The new filter really began by the exchange of ideas between myself and the people of nishikigoi-bassin.fr. Their absolute certainty in the layout/flow/and media was a guiding light in my design, or the mutation of my designs to look like theirs. Below are a smattering of the plans I drew, unfortunately their plans have been moved or lost as the internet is fragile.
The next phase was dominated by my idea that making seperate chambers for different media and effects would be easier for me to do in 55 gallon barrels. Perhaps some farm scale containers would be cheaper and easier (only 2 to plumb instead of 8) but I know 55 gallon barrels and trust them.
This is the plans I drew one morning, which cemented my design. As I was building the filter I realized I could "cross-link" the barrels instead of plumbing a down tube in the center. This simplified instalation.
This is the resulting build out:
Moving out the junk making space for the new filter:
The pump/filter house where the new filter will go and a glimpse of my dark pond water.
First step in preparing the ground was digging it up and cleaning it.
Leveling the ground and the blocks which base the barrels.
Put down a cushioning layer of sand to help leveling.
First row of blocks ready for the barrels.
The barrels lined up just to see how they fit.
This is where I had the "ah hah" experience, of "cross-linking" the barrels.
The four barrels form one circuit of the filter and will have an in (from the pump) and an out (gravity to pond).
Temporarily taking out the existing filtration to pipe the return of the two circuts.
Gravity flow back to the pond from both circuits.
A piece of flexable pipe to get around the filter framework.
Ready for the input water from the pump.
Well maybe I overspent on the ball values but don't they just look funky!
We have water!! Now we are ready for the media and the asellus.
Arrrggg!! We have leaks this is why I went with bulkheads so I wouldn't have this problem. The leaks stopped within a few days as the barrel and bulkheads molded to each other.
Finally the last peice is to built water returns/guards that will contain the media (kaldness).
The media for the first two barrels in each circuit (kaldness). This is after the media has been in awhile - and asellus has already been added.
