New project, will take a long time

[Yanbbrox]

Alrighty then whatever plan A, B, C, D, E, F...........etc, etc,. Is the dam thing up an running now. Have you beat'n the deadline date yet and if so why did you even have a deadline date too beat? What your going to just fill in the dam thing if you don't beat this deadline date, or something.

Your right, you are lazy, details of plans A, B, C etc. are on the previous page

The deadline to get it up and running is before I get laid off at work and will have no more cash to throw at it if necessary, as things stand I do have a job for the next couple of months so as long as it's in a working state with a month to go I'm fine with it. Even if there are a few cosmetics issues I don't really care as long as it's up and running. With no job it makes it impossible to drop £X if I suddenly need something to get it running.

Today, I was rushing to get it up and running because I had a funeral to go to in the afternoon.

If it isn't up and running by deadline day, I'll net the fish out and put them in a tank until I can get a job and then start from where I left off

 

[Tequila]

Your right, you are lazy, details of plans A, B, C etc. are on the previous page

The deadline to get it up and running is before I get laid off at work and will have no more cash to throw at it if necessary, as things stand I do have a job for the next couple of months so as long as it's in a working state with a month to go I'm fine with it. Even if there are a few cosmetics issues I don't really care as long as it's up and running. With no job it makes it impossible to drop £X if I suddenly need something to get it running.

Today, I was rushing to get it up and running because I had a funeral to go to in the afternoon.

If it isn't up and running by deadline day, I'll net the fish out and put them in a tank until I can get a job and then start from where I left off

I really wasn't asking about the plans, I did read about them earlier on, anyway. I was just saying that with whatever plan did it finally work. I would think that just with the sheer volume of water and not so many fish of any real size that you could probably just leave them in the hole in the ground until you get it up and running, unless it gets real hot there in summer.

 

[Yanbbrox]

I really wasn't asking about the plans, I did read about them earlier on, anyway. I was just saying that with whatever plan did it finally work. I would think that just with the sheer volume of water and not so many fish of any real size that you could probably just leave them in the hole in the ground until you get it up and running, unless it gets real hot there in summer.

Didn't sound like you'd read them

Er, yes and no, in the test video I posted it missed out the fact that both the screw in intake and outlet leaked heavily. I would have done a better video but the camera is off for repair and had to take it to bits, so it was a bit rushed. This was sorted, by using PTFE thread tape, the pipes were removed and wrapped in this stuff and re-screwed in with no leaks. I posted earlier about running out of solvent weld, this was sorted by using epoxy putty and also worked.

When I got back we fixed everything back in and fired it up again, the system was run for about 3 hours with no obvious problems and ran fine. The flow rate is amazing and considering the return in about 2 inches from the bottom you can just see the water flowing around on the surface.

The not so obvious problems are as follows, now I'm not sure how much you've read of this thread so If you've read this before please ignore it, the filter system is three chambers, one for settling, two for fluid bed and three for mechanical polish.

I'm having serious issues with wildlife, mainly frogs but with some newts getting into the filters and getting trapped under media and dieing then rotting. When I emptied the filters today I had to remove 3 live adult frogs and many newts. To combat this I've tried stuffing aquatic plant pots between the intake to each chamber, the problem is they either get pushed out by flow or restrict it too much and the system slows down.

I've yet to find a solution to this problem, as it stands the system is running 2 settling chambers(not a bad thing as there is a lot of heavy waste yet to remove from the pond), the third chamber does have the matting in it so I'm also expecting this to clog very quickly.

Also I've not seen a fish all day which is strange as they normally sit and bask in the sun. Due to the problem above I'm going to have to take the media out of three to check they've not been pushed through somehow

 

[Yanbbrox]

Anyone, any ideas about keeping the chambers separated to allow no wildlife through?

I'd get pictures to explain but the camera being out of commission doesn't help

 

[greengiant]

what about window screen. the plastic stuff should work I wouldn't get the metal as its more expensive and won't last as long. a few bucks would get you alot more than you need and if it breaks in a month or 2 just cut a new piece and keep going.

 

[Tequila]

I'm having serious issues with wildlife, mainly frogs but with some newts getting into the filters and getting trapped under media and dieing then rotting. When I emptied the filters today I had to remove 3 live adult frogs and many newts. To combat this I've tried stuffing aquatic plant pots between the intake to each chamber, the problem is they either get pushed out by flow or restrict it too much and the system slows down.

I've yet to find a solution to this problem, as it stands the system is running 2 settling chambers(not a bad thing as there is a lot of heavy waste yet to remove from the pond), the third chamber does have the matting in it so I'm also expecting this to clog very quickly.

I'm almost afraid to ask, but what heavy waste are you talking about. I know I'm slow on things but, didn't you just like in the last 30 days add some fishies, what not to the pond. Where is all the heavy waste you speak of from?

Also I've not seen a fish all day which is strange as they normally sit and bask in the sun. Due to the problem above I'm going to have to take the media out of three to check they've not been pushed through somehow

what about window screen. the plastic stuff should work I wouldn't get the metal as its more expensive and won't last as long. a few bucks would get you alot more than you need and if it breaks in a month or 2 just cut a new piece and keep going.

Yeah I second this idea, but that's mainly because I really have know idea of what your speaking of. Since I was under the idea that the only wildlife over there was Moon Monkeys and the British .

My problem with the screening is that over time it will cut down the water flow, unless you use like quarter inch opening screening which some newts will get past.

I thought that this great Vortex Vat System had covers. I mean what the heck is supposed to keep the rain, leafs and other debry, fungus, mold and the array of insects that crave fresh clean water out of the sytem. You can't be serious, this aw inspiring system of yours is totally open and is recommended for outdoor use. And you didn't figure in the wildlife factor into your plans for a outdoor MAGNET to every living creature in a 20 mile radius, because you didn't have any plans.

 

[Pharaoh]

Looks like your getting there.

 

[mrunlucky07]

Not quite sure I follow the problem, but if its lids I am sure you will figure out a simple solution.

Another idea for keeping debris moving from chamber to chamber is a drain pipe sock. Its a fabric sock to go over corrugated drain pipe and keep debris out. When used on the end of a pipe the big stuff gets pushed to the end and it keeps on stretching out and catching debris. Then just flip it inside out to empty it. It will need some free space to stretch out. They come in large rolls so when its gets funky just throw it out. If you use it on the input to the first SC be sure to leave a section of pipe in it so fish wont get tangled up after they take a ride through the BD.

 

[Yanbbrox]

what about window screen. the plastic stuff should work I wouldn't get the metal as its more expensive and won't last as long. a few bucks would get you alot more than you need and if it breaks in a month or 2 just cut a new piece and keep going.

I'm sorry but to me a window screen is a window, can you explain?

Yeah I second this idea, but that's mainly because I really have know idea of what your speaking of. Since I was under the idea that the only wildlife over there was Moon Monkeys and the British .

My problem with the screening is that over time it will cut down the water flow, unless you use like quarter inch opening screening which some newts will get past.

I thought that this great Vortex Vat System had covers. I mean what the heck is supposed to keep the rain, leafs and other debry, fungus, mold and the array of insects that crave fresh clean water out of the sytem. You can't be serious, this aw inspiring system of yours is totally open and is recommended for outdoor use. And you didn't figure in the wildlife factor into your plans for a outdoor MAGNET to every living creature in a 20 mile radius, because you didn't have any plans.

The system will be covered by a deck with liner attached underneath to seal the system. This is later down the line though, at present it is covered with the liner.

The heavy debris is from the 4 months where it was sat uncovered waiting for the better weather, it won't take long to clear it out, just for now it's a pain.

I did have a plan to keep the wildlife out of the system, it was stick something in between the chambers, the something wasn't planned but I didn't think it would be this difficult to come up with something that didn't affect the flow rate.

 

[Yanbbrox]

Not quite sure I follow the problem, but if its lids I am sure you will figure out a simple solution.

Another idea for keeping debris moving from chamber to chamber is a drain pipe sock. Its a fabric sock to go over corrugated drain pipe and keep debris out. When used on the end of a pipe the big stuff gets pushed to the end and it keeps on stretching out and catching debris. Then just flip it inside out to empty it. It will need some free space to stretch out. They come in large rolls so when its gets funky just throw it out. If you use it on the input to the first SC be sure to leave a section of pipe in it so fish wont get tangled up after they take a ride through the BD.

I like the idea, not sure how I'd fit it in though. Thanks for the tip.

I'll get some pictures up to explain better