Help with choice of filter?

[Good_Times]

I want to make a swirl filter, in line with a bio-filter with pot scrubies as media. My question is, should the outflow be at the bottom, and the inflow at the top, and vice versa? Keep in mind that I shut off the pump for 15 min intervals during the day to save electricity.

Also, I have heard that pot scrubies stay debris-free if it's in a wet/dry. Does this mean it should have interrupted waterflow?

Any other suggestions about filter media or other ideas would be highly appreciated.
P.S. sorry for the weak sketch, isn't drawn to exact accuracy.

 

[CatfishLuver]

Well I know that on an Ehiem canister filter the input is on the bottom, becuase debris will have to overcome gravity opposed to just flowing straight down. So from a mechanical filtration stan point thats the way to go. Biologically it really doesn't matter. The only problem you run into is shutting off the pump, but i think if you use a check valve on each or at least the input(if at bottom) you should be fine I think. So if I understood you plans correctly thats what I think. I have never really heard of a swirl filter, so I know nothing about that. Hope this helped at least somewhat.

 

[Good_Times]

Thanks CatfishLuver, the swirl filter is to remove solids by centrifugal force (swirl) to the bottem where it can be removed by tap. I only want to use the filters with scrubbies for bio filtration.
Do you think that I would lose BB if the scrubbies stays un-submerged for 30/15min's min

 

[CatfishLuver]

No i think all the bacteria would be fine for that amount of time, but I think you would be losing alot of the filter maxium potenial. How long would you be running it inbetween these 15-30 minute intervals? I was under the impression that it would be like every hour or so?? If you would be doing it less often than that (every 1.5 hrs or 2 hrs) you would be absolutly fine. Also if thats case in my opinion it wouldn't make a significant difference by turning off the pump elctricity wise. You could certianly do it if you want to , but i am just saying i dont think the effort is worth the reward, I am not sure how things are in South Africa though. I looked up the swirl filter and it seem pretty good. Also one more thing to keep in mind is that turning off your pump periodically will reduce the pumps life, opposed to if it was on constantly. One other question i assume from your design this is going to more like a canister filter (with no air in the bio filter when on) opposed to a wet-dry filter where the water is more like trickling over the media??

 

[Good_Times]

Yes, it will be like canister. The pump is currently on 1 hour and of 1/2 hour for 12 hours during day. At night it's reverse ( On 1/2 hour off 1 hour). Should probably have to change that once filter is installed.
Why do you say that it would shorten the life span of the pump?
I could run the outlets as below in pic then the media would be exposed to air when pump is of, as I'm afraid it could turn anaerobic in stagnant water.
Do you think wet/dry would be more effective?
Really hope the swirl filter works cause there is alot of muck in my pond, it even covers the hornwort so much that it stops growing.

 

[Good_Times]

bump...
I really want some thoughts and criticism before I build it

 

[CatfishLuver]

I am afraid I still really don't understand your time sequences, but that doesn't even really matter to much. When you turn a pump on and off, in comparison to leaving it on all the time, it shortens its lifespan. I don't really remember how significantly it is, but I think you might want to look into that. From the standpoint of your plan A and B, if you put the check valves on both sides like I suggested it really doesn't matter at all, but changing the media would be much easier in A becuase the top (which would be the dirtiest in that plan) would be very easily replaced, but with plan B you would have to take out all of the media in the whole filter to clean the dirtiest part. And in your situation, no I do not hink a wet/dry filter would be more effective. I would just try and make everything, including the plumbed pipes and pump, as big as possible because from your description your problem seems severe. So I guess for you situation i would use plan A, but in a regualar aquarium situation not pond situation I would probably use B.

 

[brich999]

I wouldn't use pot scribbles for that. Spend the extra money and get ceramic or sachem pond martial. Buy a 20l bucket and just tap an input and output to the bucket, I bet it would hold water

 

[brich999]

But I'd be thinking much bigger is your problem is that bad, you need more than a 5g bucket and a swirl filter

 

[Good_Times]

hahaha, OK thanks for the complex answer Catfshlvr, appreciat it. I think I'm gonna scratch the hole pump timer thing.

brich, the "ceramic or sachem pond martial", is that the small circular white beads type?
, and why do u suggest it?
Is it bcoz of larger surface area and less clogging?