Filtration advice please

[e4sby]

I'm currently having built a 4500g pond and now its come down to what filtration i should go for, so i'm looking for a little advice from the experts as i'm a complete novice!



The pond has two bottom drains and a skimmer. With so many variations which i could use i was wondering what your advice would be. At present i think we're going for a sieve with two bead filters one for the skimmer and one from the sieve.

My main question is would it be better to use a Nexus and if so which size and can the skimmer and feed from the pond be used for the one filter or is it adviseable to have two seperate filters say a nexus 200 and a smaller bead filter for the skimmer plus the sieve?

Now a Pod has been thrown into the equation, one thing i won't be using is a shower.

I would estimate we have budgeted around £1500 - £2000 for the actual filtration.

Any help or advice is much appreciated and i will be posting pics of the build pretty soon when i find the cable to connect the camera to the laptop!

[Gazza]

Hi Chris,

I am not 100% sure on where you are going to put what filter as you will need two for the bottom drains (one each) and one for the skimmer.

The Nexus are great if you have the room so defiantly go for one of those and also bead filters can help remove the fines so another good idea if you are going for a Bakki Shower are you going to use BHM

I suppose you could also have two Nexus 200's and a bead filter on the skimmer to be honest it all depends on what you like or want to be honest.The one thing to also take into account is electricity as some bead filters require a high wattage pump and if your going for three sets of filtration you will need three pumps running

Still at least your going for it with plenty of filtration which is defiantly a big plus

[son of feeeshpond]

" one thing i won't be using is a shower."

Any particular reasons why you won't be using a shower?

[Smart Koi]

Hi e4sby,

As Gazza has said if you have the space the Nexus is a great piece of kit to just connect up and play.

With two bottom drains and a skimmer you are looking at running at least 3 pumps. I personally would not bother with a sieve in front of the Nexus as the Eazy within the nexus should do a good job of removing the fines on its own.

Secondly if you put a sieve between the pond and the nexus I believe you will need to run two pumps on the nexus to get the flow right. This could end up with loads of pumps and all that is going to mean is more cost both to buy and to run.

Why would you not use a shower off one of the bottom drains? There are many on here who do and if filled with BHM, they throw all kinds of muck at them direct from the drain without having to clean them out.

I also think that unless you are buying second hand you will struggle to get the equipment you mention within the £2 k budget and thats without the pumps.

An eazypod on the skimmer would be a reasonably cost effective option there though.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Dean.

[Davej]

Hi Chris

Personally I would invest a small amount in fuel costs to have a look at some existing ponds of similar size, you can then see what various set ups actually deliver -,most of the Guys on the forum would happily accommodate you.

Regards

Dave

[e4sby]

Thanks for all your help and suggestions so far. I'm still not sure what i'm going for yet.

I'm not intending using a shower as the pond walls are pretty much finished and i haven't planned anywhere for the shower to go.

If i was to 'T' both drains into one and run them through a sieve then a bead filter and use an eazy pod/small beadfilter for the skimmer would this work?

I don't think i would have enough space for a Nexus 300 as the footprint will be too large for the space i have planned.

[carlejo]

don't T both drains together, you'll drastically reduce 'pull' through them........ each darin needs a separate filter really, I agree with Gazza.... a nexus 200 easy on each BD and a bead filter on the skimmer would be very good.

[Bob Hart]

If you 'T' the drains togther and put them through a Sieve and then a large bead, you will be able to shut off one drain at a time to pull through any muck that has laid in the pipes. You could have got away with a single drain on this size of pond though.

If you did this and put a pod on the skimmer, you may still struggle for £2k, but you wont be far off.

Alternativly a Nexus 200 is sized for a pond of up to 4000 gallons, so with aditonal filtration on the skimmer you may be OK with just a single Nexus 200. It will depend on fish loading over time.

2 x Nexus 200's and then a sieve and bead on the skimmer would be very good, but you will need a lot more than £2k unless being able to pick equipment up second hand.

A single Nexus 200 and a pod on the skimmer would give you the lowest pump wattage, which is something you need to be aware of over the life of your pond.

[B.Scott]

Personally I would have reservations about pushing a nexus to the maximum filtration level.\

B.Scott

[estanque_koi]

I personally would go for a gravity fed, low head system based on static K1+aerated K1.
But here you have a different option, ready to plug & play. Everything in the picture included, just for 2600 euro
http://koi.traneo.de/catalog/product_info.p ... 1aa43c6d20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A second 110 mm inlet can be done in the ultrasieve II in order to acomodate each bottom drain pipe independently, a friend of mine has got one unit tuned like that.

[Thorny]

You could put two drains into an Ultra sieve III Then pump them through a large bead filter. You will need a Speck pump or something along those lines, These pumps are high wattage, but can give You 2000 gallons from each drain. Then You gravity feed Your skimmer into a pod. You can use an Eco 8000 pump and put that through Your UV. Always use two inch pipe work this will give You more flow through Your pipework. If You shop around and see what deals You dealer will do I should think You will come in within You filtration budget.
Good luck
Justin