10 replies to this topic

[fish]

I have a water fall weir that is about 15X18 by about 24 inches deep with a 3500 gph pump feeding water in to the weir near the bottom. The weir is now filled with fist size rocks. Would it be worth filling the weir with scrubbies and putting a grate near the top to help filter the water?

[DrCase]

It will add filtration to your pond
Why you are taking out the rocks , Add a bulk head and a valve on the bottom to the weir.
It will make flushing it out easy

[koiguy1969]

Dr Case.. goood thinking about adding the flush valve... i would swap out about 1/2 the stones for scrubbies and do the rest in a week or so to give time for bacterial growth and transfer. or treat the scrubbies with microbelifts PL GEL filter innoculant..

[j.w]

DrCase said:

It will add filtration to your pond
Why you are taking out the rocks , Add a bulk head and a valve on the bottom to the weir.
It will make flushing it out easy

What is a bulk head? I can visualize the valve for opening and shutting but the bulk head not so much

[koiguy1969]

a bulk head is the water tight mounting fixture for running your plumbing thru the wall(s) of filter chambers etc.. i used shower drain setups instead.

[j.w]

j.w said:

What is a bulk head? I can visualize the valve for opening and shutting but the bulk head not so much

Never mind I looked it up and found that it is just where the hose connects to the weir bringing water in so that's fine. Now I just need to add scrubbies and I think I will put them in a big netted bag for easy lifting in and out for cleaning. This bag should sit on a crate of something right so water flows underneath?

[j.w]

OOps sorry you posted before I reposted

[j.w]

Fish also mentioned using a grate..........is that necessary or would it help at all?

[koiguy1969]

Dr Case is talking about cutting a new hole on the bottom of the filters chamber for a flush valve...you simply open the valve and the chamber water drains and takes much of the fish wastes and such with it. check out our 55gallon biofilter designs in the DIY section for elaboration.
the grate sets ontop of the scrubbies to keep them in the filter chamber, not traveling down the weir to your pond. like i said check out our filters.. stickied to the top of the DIY list

[j.w]

Ok thanks and I will check it out.

[fish]

Thanks DrChase and Koiguy. I never thought about the drain in the weir. That is a good idea. Won't be able to do anything for about a month. We had 39 inches on snow about 10 days ago with 20 inches still on the ground and more snow predicted for tomarrow. I've lived here for 30 years and never had snow llike this. We are getting snow that usually hits Ceveland and Buffalo.