My dad and I have used gravel in 55 gal drums to filter our koi pond. We would like to switch to foam or some type of "scrubby" media. We've seen pads that look like like they were specifically used in 55 gal barrels but were kind if pricey considering how much we need, and how much pops wants to spend, does anyone know a more cost effective way switch from gravel to something lighter and easier to clean? We need to fill approx 10 55 gal drums. Thanks.
SoCal help
- Thread starter fatcat
- Start date
It's my dad who cleans the filters, hes getting old doesnt like the heavy gravel.
People who use gravel normally have an air manifold at the bottom of the barrel so they can blow it with an air blower for cleaning.
YOu don't have to stir it the air will faoce it's self to teh top adn take teh nasty crap with it. You just need to have a second return so the flushed water does not end up back in teh pond.
Mabe our set up isn't the norm, we kind of winged it when we put the pond together 20 years ago, but each barrel has over a foot of pea sized graved in it, I'm having trouble seeing the air pass thru that.
I have a 55g barrel. In it I use: 200 pot scrubbies ($24), open cell foam that I cut to size (I don't remember how much I got it for, found it laying around), 100 micron filter pad 36"x36" ($6), lava rocks ($5), and japanese matala mats (dont remember), 2 layers of blue/white pads ($10). My dad hose the micron and blue pads about once every 2-3weeks
If you want to switch and be super cheap, I would buy poly strappings for biological ($30-35 for 9000ft local pick up http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-9000-Ft...092?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item563babcff4
and some sort of padding for mechanical (open foam, etc.) you can check out jebo in monterey park, they have various sizes that you can buy. I didn't want to spend a lot of money so I just got self blue/white and a micron padding and cut to size. Hope it helps
If you want to switch and be super cheap, I would buy poly strappings for biological ($30-35 for 9000ft local pick up http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-9000-Ft...092?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item563babcff4
and some sort of padding for mechanical (open foam, etc.) you can check out jebo in monterey park, they have various sizes that you can buy. I didn't want to spend a lot of money so I just got self blue/white and a micron padding and cut to size. Hope it helps