At the cross roads between filter types - need help...

[poobs]

Hello fellow members !!!


I have a 2500 in-ground pond in the Florida sun.


Filter is an old Nitramax by AZ Ponds. ( A converted pool sand filter )

This filter doubles as Biological and Mechanical filtration but it doesn't filter very well mechanically and it doesn't back wash unless I manually stir the media with my arm before switching the valve to back- wash mode.


Lately the filter has been showing its age. I thought about rebuilding the valve but it is fairly obsolete.


So my options as I see them are as follows:


A Pricey Koi Pond Filter such as the Ultima $$$$


A new pool sand filter that I would adapt to koi pond duty by changing to a koi pond media instead of sand.


A DIY design such as those floating around the web.


Any filter I decide to implement will change the basic lay-out of the pond as far as the filtration goes…. I will change the location of the filter, reduce the number and angle of piping bends to and from the filter, add a pump pit so as to lower the pump below the pond water level, add a pre filter and or possibly a Siff style filter.


An absolute MUST in this project is that the filter be able to back-wash.


I’m a little undecided about the DIY type since I’m not aware of any of these that truly back wash.


Any ideas, comments etc greatly appreciated. J


BTW For some reason I’m not able to view photos in this forum .


Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Tula]

My husband built a Sand and Gravel filter this Spring and it works well and can be back washed, with a blower. Our pond is smaller then yours, at 1700 gallons.

 

[poobs]

My husband built a Sand and Gravel filter this Spring and it works well and can be back washed, with a blower. Our pond is smaller then yours, at 1700 gallons.

Thank you for your prompt response.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Whatever you decide for providing biofiltration you also need to supply separate mechanical filtration. Dual purpose (mechanical/biological) filters are, frankly, a joke.

 

[poobs]

You're right ! Most design compromises leave something on the design table.

This is the reason I said I would add something to the filter either before or after .... probably before to reduce the load on the filter .

 

[Mmathis]

Whatever you decide for providing biofiltration you also need to supply separate mechanical filtration. Dual purpose (mechanical/biological) filters are, frankly, a joke.

Yep!

 

[poobs]

Come to think of it ..... If I have to add something in front of the main filter to keep it so a back wash will make it ready to filter again and that pre filter is going to get real mucky - that sort of defeats the purpose of having a filter that is back - washable via a valve like a pool filter.

 

[Gemma]

. Dual purpose (mechanical/biological) filters are, frankly, a joke.

Is a skimmer box and waterfall stocked with media a "dual purpose" filter?

 

[sissy]

I don;t have a mechanical filter and never have had one .Lava rock, furnace filters and quilt batting works for me .I guess in a way the crate on top of my filter is a type of home made mechanical filter .I know it works

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Is a skimmer box and waterfall stocked with media a "dual purpose" filter?

No, because these are two separate units. One is primarily for mechanical filtration (skimmer) and one is primarily for biofiltration (waterfall filter).

 

[Gemma]

No, because these are two separate units. One is primarily for mechanical filtration (skimmer) and one is primarily for biofiltration (waterfall filter).

I'm so glad you said that! I always seen it as one single unit, that's why I asked!

 

[poobs]

I've been over thinking this.....

Had a skimmer normally sold for above ground pools that worked well as a skimmer for leaves and an occasional fish. It also Td to a valve and bottom pick up so I could gather leaves both form surface and bottom.
I removed the skimmer cause I got tired of emptying in the fall. Instead I would pick the junk from the bottom with a hand held pool skimmer basket thing.

 

[poobs]

It looks like I need to dig a pump pit to get my pump and maybe a Sieve below water level ? I just had a fit after I cleaned my filter. Tried sticking the shop vac into it and blowing the media around. Crap, media and water went everywhere !!! Even the fish laughed

 

[sissy]

Had to laugh ,should have made a video of that so we could have all gotten and laugh out of it

 

[poobs]

Had to laugh ,should have made a video of that so we could have all gotten and laugh out of it

I should have some sort of helmet with a Go- Pro Camera. LOL Now Im on the hunt for a square - rectangular type of plastic kitchen garbage pale to make a DIY Sieve. Sort of a proof of concept for my amount of flow etc.