Darn, I think I have a leak - not all bad news

[GaryMoz]

I've had a few problems, I could not find the leak so turned it off over winter.

I still can't find the leak, although i think it must be very near the top water level, so I've lowered the water level a little so water lose is not too bad.

When I went to start the pond up, the drum filter did not work, it looks like the motor head seized, so I'm just rebuilding that, I should have it back in the pond today.

In doing the testing, I managed to get the main pump cultivating, it turns out the check valve I have in front of it needs a little bit more pressure to open it than normal pond level can be provide, so will need to replace that at some time.

With the bog shut down crap build up on the bottom of the pond and we did get a lot of blanket weed.

With the drum out I did plumb bog back in so did have water running through bog and we have cleaned out the blanket weed, so even without the drum filter in, the water is clear.

I hoping to day I will get the drum filter back in and the pond backup fully working.


I will then have a hunt around the top edge of pond to see if I can spot the leak, the pond has black vertical sides so should be easy (but hasn't been yet)

Then we need to plant up the bog, we did think the leak was near the top of the bog, so a lot of the plants were disturbed.

Oh and we have also had a Heron visit, so in the process of putting some more heron deterrents in.

Other than that quite smoothly

 

[GBBUDD]

typical growing pains , you didn't dig a hole in the ground and stick a preformed tub in it, and called it done. One of reasons i stayed away from the rdf to many moving parts. And traveling all the time was not making me feel warm and fuzzy on it being fully reliable.

i would look at the corners of your weir where the bog comes up to the shelf and drops down to the pond . those corners those L's are notorious for leaks right in the pin point of the corner. Uncured rubber can be bent in ways sheet goods can not because it can be stretched and heated it does not have memory so it will not fight to go back to its original shape . it can be glued to what you have now then maybe a finish piece of your tpo.

 

[j.w]

I've had a few problems, I could not find the leak so turned it off over winter.

I still can't find the leak, although i think it must be very near the top water level, so I've lowered the water level a little so water lose is not too bad.

When I went to start the pond up, the drum filter did not work, it looks like the motor head seized, so I'm just rebuilding that, I should have it back in the pond today.

In doing the testing, I managed to get the main pump cultivating, it turns out the check valve I have in front of it needs a little bit more pressure to open it than normal pond level can be provide, so will need to replace that at some time.

With the bog shut down crap build up on the bottom of the pond and we did get a lot of blanket weed.

With the drum out I did plumb bog back in so did have water running through bog and we have cleaned out the blanket weed, so even without the drum filter in, the water is clear.

I hoping to day I will get the drum filter back in and the pond backup fully working.


I will then have a hunt around the top edge of pond to see if I can spot the leak, the pond has black vertical sides so should be easy (but hasn't been yet)

Then we need to plant up the bog, we did think the leak was near the top of the bog, so a lot of the plants were disturbed.

Oh and we have also had a Heron visit, so in the process of putting some more heron deterrents in.

Other than that quite smoothly

I've heard of people using milk or something of color that can be seen easily when poured around the pond edge slowly as you go looking closely. You will have to fill your pond up a bit just past where it stops leaking tho. The milk will be seen to float out of where the hole or holes are, could be more than one leak. I've never tried this but maybe worth a shot! Turn off all water movement from any falls or filters while doing this so water stays calm.

 

[GaryMoz]

I've heard of people using milk or something of color that can be seen easily when poured around the pond edge slowly as you go looking closely. You will have to fill your pond up a bit just past where it stops leaking tho. The milk will be seen to float out of where the hole or holes are, could be more than one leak. I've never tried this but maybe worth a shot! Turn off all water movement from any falls or filters while doing this so water stays calm.

I tried using dye but I couldn't find anything, but researching more to nbe able to see the flow it would have to be a big hole. Apparently you can do it, but you need a fine syringe very close to the possible hole and you may see flow, so it seems you use it to confirm you have found the leak.

 

[GaryMoz]

typical growing pains , you didn't dig a hole in the ground and stick a preformed tub in it, and called it done. One of reasons i stayed away from the rdf to many moving parts. And traveling all the time was not making me feel warm and fuzzy on it being fully reliable.

i would look at the corners of your weir where the bog comes up to the shelf and drops down to the pond . those corners those L's are notorious for leaks right in the pin point of the corner. Uncured rubber can be bent in ways sheet goods can not because it can be stretched and heated it does not have memory so it will not fight to go back to its original shape . it can be glued to what you have now then maybe a finish piece of your tpo.

To be fair the rdf (or at least mine) is very simple, it was pretty simple to take apart and rebuild, I managed to get a replacement motor, luckily enough it was from a few minutes down the road.

I done a lot of testing and chasing my own tail to find the leak. I pretty sure it is around the water level line in the main pond, I just need to take another look to find it.

Having said that it's now all back a working.

 

[GBBUDD]

Theres no one even remotely close that builds or service rdf's here. CLOSEST IS 600 MILES AWAY

 

[GaryMoz]

Theres no one even remotely close that builds or service rdf's here. CLOSEST IS 600 MILES AWAY

They are so simple, if you can build a pond you can maintain Rdf

 

[GBBUDD]

They are so simple, if you can build a pond you can maintain Rdf

Where I was Traveling all the time any moving parts were a potential issue. With the bogs and bead i could leave the pond for a month in comfort

 

[GaryMoz]

Where I was Traveling all the time any moving parts were a potential issue. With the bogs and bead i could leave the pond for a month in comfort

I have left it for a month and it did run all ok.

Part of the my problem I am using an old Rdf, the motor/gearbox was worn out