Vortex Modification

[Gazza]

Hi Guys,

I had previously modified my last vortex from Japanese matting to fluidised K1 and this has worked fine and has been running for a few years. The only thing was this was done a bit temporarily with a home made piece of 4” pipe with slots in but as this wasn’t pressure pipe the slots where a bit close together and I would sometimes have K1 escaping into the pump. So at last I managed to get round to cutting and striping it all out and replacing with a purpose made stainless steel transfer port. I also wanted to cut the pipe out and install new pipe from the pump so I could remove one extra bend and also install the pipe lower in the vortex to make sure I don’t get any problems when the level is lower for any reason.

So that was it out with the saw and cut out all the old pipe and rip out all the old stuff in the vortex and make sure with a dry run that I got the position of the new pipe nice and low and in a good position so I could drill a new hole for the 2” pipe work into the vortex.

I then drilled the new hole and made sure the pipe was a nice tight fit and all the new pipe work would all go together from the pump in the shed to the vortex. Once I was happy with all the fittings they was marked up and then glued one by one until it was all set from the pump to the middle of the vortex. I then mounted the last parts together and fitted them so they sat within the vortex roughly in the middle. This will give me a better flow as there is one less bend and also two 45 bends. Also the new transfer port is much better than my home made effort so this will also increase the flow through the filters as well (not that there is anything wrong).

Once all the pipes where in position I made sure everything was correct and ready to go and then sealed this all up with some sticky black stuff which makes a mess but does a great job for this type of thing. There was also the matter of the old hole which was covered with tow oversize plastic covers one on the outside and one on the inside which where also stuck in place with the sticky black stuff. This was then gently heated up to help cure and left for a few hours to make sure its set and ready to go. This does go off within water but I like to give it a good head start first especially if it’s got lots of K1 smashing around it.

All that was left to do was to make one last check that everything was sorted and tight and also glued and then it was time to fill. The bottom drain was opened until the vortex was filling up past the new joints. The bottom drain was then closed so I could make an inspection around all the joints and pipe work to makes sure there wasn’t any leaks…what a stroke of luck so far so good. I then finished filling the vortex and opened all the valves on the pump and again had a good look around for any leaks and problems which all seemed OK. After a while and some more checks back in went the K1 and it bubbled away nicely so another little job ticked off the list.

Here are some pictures from the day:

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244233827[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244233855[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244233867[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244233891[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244233913[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244233956[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244233971[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244234080[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244234204[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244234232[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244234258[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244234289[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244234332[/img]

[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Gazk ... 1244234705[/img]

[emmaandaj]

Hi Gazza,

Lovely neat job as always You make it sound so easy! Didnt you use this as a static k1 chamber as well sometimes? Have you got any pics of your first static k1 chamber?

Hope the plants are still alive and well

Andy

[Bob Hart]

Nice job as usual Gazza.

Great pictures which show it all step by step, helps anyone who doesnt know how to do anything like this

[Gazza]

Hi Guys,

I like doing all the pictures it helps show it step by step

Andy do you mean pictures of it from start to finish

[Myles]

HI Gazza,

Sorry buddy but I actually have a criticism. You should of used stainless steel mesh on the bottom instead of the black plastic,

When I did mine I placed a piece of stainles steel mesh over the hole on the bottom of vortex( To stop K1 escaping on drain downs), then ontop I placed a piece of regular filtergrid then ontop of the filtergrid I placed an aquafuser ( The filter grid is the same size as base of vortex which will be slightly larger than aquafuser base), this means you can get more K1 in as you are using the full depth of the vortex not just the bit above the cone.

[Gazza]

Hi Myles,

Well finny you should say that when i first did the set up and added K1 i did have the grids lower but there was a problem I pump my waste and its all 2" pipe work and when turning on the pump the K1 would clump round the base and restrict the flow and in doing so it wasn't always easy to get rid of all the crap or waste and i like a clean system In doing it this was i have the beauty of the waste falling through the grid and settling out and also when i pump to waste i get full flows out down the drains

I could probably do with a bit more K1 as i only have over 300lts in the system so thats why i have an add on shower with 80kg of BHM so i reckon i may be on the limit with my 4500gls

[Myles]

Well that makes sense now,

yes I can see that on my suggestion you would have an issue with pumping to waste.

[dibble]

Hi Gazza, Andy,

Where do you guys gets these stainless transfer ports from, as i notice your both have them in your K1 set-ups? Are they shop brought or do you have to make them up?

Cheers
Dex

[carlejo]

r i c h d o n koi.....

very good they are too.........look under drains, skimmers and windows section.

[Gazza]

Try this link:

http://www.******-koi.com/shop/?prodid=820" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dibble]

cheers chaps

[dibble]

Hi Gazza,

Another question on this if i may? I've noticed the white pipe you used for the air line in this set-up, and have seen it used quite a lot in the past.

What is it? It looks like something that can be picked up in most diy stores, is that right? I'm looking to do something similar myself. Is it possible to get values and other fittings for this kind of stuff?

Thanks as always
Dex

[Gazza]

Hi Dex Its called speed-fit and most DIY do it 15mm all push fit and easy to use

[welsh_kai_boy]

Gaz, looks pretty flexible but with some rigidity as well?

[Gazza]

Yes its good stuff