How to convert your swimming pool... Part 4 - Filtration continued

The progress continues...

final filter chamber pump pick up
final filter chamber pump pick up

 

This picture shows you the final pickup chamber of the filter system. It is from here that the pumps will draw water from the filters and return it back to the pond. This design minimises the pipe friction losses on the suction side of the pump and also minimises the piping run back to the pond. On a large pond like this however, the piping runs are going to be long so factor these into your calculations carefully - piping losses can dramatically alter a pumps performance and delivery volumes.

 

shows slopes in settlement and mechanical filter chambers
shows slopes in settlement and mechanical filter chambers

 

sloped bio chamber floor
sloped bio chamber floor

 

Picture 1 shows us the aggressive slope in the settlement chamber as well as the slope in the mechanical chamber. In the mechanical chamber volume is not important owing to the filters being used so this slope minimises the water lost in flushing the system once a week. Picture 2 shows the far milder slope used in the biological chamber where the volume of the chamber is important - the more the better!

 

63mm flush valve mounted outside filter chambers
63mm flush valve mounted outside filter chambers

 

nearly completed filter chamber system
nearly completed filter chamber system

 

Picture 1 shows you how we mounted the flush valves above ground. The flush drains in this system are pump driven - meaning that the system pumps are used to drain the chambers. We used 63mm piping here to minimise the risk of pipe blockages by leaves and the like. Of course in such cases you would need to ensure that your pump has a leaf trap basket installed on it to prevent leaves getting into the pump's impeller.

The second picture shows the nearly complete filter chamber system.

 

slotted pipes in the moving bed chamber to prevent media from escaping
slotted pipes in the moving bed chamber to prevent media from escaping

 

completed chambers up and running
completed chambers up and running

 

In the first picture we see slotted 110 mm pipes that were used to prevent the moving bed media from escaping the biological chamber (the moving bed media particles are only around 10mm in size). The second picture shows you the system up and running - note the air agitation for the moving bed in the biological chamber.

 

swimming pool now a sealed koi pond
swimming pool now a sealed koi pond

 

koi pond being filled with water
koi pond being filled with water

 

This is the pond after being sealed and looking more like a Koi pond now. The second picture shows you the pond being filled with water... and a few nerves that are not being shown - are there any leaks??

 

the completed project - a koi pond that was once a swimming pool
the completed project - a koi pond that was once a swimming pool

 

the finished pond bubbling and churning away merrily
the finished pond bubbling and churning away merrily

Finally! The finished product! Note that the sealant tends to produce foam for a few days hence the excess bubbles on the surface of the pond. Picture 2 shows you the air curtain in full cry - the thing works like a charm and every Koi pond should have one!

 

pump room with UVs and pumps
pump room with UVs and pumps

 

electrical connections distribution board
electrical connections distribution board

 

And of course a quick look at the finished pump room. Yes that is a sand filter but it isn't plugged in! Subsequent to this photo an additional 2 55W UVs have been plumbed in. The electrical distribution board in picture 2 runs all the pumps, air pumps, UVs and each is labelled - which makes life much easier when it comes to switching stuff on and off. Of course the board is located under cover as shown below:

 

complete pump room with electrical distribution board
complete pump room with electrical distribution board

 

The pond is now home to around 100 fish of varying size. There are a few bigger fish in excess of 70 cm with the majority being a number of rapidly growing 30cm fish... feeding is intensely heavy and water quality is crystal clear down to the bottom drains, about 2.6m deep.

So there you have it. Easy peasy!