Looking for someone to review my indoor pond filter.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Pond Filter update:
I dragged out the two large barrels and learned that the biggest one has some flaws in the plastic bottom and top so I will use the slightly smaller barrel.

I went looking for stuff in the local stores and found the large buffing pads suggested, however they are over $8.90 each so Im going to shop around for some cheaper.

I found a store that carried the 6 pack of plastic pot scourers and so I got a ton of them now.

I have some questions about other things in next post.
 
Actully the water level in that filter generally stabolizes just below the second divider. In other words just the bottom section. Yes the offset is ment to spin the water to better distribute the water over the entire pad serface. The return pipe dosn't really need to be offest to funtion.

The pads provide enough restriction for a certian amount of water to remain above the buffer pads. if they get too clogged the water drops down the center overflow to prevent spills.
 
I now have another question about how to build my new pond filter.

I need to know how you guys run pipes into a barrel?
I need to know what type of plastic fitting you guys use?
I have looked around in the local hardwear stores for smaller water-tight fittings and all they seem to have is what I used in my filter before - bathroom shower drains

PICT0035.jpg
 
So if I understand things correctly...

There are 3 different lines I will need to run into my filter barrel.

There is the top input line
The drain
The overflow.

so far so good?

Now the top input line can actually just hang over the top edge of the barrel. So I dont really need to worry too much about that fitting.
Im thinking that as the pump is 1/2 inch and I already got a ton of 1/2 inch plastic pipe left over I would just use some of it for the new filter's input line.

However I will have to find a way to run the drain lines out of the lower part of the filter barrel.

The main drain line that runs the filtered water back into the pond could also be 1/2 right?
But I could also bump up to 3/4inch or a full one inch too correct?
(Do I want it much bigger than the input line?)

Now for the overflow pipe that runs up the middle of the filter I can make that a 2 inch line correct?
 
Theres only one intake and one output line...the center overflow just allows and extra water to dump into the bottom of the barrel and then out the return pipe to the pond
The outlet should be a larger than the intake....1" is good while a larger uverflow standpipe is best for safetys sake 2" or larger.

The intake line can certianly be hung over the edge of the barrel so youd only have to drill and seal one hole in the barrel.
 
Thank GAUD you answered as fast as you did, I was just about to start cutting holes!

So, the overflow pipe must have lots of drilled holes on the bottom to allow the water to join the water in the bottom of the barrel...

I went to the last few stores that might carry the floor buffer pads, but the bad news is that no one carries them in town except for the one place I found them from too much money.

Im going to look at EBAY as suggested ...

The good news is that I picked up another bucket of them plastic kitchen scrubbies (6 for one buck) so that part of getting all i need to build the filter design is right on track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTeSsxGtEJ8
 
Either lots of drilled holes or a multi outlet T...Y or X fitting. whatever's easier. Normally you wont have water comming down this pipe but you want it free flowing to prevent flooding. Ive seen threaded bulkhead fittings at the home improvement places with rubber seals that work on barrels or you can use two slip joints and a short piece of pipe all cemented together.
 
Update:
Today I was able to find some of the floor buffer pads I was looking for, and at a good price so that part of the filter is now ready to go.

I went looking to get more kitchen pot scrubbers but it seems I have already taken home all that this town had for sale...

I took indoors the barrel to allow it to warm up, (-10 below zero here) so that I can start to work on cutting the top of the barrel off.
 
BRRRRRRRRR I'm in socal and don't even like READING about anything that cold... When it drops below 50 I toss a log in the fireplace...
 
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