Finally Veggie Filter build

[Jackie Ramo]

Although I had intended to d this last year I procrastinated until it didn't seem worth while. But I'm on the move now. Joe arrived today and amongst a bunch of other things we cleared (again) the space where the filter will sit and even cleared the water plants out of the area so we have room to work.

I've posted a pic of the mass of plants removed to show the roots. This is how roots in a properly maintained rocked pond should look. These plants have been in place for 7 years. Note there is no black muck and no smell.

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_roots.JPG

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_pond%20construction.JPG

[Jackie Ramo]

This pic is from last year but its to show the tub I intend to use for the veggie filter. So I have the retro drain, pump and hose, just need to get the connectors. I had planned a waterfall return but think that may be just too much to manage so will pipe it back into the pond.

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_DSCN7397.JPG

[Koidaddy]

Jackie, wow... them plants sure look healthy!! Must be doing something right :yup: Anxious to see how much of a difference your additional filtration will make - I'm sure your little fishies will be thankful for it. I'm adding another 60 gallon bio to mine this summer which will put me at the 220 gallon mark on a 2000 gallon pond. They say less is more, but when it comes to filtration I think more is always more!!

Keep us posted, Glammy. Don't chip any nails!
KD
:grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

I expect very good results from this filter so I hope I'm right :dunno:

[carcha koi]

Looks good Jackie :yup:
Can't wait to see the stream and the veggie filter.

[Jackie Ramo]

The stream and pond are a separate project which will commence once I get the veggie filter going. String algae is enough to choke a horse today 4 days ago there was none.

[clm]

I'm getting really tired of dealing with the algae too. Worst year I can remember for it. The plants in the pond and the bogs are all starting to really grow now so I'm hoping that'll help. Fish are eating like mad this spring. Algae included in the diet of course, their salad after the shrimp :HAHA: , so they pull it off the sides and it ends up floating too, I'm forever skimming it off and pulling up the pumps every day to clean them out since they get clogged with all the stuff that sinks. Enough already :tantrum:

Cindy

[carcha koi]

Jackie
What plants are you using for the veggie filter. Iris, arrow heads and water mint are great for filtering. If you need some arrow heads or water mint I will save you some.

[Jackie Ramo]

Chris, I have cattails and the reeds I pulled out along with iris and watercress. I thought a cherry tomato plant or two would be nice.

I bought chocolate mint to see how it would do. Never thought of the arrowheads, plenty of those in the pond. Thanks for the offer.

Cindy, even Smith could not believe how much the algae has grown in such a short time. Need to out and vac the bottom this morning, yet again. I'm buying the plumbing fittings today.

[carcha koi]

Arrow heads are said to be the best at using nitrogen, any of the mint will spread like crazy for you.

[Jackie Ramo]

I'll probably put a few in as they'll break up all the tall skinny stuff.

Do you want any lizzard's tail? I think I may be taking over my pond

[carcha koi]

I foget what LIzard tail looks like.

[marla]

I have chocolate mint in the pond, it grows like crazy. It is supose to be an annual here but it comes back every year. It tastes good also.

[Jackie Ramo]

I foget what LIzard tail looks like.

Its a vine type of plant that grows not too long with arrow shaped leaves and the flower is white, sort of like a gooseneck or oddly enough lizzards tail.

http://www.trickeri.com/store/p-lizardstail/csHOMEcsqcat-OtherAquaticcsqcat-bogcsqcat-hardyshallowwaterandbog.html

[Jackie Ramo]

Marla the chocolate mint is growing gangbusters. I certainly would not want it to escape into the garden. The chamelion plant has done this and although pretty it has taken over the bog!!

[marla]

I do my best to keep the mint in check, so far only on one side of the pond and not on land.

[Jackie Ramo]

Smith has been working hard building the frame for the tub. The tub will sit on the bars to support it.

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_frame.JPG

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_tub.JPG

[Peg]

Looking good Jackie, Can't wait to see it finished.

[Jackie Ramo]

Wellof course we are short at least one coupling... off to HD again.

[Peg]

I know that feeling well, I think I must have made 4 trips myself to-day.

[Jackie Ramo]

WEll got the parts I think and also got a nice big mat to fit from Randall. I told him he was taking all my retirement savings and he seemed happy with that.

Smith put all the plumbing in today and stained the box. I don't think he wants to stone it... men. anyway it can be done later if deemed necessary. Right now I'd just like it finished. We will do a 'wet' run tomorrow.

[Jackie Ramo]

Well the rain on Sunday slowed us down but I actually did plumbing today with silicon!!! :yup: Waiting for it to dry so I can hook up the hose leading to the drain and I believe we will be ready for the wet run.

This was as much as we got done on Saturday but we did buy filter and eggcrate etc.

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_filterbox3.JPG
http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_filterbox2.JPG

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_filterbox1.JPG

[Jackie Ramo]

Well let me tell you it was a frustrating day in filter land today. It seems the set up we envisioned will not work. So plan B. We will use the 950 gph pump to pull the water into the tank. We tested it and it works. Now we have to go and buy yet more puzzling pieces of plumbing :banghead: :censored:

We tried the 3000 gph pump to push when it would not pull but it overflowed the tank in minutes.

I am not sure this small pump is what I need to run the retro bottom drain but it is better than it has now. We've decided on the more flexible hose so that the drain can also be moved from place to place if needed.

I sure wish I'd hired the guy to install this last year, it would be done already. I hate DYI!!! :mad: :mad:

[Jackie Ramo]

Well wish me luck I am going set it up today. It will be make shift and not done right but hopefully it will be working and that is all I care about right now. I am tired of spending so much time and energy not to mention money on this stupid thing. Yes, I am grumpy dammit :phfft:

[clm]

Hopefully it works like a charm and you'll be done with it.....for now. :HAHA:

Fingers crossed for you.

Cindy

[Jackie Ramo]

:doh: Well it is running but we have to turn it off again and fix the leak... small one but needs done I can't have wet underfoot there.

Two trips to Randal's today but finally got the fittings, not in a configuration that is really neat but it works so what can one do.

It ain't pretty but it works and the fish love the current. Elf was half way up the waterfall a half hour after it was hooked up.
http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_filter4.JPG

[clm]

If he's anything like Ethel, he'll use it as his own personal spa :lol:

Glad you got it working. That little pump is doing alright by the looks of that.

Cindy

[Jackie Ramo]

The little pump is chugging along and doing better than Ithought it would. I turned the filter off tonight and hey, the check valve works. One of the funny things today was I couldn't get the pump to work cuz the guy at the store had installed the checkvalve backwards :doh: so its not just me :HAHA:

Have cut the eggcrate as the pump connections are so huge, bigger than the pump for heavens sake but a few snips and a cut out for the mat at fix the leak. Half way there, maybe.

[Jackie Ramo]

Decided to move the red lily that is in the rock wall in the pond in front of the new 'waterfall' My gawd what a mess. I had to take half the wall down to trace the dead roots and muck. Never get this with the 'floor' planted lilies as I break them off and vac them regularily, the other reeds etc don't have big tuber bits that die off. What I thought was a half hour job took most of day and my back and knees are killing me. All to move one stupid lily. Another plant that will be banned from the rocks or harvested each year is the arrow, same thing mother plant rots.

Must admit this is the first time I have come across anything this just plain nasty in th epond

[carcha koi]

Veggie filter looks great. Damn plants, they are a lot of work, but worth it. Don't like those sterile looking koi ponds. :oops:

[Jackie Ramo]

Well hopefull we got the leak plugged. Decided to whimp out and just liner overthe tap after working so hard to make it part of the unit. It has always leaked there and after trying to fix it a dozen or more times we gave up. Will have to use the sump to empty it but since I plan only on emptying it in the fall at close down it shouldn't be a problem.

I agree Chris got to have plants in the pond. What else would the fish play with

[Peg]

Veggie filter looks good Jackie, can't wait to see it with plants. Looks like you 2 have been hard at it. Will it ever end. No I guess not. Then what would we all do. Sit back and enjoy :jaw: I don't think that will ever happen :lol:

[Jackie Ramo]

Taking a break now after 4 hours of hard work. It is running we are adjusting flow directions. Darn thing interferes with the skimmer function... if it isn't one thing is is anoher.

Oh and to make life perfect the fish are jumping out of the water!!!! :banghead: They had 2 2ppm PP treatments last night. Will scrape and scope tonight if my back holds out

[carcha koi]

Just pp again, thought I was over this crap. Put another one down today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It just wasn't getting better. Almost had enough.
All the other fish doing well, you know chasing each other around and fighting for food.
Filter looks great :cheers2U: :2cool:

[Jackie Ramo]

Chris I am sorry to hear that. So frustrating.

All mine now seem perfectly fine and very very hungry. I may PP them again tomorrow if I get the rest cleaned up. A rainy day is good for PP.

[Jackie Ramo]

Well the filter is running and ran all night although the flow seems slightly less this morning will have to check that. We decided that a wooden spout spilling the water into the pond would be best after futsing with several other options. Smith built and stained it last night and we will install the liner today

Here it is ready for planting, more difficult than it sounds. First level from the bottom are three pvc pipes, a cheap form of bio balls and some brushes, egg crate, black matting and then hunks of black matting to hold the second egg crate off the mat so the roots have space to grow.

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_filter5.JPG

The fish love it
http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_fish%20%26%20filter.JPG

[Jackie Ramo]

Another all day adventure but finally we hope we have it working enough for this year. i've started planting and now believe I listened to too many people but we will see. I've used rocks to weight the plants to keep them in place, tried other things but that was simple and worked best.

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/filter6.JPG

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_filter7.JPG

[Jackie Ramo]

Last night we saw the first baby sparrow out of the nest and today a plant critic.... had a nice bath but I ended up removing these reeds as afterwards icould never get them tostand up and they blocked the skimmer.

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_bird.JPG

[marla]

Looks real nice Jackie. And now I have pictures so I can think about doing one some day, not this year I have enough with the new pond and trying to get it finished.

[Jackie Ramo]

I wish now I had not started the other pond. I'm sick to death of plumbing and now I have digging on top of that :crybaby:

How is you pond coming Marla, got plants in it yet??

[Astro4X4]

WOW ! That looks great. I really like the wooden spout :yup:

[Jackie Ramo]

The box is a long way from what I thought it was going to look like. Hubby is the designer and builder so to him goes the credit or the blame. I envisioned it to be covered in bricks... must say that I am not unhappy with the look. The spout was a last minute add on. It still interferes with the skimmers functon but other than moving the filter I don't think much can be done about it.

BTW we had huge rain lastnight that washed a lot of dirt into the pond. The filter is doing a great job of removing it.

[flywheel]

That looks great! Tell your hubby he did good.:yup:

[The Other Lynda]

That really looks good, Jackie! You and Smith did a great job on it! :grin:

[Peg]

Wow looks Awsome! Now how is old Tweet going to swim up that :fishbone: ! Here's a thought for you to ponder. What if you put another grate on top and left a few inches in between. Then you could cut out holes for the plants to grow through and the space between the two would hold the roots. The holes of the grate would help support the plants. Any new offspring would grow up through the smaller holes. If they needed to be divided you could do it early spring before growing or late fall after being cut back.
Peg

[Jackie Ramo]

Thanks all but there is a small snag in that the pump is once again clogged !grrrr so it has to be taken apart and the pump cleared. This time I'm going to switch pumps. I have another 950 running so hopefully we can switch it out and not have to prime the darn filter again. Its a bad design I know but it is all we could come up with considered what we had on hand. The problem is the 950's intake is 3/4" and it doesn't take much to clogg it. We are hoping as the bottom is finally cleared of algae this will stop happening. Seems clear now so we will try and see what happens.

Peg, I don't intend that this set up with stay up for the winter, tropicals will come in and hardies will either be stored in the pond or in the compost. Actually I was thinking of covering the top with river rocks to hide the workings and hold the plants down. Yeah I know me and my beloved rocks :HAHA:

[carcha koi]

Got to have them rocks :HAHA: :HAHA:

[Jackie Ramo]

Got the pump changed out so we have flow once again. We also cut the egg crate and mats so we only have to remove part of the works to get to the pump. Fish are happily playing again.

[marla]

Jackie, is there a way you could put the pump in say a small rubermaid type container with holes in the lid and place a mat above the pump, that way the water coming in could be filtered and the pump wouldn't get clogged. Of course then you would have to rinse out the mat.

[Jackie Ramo]

It would still mean removing part of the big filter to get to the box that contains the pump so not sure it would accomplish much. Also I am not sure how much more pull the pump has left its already pulling the water from the bottom of the pond.

The good news is we lost no flow this morning so I think as long as the algae is under control it will work fine. Water is very clear and fish seem happy.

[Peg]

Jackie, you said you have a 950 gal pump hooked up to you bottom drain? How deep is your pond and what is the distance from the drain to the veggie box. The reason for asking is I have 950 gal pump I was going to try to hook up to the retro bottom drain I got this spring. With 5' in the pond and then to the DIY filter I was not sure if it was worth the work or if I should bite the bullet and get a bigger pump.
Peg

[Jackie Ramo]

The pond is almost 5 feet and the 'drain is past the middle of the centre of the pond so the pump is pulling a long way and then up into the filter box. One heck of a job to prime it so you may want to plumb differently than we did. Also apparently it depends on the size of pipe, mine is 2" so bigger needs a bigger pump.

[Jackie Ramo]

Darn pump is jammed again... poop.

[NaturesCall]

is the pump in the pond or out? Can you get the pump below water level to help the priming process? Or is it a retrofit drain?

[Jackie Ramo]

The pump is in the filter, it is a retro bottom drain. I had to go from 2" to 3/4" fittings, it sure ain't pretty let me tell you. I still hope that eventually it will stop jamming or only need fixing once a week or so. Had planned on using a pump with a 2" outlet so it was simple except it pumped so much water it was pouring over the sides of the filter. The pondmast 950 has a nice flow but ugly plumbing.

[Jackie Ramo]

Today's pic ofthe filter. The flow seems to be holding up on this day three since the last clean. http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_filter%20pond.JPG
http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_filter%20koi.JPG

[The Other Lynda]

That looks great, Jackie! I love that you put one of your tiles on it - how appropriate! Your pond looks lovely as well... :yup:

[clm]

It does look great. What kind of filtration are you going to use on the new pond?

Cindy

[Jackie Ramo]

Cindy Just veggie filtration at the top preform. This pond is for plants rather than fish although the 3 wakin will live there in summer and inside with Tweet in winter. Its deep enough that if I had to I could overwinter wakins in it.

Lynda I have another tile that will get attached to the far side along the path.

[marla]

Jackie, it looks so nice I hope it continues to pump now, love the tile, the whole thing fits in very nice and the plants seem to be doing good.

[Jackie Ramo]

We will have to unplug the pump tonight and fix it again. Still a bit longer each time and the water is clearing. I think this filter is holding the green water in check. Not completely but stopping it from being soup. I can see the bottom, sort of.

[FEESE]

Hopefully I can re-vive this old thread.
I am completely lost as to hook up one of these filters.
Where does the pump get introduced here? Any possibility of diagrams or more pics to make one of these filters PLEASE?

:help:

[Jackie Ramo]

I'm making adjustments this year and will post them when I do them but life is busy and it won't be this weekend unfortunately.

[Jackie Ramo]

We finally have started the changes to the veggie filter for this year. The problems last year was the pump clogging so this year we are adding a leaf catcher ahead of the pump. Another issue was getting the pump primed after clearing the clog so this year we added a small ball valve. The third problem as not being able to clean the filter. We had tried to use the existing drain last year but it leaked, leaked and leaked some more so we sealed it. This year we put it a new drain and a gate valve.

Of course it being us, the hose to the pump from the bottom drain fell off when we moved the filter to test for leaks... more silicone please.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2545040044_ca84dca7a5_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2545041494_f01878457b_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3148/2545043480_085510f8dc_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2545065208_dd4cf0fde4_b.jpg

[Jackie Ramo]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2544236993_3dae7fd7a7_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/2545059302_23f760a428_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2545057144_605c72c838_b.jpg

[Jackie Ramo]

Of Course with this being us, we used the wrong silicon and it all needs to be removed and redone. I think I will go to bed and forget about it. :banghead:

We were sure it was the same stuff as last year but since it is melting Not in the Pond!! Lucky we had just put a bit of water in the tank for testing.

Got the new silicon and of course it is raining... :flamer: :banghead:

[Jackie Ramo]

So cleaned off the old silicone and redid with new... have to wait now to see what else we've done wrong.

[Jackie Ramo]

We have ignition!!!!! Finally am doing a 'dry' run tonight to see how things work. A real b**ch to prime it at first but the ball valve works great so now that it is primed it should stay that way.

Still have to set up the filtration but its a relief to get the main part of the chore done.

[clm]

Well, the hard part is done now. Congrats! What are you going to put in it this year?

Cindy

[Jackie Ramo]

I expect it will be mostly the same things as last year since I have them on hand. :grin: I do plan to try some cherry tomatoes in it this year and may skip the watercress although I suspect it was the main filtration. The bulbs are not as far along as I would have wished but then that is my fault not theirs. I have a greenhouse and could have started them earlier oh well, lucky I didn't kill them as I normally do.

[Jackie Ramo]

Ok she's been running for 2 days now and I even cleaned the leaf catcher, not as easy peasy as one would like but I am sure I will get the hang of it after a couple more tries. Keep it under water!!! Maybe the ball valve should have been before the leaf catcher and not the pump... wrong size so it would change now. Oh and the gate valve works good!!!

Plants may go in today. Joe is over so it depends on how much other stuff we get done.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2562920584_97f918d5c5_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/2562096641_0dfb566965_b.jpg

[clm]

That's great Jackie. Looks like it's running like a top. I bet you're glad it's working well.

Cindy

[Jackie Ramo]

Cindy it is working well. The leaf catcher catches the dead algae before it gets to the pump so no more clogging. Although the leaf catcher is not that easily opened, took two of us yesterday I think its just getting it worked in. The good news is when it is full it sinks so you know when to empty it. Not sure how I will get the filters and plants in there but I'm sure I'll find a way.

[Peg]

Way to go Jackie & Smith. Looks good and I'm glad to see it's working for you. Our new pump arrived to-day and will go in on the weekend when I get back from Dan's. Lets hope that will be the last of the plumbing for this year. Sure makes water changes faster & easier.

[Ian]

Hey Jackie,... does that really work? Hmmmm wow. I'm working at Bloor and Sherbourne (SW corner to be exact), spend my afternoons on the DVP. I'll have to stop by because I don't understand how it works... :HAHA: really, can't believe how you got it to work. Free consultation but you have to have beer on hand (or rather in my hand :grin: )

[Jackie Ramo]

Ian, you know we are always pleased to see you. I'd run to the beer store but its closed right now :HAHA:

[carcha koi]

Opening Soon. :bow: :lol:

[Jackie Ramo]

When I cleaned the leaf trap this am, there were even a couple of pieces of gravel in it so its really pulling from the bottom well. I think the fish are spawning but no eggs as yet. Lots of broken lily pads in the skimmer.

Forgot to add that the fish especially Tweet are loving the splash of the return in the pond. He lines up his tail with the splash and has a massage.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/2571971282_27f58a32c6_b.jpg

GG likes it to

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2571967342_1eb17322f6_b.jpg

[carcha koi]

That will give your filter a work out. :lol: My fish started breeding this a.m. Late this year isn't it? Well hurry up and get it over with. :doh:

[Jackie Ramo]

Actually it is early for my guys and guyettes, they've been known to wait until August!!!