLY buy BHM media or will alfagrog or a plastic media do a good job?
How about as a compromise, 10kg BHM and the rest Alfagrog?

[vippymini]

firstly i would suggest you use 2" pipe from the pump to the spraybar.
then make the spraybar from 3" or 4" pipe. (holes are easier to spread out)
then make the outlet as big as you can as you dont want the bottom tray filling u with water.
then fill with what you can afford. you can then change it as more funds come to hand..

as any good DIY job goes you will be changing it around

[GERRY5]

hi ed , the idea is sound enough , but what size pump are you gonna use to chuck the water over the top ??? i.e. fast flow rates seem to work very well at over 500 galls an hr.or more .and how deep are the planters???, i normally fill mine about half to three quarters full of media so there is an "air gap" for the water to fracture between bays , currently using the cheaper versions as you mentioned and they work very well but would love to use bhm but over 13 bays on showers we have the cost tends to frighten me a bit , also agree with jane regarding the outlet\s bigger the better , you dont want any dead water lying around , as for half and half on the media , i dont see that would be a problem , probably put the bhm at the top level\s as it would appear that its terrific at making all the poop dissapear where as alphagrog would certainly trap and hold it, good luck with your project and lets see some pics when your on your way...

[eds]

Cheers guys,
The planters are 76cm long, 24cm wide and deep. I have 3 already, but am going to buy new ones to modify.
The pump feeding it is only an Aquamax 4000 so the flow rate is 800gph at 0 head. Obviously pumping it up to the top of the shower is going to drop that off a fair bit which is why I thought 1.5" would do, but 2" inlet and 4" outlet will certainly be doable! At the moment it's chucking lots of water to a pump-fed easy on my QT but I haven't acutally checked the flow rate yet.

I think I'll be best sticking to 1.5" flexible hose from the pump though as it needs to be able to be easily moved between pond and QT. What is the advantage of going up to a larger diameter than 2" on the spray bar? Couldn't I overcome the pressure issues by drilling more holes in a 1.5" spraybar?

I'll definitely go bigger on the outlet then. I have some 4" pipe so I'll probably use that. I may leave the bottom unit free from media as some water will almost certainly gather there. Have to see once it's working I suppose!

On the media then, I'll probably start off with all Alfagrog and add some BHM to the top tray once the wallet recovers from other expenses...

Thanks for the advice and info guys and once I start building I will add plenty of piccies!

[pondy]

Hi eds, i've been running my home made Bakki shower for a year now and all seems well, i'm putting 3,500 gph through it with the top layer being plastic bio balls, and alpha grog on the other two layers, i still think you need something to take out the fines rather than just running a Bakki shower. i have a skimmer leading to a sieve on my pond. within the sieve i put some filter paper to take the fines down further.

[brother of feeeshpond]

I slotted my spraybar with a disc cutter instead of drilling holes.
My theory being if the slots become partly blocked with weed etc, then the slots will open up a bit more as opposed to becoming blocked and restricting the flow.
This is on my quarantine/growing on tank.
[b]It works.[/b]

[Andy H]

Could certainly do with more info on this as I was thinking of making a cheap bakki shower with plant troughs too.

[eds]

Could certainly do with more info on this as I was thinking of making a cheap bakki shower with plant troughs too.

I've changed my mind and gone with plastic stacking boxes as they fit my QT tank stand more neatly. Haven't yet converted them yet but it's planned for the next few weeks of my holidays and I will post piccies as I start the job.

[Andy H]

ok ta, where did you get the stacking boxes from?

[eds]

Got them from an online dealer, but they are pretty rubbish so I'm looking at using some stronger ones I got from a supermarket and using the cheap ones for other stuff! I struggled to find a source of the largest planters that would ship me 5 or so. They all wanted to sell me a pallet of them!

[sushi]

Hi Ed,
have you looked at bread crates, they are self supporting, already got grids but a bit big on the holes and stack well. They also alow loads of air to circulate. You would need to to block the sides in come winter to stop the water chilling. They work for me on the q tank, an old pic.

Mark

[img]http://www.koivista.com/files/sushi/28283_qt3.JPG[/img]

[eds]

Hi Mark,
How's things? I did think of bread boxes as I have a load that I used to use when I was selling plants (They are just the right size for 24 9cm square plant pots!!!!) but decided against them becuase of the open sides!

Coincidentally I've started building this today. No pictures I'm afraid as the camera is on holiday but I will take some afterwards. I've cut a slot in the side of the bottom container for the water to pour out of. I've cut the base out of the middle box (leaving a lip so they keep their strength) and just need to do the top one and will be cutting media grid to cover the large hole. I'm not sure whether to glue the grid into the box to improve the strength further and stop it coming out and will have to see how it looks when it's assembled - at the moment I think I'll be able to leave them loose. I'm also going to use some small screws to lock the three boxes together and they they will fit into the steel stand I have over the QT.

Just got to buy the BHM now...

Oh and maybe upgrade the pump as I don't think the Aquamax I've got will pump enough over it! (That may have to wait a bit though).

[eds]

Well here it is.
[img]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p169/eds ... 0_2081.jpg[/img]

Close up of the slot in the bottom,
[img]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p169/eds ... 0_2082.jpg[/img]

View of the inside with the media grids,
[img]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p169/eds ... 0_2083.jpg[/img]

Just need to get some more push fit pipe as I don't seem to have any long bits left and drill the holes in the spraybars.

Oh and get the BHM. Does anyone know the cheapest source? I can see it for £140 a box and no cheaper.

[B.Scott]

One doesn't use the word BHM and Cheap in the same sentence. I doesn't happen ever. There is one dealer who imports it and he controls the price. Unless you get it from outsid the UK or second hand you will not find it cheaper.

B.Scott

PS, Nice job on those boxes!

[Gazza]

Nice looking job you have made there well done it will work a treat

BHM cheap