Poll - DIY filter, Skippy or Wakin Filter

[Arkangel77]

I wanted to do a poll to find out what you guys thought was the better of these two DIY filters?

http://www.tadege.com/wakinfilter.htm

or

http://www.skippysstuff.com/biofiltr.htm

Thanks, Arkangel77

 

[Anubias]

I don't like the gravel media. I prefer something lighter weight like bacti-twist, scrubbies, or plastic strapping tape. Either filter will work, I think the skippy style is an easier build.

 

[Arkangel77]

I think the Skippie would be easier. I am considering a 300G Rubbermaid and modifying it with 2 outlets to handle the flow from the 2 pumps I plan to use. If I go that way? It would also look cleaner than several drums?

 

[mrunlucky07]

For watergarden where there is not a lot of poo needing removed the skippys are supposed to be pretty good. Not sure how on their website they claim that it breaks the poo down into sand - need that chemical reaction explained to me sometime

For koi 100% settlement and S&G style. These actually physically remove the waste from the system instead of turning it into nitrates and algae. Cleaning is about as efortless as it gets.

I would say they are equally easy to build. The S&G may even be easier and cheaper.

 

[Anubias]

Do you have a link for the S&G style filter?

 

[mrunlucky07]

Here are directions to one many people have done. There are a lot of variations to it. Personally I found the conduit fittings a bit tricky and went with just Ts and think it works fine. I have 5 of this style on my ponds all a little differnt andall work well.

A shop vac is an easy alternative to a blower for cleaning too, its what makes the filter worthwile.

The Sand traps a ton of fines like a pool filter but wont clog since its not pressurized. Banding/strapping also works well for bio and larger mechanical if you don't like the rocks idea. I have some pics of some I built in this thread. Since I am in the south I went with a pipe down from the top to feed the filter rather than a shower drain on all but one. They are buried so in the winter I keep them full to keep the ground from crushing the barells.

 

[realfish]

I have used the skippy filter for several years in a 4500 gallon pond with a fairly large bio load great filter once you have got it "seasoned" easy to set up, I use to pumps rated at 6000 gph (of course this is at zero head) the filter is hide behing rocks and is used as part of the waterfall the trick is never shut it down for any length of time and never clean!!! Sounds strange about never cleaning but seems to cause problems if you do.

 

[Arkangel77]

Here are directions to one many people have done. There are a lot of variations to it. Personally I found the conduit fittings a bit tricky and went with just Ts and think it works fine. I have 5 of this style on my ponds all a little differnt andall work well.

A shop vac is an easy alternative to a blower for cleaning too, its what makes the filter worthwhile.

The Sand traps a ton of fines like a pool filter but wont clog since its not pressurized. Banding/strapping also works well for bio and larger mechanical if you don't like the rocks idea. I have some pics of some I built in this thread. Since I am in the south I went with a pipe down from the top to feed the filter rather than a shower drain on all but one. They are buried so in the winter I keep them full to keep the ground from crushing the barells.

Thank you for the links - I will read threw it slower when I get more time ! At first glance I don't see how its much different for a http://www.tadege.com/wakinfilter.htm
I may have missed something though?

Thanks - Arkangel77

 

[Muske]

Holy-H that Wakin filter looks like a lot of work.

 

[mrunlucky07]

Thank you for the links - I will read threw it slower when I get more time ! At first glance I don't see how its much different for a http://www.tadege.com/wakinfilter.htm
I may have missed something though?

I was meaning to say it is the same concept, they are both the same idea. As muske pointed out the instructions on the wakin filter looked crazy long which is why I posted the other design. The key idea is one place for settlement and another to catch stuff and clean easily using a blower.