New project, will take a long time

[Pharaoh]

How is the flow without the UV. You might be surprised that the 1.5 won't restrict that much of your flow. I would definitely try that out and see how it works. Just make sure to leave yourself an "out". Might possible use a couple unions to not back yourself into a corner.

 

[mrunlucky07]

As already thrown out there I would really consider splitting the return also. Run a Y after the pump and then some flex hose puts the UV wherever it fits. I would put a ball valve before the UV also to dial it down when the green is thick, and speed the flow back up as it thins out. I know I already mentioned to you my UV experience, even though its rated for 1500 gph I had to dial it down to about 300gph to really kill the green. You could either Y the two back together to a single return, or just the dump the water from the UV back into vortex 1 for a second trip through the filters. Same volume of water going through the filters.

Any thoughts on building a little spillway for the return, makes that nice calm sheeting sound

 

[Yanbbrox]

How is the flow without the UV. You might be surprised that the 1.5 won't restrict that much of your flow. I would definitely try that out and see how it works. Just make sure to leave yourself an "out". Might possible use a couple unions to not back yourself into a corner.

Not a bad idea at all, good advise but until everything is plumbed in flow rates are a guess based on the settling chamber

As already thrown out there I would really consider splitting the return also. Run a Y after the pump and then some flex hose puts the UV wherever it fits. I would put a ball valve before the UV also to dial it down when the green is thick, and speed the flow back up as it thins out. I know I already mentioned to you my UV experience, even though its rated for 1500 gph I had to dial it down to about 300gph to really kill the green. You could either Y the two back together to a single return, or just the dump the water from the UV back into vortex 1 for a second trip through the filters. Same volume of water going through the filters.

Any thoughts on building a little spillway for the return, makes that nice calm sheeting sound

Oh crap, our UU PM, experience has been lost, my fault I'm starting to get lots of them, but I'm sure I saved those, I maybe have one in the outbox.

The idea for the return is to do it at pond bottom level, to stir things up, I guess I could split it, considering I respect you guys more than anyone I'll have a rethink

 

[Pharaoh]

As already thrown out there I would really consider splitting the return also. Run a Y after the pump and then some flex hose puts the UV wherever it fits. I would put a ball valve before the UV also to dial it down when the green is thick, and speed the flow back up as it thins out. I know I already mentioned to you my UV experience, even though its rated for 1500 gph I had to dial it down to about 300gph to really kill the green. You could either Y the two back together to a single return, or just the dump the water from the UV back into vortex 1 for a second trip through the filters. Same volume of water going through the filters.

Any thoughts on building a little spillway for the return, makes that nice calm sheeting sound

Also, another option. ^^^

 

[greengiant]

just popping by to see the progress I like the open discussion and brainstorming on here. I have been making notes of this so whenever I do build a pond of my own I won't have to re-read this whole thing again. I think I have re-read it all twice so far and I am amazed at what problems have been addressed on here that in most threads are never brought up. you have listened to others opinions and shared your train of thought impecably. one thing I do know I will do differently is I will hire a backhoe or rent a mini excavator to do the digging I aint digging no pond that size by hand.

 

[Tequila]

Not a bad idea at all, good advise but until everything is plumbed in flow rates are a guess based on the settling chamber

Oh crap, our UU PM, experience has been lost, my fault I'm starting to get lots of them, but I'm sure I saved those, I maybe have one in the outbox.

The idea for the return is to do it at pond bottom level, to stir things up, I guess I could split it, considering I respect you guys more than anyone I'll have a rethink

Hmmm, what better a way too stir things up in the pond than too have two returns at the bottom of the pond. Either in different directions or one higher than the other, one on top and one on bottom.

But you know if this whole UV thing becomes too much trouble you could just make a diy UV. Then you could make it just about any shape or size you wanted it. It's not like you already have too many other things going on, that you couldn't fit this into your plans.

Quik question: with all this extra squeezing and fitting, this unplanned part or piece here and there. You have any idea how all this stuff will weather come next winter? For I know you had problems with things this winter, so I just thought that I'd ask.

Keep up the hard work!

 

[Yanbbrox]

Hmmm, what better a way too stir things up in the pond than too have two returns at the bottom of the pond. Either in different directions or one higher than the other, one on top and one on bottom.

But you know if this whole UV thing becomes too much trouble you could just make a diy UV. Then you could make it just about any shape or size you wanted it. It's not like you already have too many other things going on, that you couldn't fit this into your plans.

Quik question: with all this extra squeezing and fitting, this unplanned part or piece here and there. You have any idea how all this stuff will weather come next winter? For I know you had problems with things this winter, so I just thought that I'd ask.

Keep up the hard work!

Thanks for the encouragement, I'll get back to you. This bit is planned but I've just re-read the last few pages and it's given me some other things to ponder.

 

[Yanbbrox]

As already thrown out there I would really consider splitting the return also. Run a Y after the pump and then some flex hose puts the UV wherever it fits. I would put a ball valve before the UV also to dial it down when the green is thick, and speed the flow back up as it thins out. I know I already mentioned to you my UV experience, even though its rated for 1500 gph I had to dial it down to about 300gph to really kill the green. You could either Y the two back together to a single return, or just the dump the water from the UV back into vortex 1 for a second trip through the filters. Same volume of water going through the filters.

Any thoughts on building a little spillway for the return, makes that nice calm sheeting sound

Ok then, when I first read this last week I missed the key part of the idea, flexi pipe. I had the visions of more ever expensive solvent weld pipes going in all directions and trying to link them up. I do like this idea more than more I think about it and it makes a whole load of sense epecisally the idea of controlling the flow rates through the UV, pumping at full throttle through it would end up doing little good.

You can tell my days off are due and I've got a little more time to think things through and plan.

Thanks for the hint

 

[Yanbbrox]

just popping by to see the progress I like the open discussion and brainstorming on here. I have been making notes of this so whenever I do build a pond of my own I won't have to re-read this whole thing again. I think I have re-read it all twice so far and I am amazed at what problems have been addressed on here that in most threads are never brought up. you have listened to others opinions and shared your train of thought impecably. one thing I do know I will do differently is I will hire a backhoe or rent a mini excavator to do the digging I aint digging no pond that size by hand.

Glad your still reading. I hope you never have to read through it again to find something you missed. If you've got a question just post it here or pm me at the time.

That's cheating, get a shovel

 

[Yanbbrox]

Hmmm, what better a way too stir things up in the pond than too have two returns at the bottom of the pond. Either in different directions or one higher than the other, one on top and one on bottom.

But you know if this whole UV thing becomes too much trouble you could just make a diy UV. Then you could make it just about any shape or size you wanted it. It's not like you already have too many other things going on, that you couldn't fit this into your plans.

Quik question: with all this extra squeezing and fitting, this unplanned part or piece here and there. You have any idea how all this stuff will weather come next winter? For I know you had problems with things this winter, so I just thought that I'd ask.

Keep up the hard work!

That is the modern way to do this sort of thing. Have a main filter system running back in to the pond one way and run a smaller filter through a skimmer and run it at the other side of the pond. This was something that was never in the budget to begin with but there is expansion for this idea when I get around to bumping up the filters in a year or so with a bakki shower.

As for the winter, the pipe work is solid, it's all class E which rated for underground use and won't cause a problem. The filters are not a problem as they are heavy duty plastic and will covered, employment pending with a deck over the filter bays operated by a hydraulic ram, for filter maintenance and chamber purging.

The base of the filter bay is brick and concrete, so there is no problem there, the only concern is the wood surrounding the brace and filters, the main brace is all marine ply so that is not a concern, neither is the brace in between, none is touching earth so should be good for at least 25 years. The wood around vortex 3 is just ply but does not include any part of the brace, it's more there for the future to add to the deck supports down the line.

As for the water, when it gets colder I'll dial everything back to keep water flowing and cover the pond up to enclose heat. The pond only froze to a depth of a couple of inches with nothing switched on so the fish will be fine.

Any further questions?