WHAT PUMP SIZE FOR TT ?

[mio]

Hi Chris ..
TT`s along with BAKKI`S do reduce Nitrate so say many people who use them - including my dealer friend ..
the MECHANISM of how they achieve this hasn`t been proven so is still SPECULATIVE ..
Here are some hypotheses ..
http://www.mpks.org/articles/BryBateman/TrickleTower.html

I will assume that i can go ahead and pump 1600 galls through the TT - as action has to be taken sooner rather than later with even more Evil Lurgy on the rampage ..

[Gazza]

Hi Mio,

I run a large TT filled with BHM and i use an Aquamax 16000 on it now and it works great and i can see the flow in the pond

[boogatee]

Thanks Mio, it would be nice if you published your Nitrate on a "before and after"

With regards to what you can pump through your TT ... as much as you can without it collecting at the bottom. In terms of media I've been told that the Blagdon ceramic media works as good as BHM at a fraction of the cost.

here http://www.blagdonwatergardens.co.uk/blagdo ... a_1601.htm

[mio]

Thank`s guys for all the replies .. what would i do without you all ..

Can`t afford BHM (wish i could) and even the B-ceramic would cost a fortune for a TT that size - so i`m going with Ed and the CHEMIST suggestion of Lava rock .. (not alfagrog)

The Carbon/charcoal addition which i might combine with zeolite was for removing toxins from the water while the TT is maturing ..i don`t mind replacing this weekly as it`s just cheap anthracite ..


Chris - i will monitor the Nitrate but have only ever had 1 episode following treatment of the B-WEED of an actual spike in this - the values having been 0 for Amm /Nit along with Nitrate for over 4 years and the pool will have freshly trickled water into it for the remainder of the summer - It`s a big GAMBLE - but i have no other choice ..

[Bob Hart]

Mio,

Where do you get Lava rock from? The reason for asking is that it is used a lot in the States and seems very effective, but I dont recall seeing it for sale over here?

[mio]

Bob this seller will combine several 10lb units for 1 postage fee .. so 25 kilos would cost £50 and it`s £40 ish for 9 kilos of B- ceramic - the Anthracite i`ll be combining with it is around £6 a bag ..


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?View ... :IT&ih=018

This one has a minimum of 50KG order value which works out roughly the same price ..
http://www.japangarden.co.uk/Lava-Rock-per-50kg-pr-338.html

Certainly the CHEMIST from across the pond raves about it`s ability to colonize Nitrifying bacteria especially for those on tight budgets - see the link i posted earlier - he does suggest buying the larger pieces if possible..

My TT outlet is 3 ins - it also has a facility for adding a fan for aeration Does anyone know what these fans are or where to get them please - I`ll be running an 11000 lph pump through it ..

[Bob Hart]

Go for it, if it works then it is a good cheap way of dong things.

[vippymini]

i know there hae been posts before questioning its effectiveness but why not use alfagrog, its even cheaper than the lava-rock and it made of cintered ceramics.
if you can find a couple of those round pond planting baskets with all the holes in you could fill them and then lower them into the TT on top of each other, so when you need to remove the media at some point (for cleaning) its easy just pull out the baskets and hose them down.

[mio]

Hi Jane ..

Alfagrog would be cheaper and i already have it in one of my other Filters - I wanted to experiment with Lava Rock because it is a far superior colonizing media than is alfagrog say the numerous testimonials from across the pond - It`s a kind of experiment if you like - as is the Anthracite ..

Can i fill the TT to the top with the Media please

[Gazza]

Hi Mio,

My TT is filled to the top with media and works OK and i run the water through fast,the main thing to make sure you don't get any build up of any waste in the TT or the media.