Bio Ball Question

[Jason]

So I ended up buying a Pressurized Filter with 3 Filter pads (Large, Medium, Fine debri) That has Bio Balls in the Bottom, along with a Back wash outlet and a 13w UV Clarifier. Now, I have no experience with Bio Balls except I know that they home good bacteria that helps breakdown stuff (lol, I think) and I was wondering when it comes time to clean my filter and rinse out my Pads, Do i rinse the Bio Balls too or leave the stuff in them? I also have been using 1/2'' tubing for my smaller 420GPH pumps, But also just ordered a Pondmaster SS 950GPH Submersible or Inline pump that has a 3/4'' outlet, my question is, should I buy Corrugated Tubing or Regular, and are there any benefits to using Corrugated Tubing? Thanks for all the Help Here is the Filter and Pump I ordered below

http://www.ebay.com/itm/290783905550?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370342191150?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

What do yall think?

 

[crsublette]

In regards to the corrugated or plain tubing, I suppose it comes down to flexibility. My guess is the corrugate will extremely slightly increase the friction loss. "Friction loss" is one of those variables use to determine your pump's output flow rate; the higher it is, the higher the reduction on flow rate.

Pressurized filters are fine. I'm not a filter snob, but there are aspects to the filter that will reduce the filters effectiveness in bio-conversion such as an accumulation of debris on the bio-balls them self. It doesn't take much debris to create a reduction in bio-balls biofiltration. The debris reduces oxygen penetration and your aerobic (chemolithic autotrophs) nitrifying bacteria (the good guys) need oxygen to convert the ammonia through the nitrification cycle. Eventually, the debris will allow dimorphic facultive heterotroph bacteria that can be good guys also, BUT, if these dimophic bacteria gets no oxygen, then they act as obligate anaerobes which can possibly create hydrogen sulfide (a toxic gas) which leads to creating other problems. Do NOT let this alarm you. Just be sure to clean the filter pads on a good routine, whichever you think is best and works best with your schedule.

I've used a pressurized filter like that just fine for mechanical filtration and it works great.

If you start having ammonia problems, then you might want to think of something different for a bio-filter, such as a small trickle tower or anoxic basket. For the trickle tower, you can simple make a basket or tower out of chicken wire, put a small submersible fountain pump in the center below the tower, fill it with lava rock or crushed coral, pump pipe up the center to just spray on top of the material. For the anoxic basket, just get one of the aquatic plant baskets with alot of holes in it, fill it with fish safe non-clumping kitty litter (basic reb/blue walmart bag litter), then put a good 4~8ounces of Aquarium Laterite in the center of the basket and, if you want, put a lilly in it.

Don't rinse the bio-balls. Simply just gently swish them around in the water to knock off the debris only if there is debris on it; otherwise, just leave them alone.

Sorry, I'm not a pump expert so don't know what to tell ya other than it should be fine. There are always replacement parts involved so eventually you might have to replace a part or something in the pump, depending on the pump.

 

[Jason]

In regards to the corrugated or plain tubing, I suppose it comes down to flexibility. My guess is the corrugate will extremely slightly increase the friction loss. "Friction loss" is one of those variables use to determine your pump's output flow rate; the higher it is, the higher the reduction on flow rate.

Pressurized filters are fine. I'm not a filter snob, but there are aspects to the filter that will reduce the filters effectiveness in bio-conversion such as an accumulation of debris on the bio-balls them self. It doesn't take much debris to create a reduction in bio-balls biofiltration. The debris reduces oxygen penetration and your aerobic (chemolithic autotrophs) nitrifying bacteria (the good guys) need oxygen to convert the ammonia through the nitrification cycle. Eventually, the debris will allow dimorphic facultive heterotroph bacteria that can be good guys also, BUT, if these dimophic bacteria gets no oxygen, then they act as obligate anaerobes which can possibly create hydrogen sulfide (a toxic gas) which leads to creating other problems. Do NOT let this alarm you. Just be sure to clean the filter pads on a good routine, whichever you think is best and works best with your schedule.

I've used a pressurized filter like that just fine for mechanical filtration and it works great.

If you start having ammonia problems, then you might want to think of something different for a bio-filter, such as a small trickle tower or anoxic basket. For the trickle tower, you can simple make a basket or tower out of chicken wire, put a small submersible fountain pump in the center below the tower, fill it with lava rock or crushed coral, pump pipe up the center to just spray on top of the material. For the anoxic basket, just get one of the aquatic plant baskets with alot of holes in it, fill it with fish safe non-clumping kitty litter (basic reb/blue walmart bag litter), then put a good 4~8ounces of Aquarium Laterite in the center of the basket and, if you want, put a lilly in it.

Don't rinse the bio-balls. Simply just gently swish them around in the water to knock off the debris only if there is debris on it; otherwise, just leave them alone.

Sorry, I'm not a pump expert so don't know what to tell ya other than it should be fine. There are always replacement parts involved so eventually you might have to replace a part or something in the pump, depending on the pump.

Wow! Thanks, That told me allot, Hopefully I will be ok with this filter since it is a little big for my pond so maybe thats better. I pulled up my 20mil liner and rinsed it off for a future project and bought a 45mil EPDM 10x10' liner which is only 3 feet wider than my 7x10' 20mil one, The pump had awesome reviews and some said that they have had their up to 8 years now with no problems and it was affordable Thanks again

 

[crsublette]

With most type of retail filters, I believe going bigger is always better and recommended.

 

[sissy]

I had the corragated tubing and just a couple of months after it split I buy sump pump hose now and this is the third year for one of them ,less than 11 dollars verse 30 some dollars for that other garbage
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[Jason]

Thanks sissy! i love saving money when i can does lowes or hd carry it?

 

[HARO]

Any building-type or hardware store should have it.
John

 

[sissy]

I used to pay less than 9 dollars but now it is just under 12 dollars .Got it the other day to replace my neighbors hose on her pond and we got it installed today

 

[gardengimp]

Here is a Lowe's link: http://www.lowes.com/pd_313726-48284-56171-LWS1_0__ Discharge Hose

I've not seen this at my Lowes, but then again, we don't have basements around these here parts. It can be special ordered for you though, and I'm going to go in with the part number and ask them to look for it on the shelves for me.

Thanks Sissy!

 

[sissy]

It is near the sump pumps and well stuff .

 

[sissy]

most times they ship to your house free if you get enough stuff or you can get it shipped to the store .