Fellow inventors/innovators; will this work?

[D&RW]

Thanks KoiKeeper. I did use the system you see, i.e. the side drain and ball valve to drain the filter previously. But it wasn't effective and left some crud in the drain even with multiple flushes. Water got pretty clean coming out, but when I did break down the media inside the bottom still had a lot of crud. So, I'm just going to plug it.

I'm going to a 3 inch bulkhead and a knife valve and put it in the bottom of the drain, i.e. underneath and then plumb it like you say. the 3 in. knife valve is less expensive than the 3 inch ball and easier to operate. Thanks for the directions on putting the bulkhead in. BTW, I love all PL products. They are the best glues I've ever found short of epoxy.

 

[koikeepr]

Here's my warning about knife valves before you go thinking they are cheaper--they are more likely to leak. If you go with a knife valve, make sure it at least has a stainless steel paddle and not a plastic one. The plastic ones end up warping with time from the weight of all the water and ultimately leak. Valterra makes ones with a stainless paddle, and I can assure you that the 3" one isn't cheap.

If you get a good quality ball valve for this very important spot, you will find they are very easy to open and use. Just bring it forward from under your filter. Go to a good plumbing supply place rather than HDepot. This will be your most important valve, so get a good one. It will prob cost you $12-$20 bucks (depending on where you go), but it will be worth the expense. Try to get one with a union on at least one side, so if you have to remove it, you can just unscrew it. You'd be surprised what can get caught in this part of your plumbing system, and it sucks to have to cut off a glued pipe at this point.

Just my humble opinion. If you want to take the chance on a plastic paddle knife valve....vaya con dios!

 

[D&RW]

I don't know for sure, but I think the knife valve I ordered is stainless. I hope so.

 

[D&RW]

Valve is not stainless. I'm sending it back. It doesn't seem to close tightly at all.

 

[D&RW]

So, how do I encase the 3 cubic feet of ultra biomedia in the aquafalls filter box. I've been cogitating on it. I searched all over for a box of some kind with perforations or holes. no luck. So I hit on the idea of making a frame of PVC that will fit tightly in the filterfalls box. I've ordered a custom designed media bag from Armor Bags in florida. I'll pull the bag over the frame, dump in the media and then draw string close it. Here are some pictures of the frame. Haven't got the bag yet.

The dimensions of the frame are 8 inches deep, 29 inches long and three measurements for width--20, 24 and 23.. If fits snugly in the filterfalls box. Recall that the plan is to cut a hole in the side of the media bag and run a two inch pipe into the upper part of the media. This two inch pipe will have a Y and divide into two pipes, each capped on the end. Into each of these two pipes will be drilled multiple holes facing sideways and down. I'll put a diverter valve outside the filterfalls so I can redirect flow from the bottom of the filterfalls where it fills to the secondary pipe to flush the biomedia.

 

[DrDave]

Stainless alone means nothing. If it is 400 series, it will rust. You want 300 series stainless, 304 or 316L which is the best.

A magnet will tell you the difference. If the magnet sticks, stay away from it.

 

[koikeepr]

Interesting contraption D&RW! It's amazing what we ponders do with some pvc and a few elbows. LOL!

 

[D&RW]

Found a 3 inch knife valve with a stainless blade on EBay. For only $26 too + shipping. Meanwhile I can't wait for the media bag to arrive.

 

[D&RW]

Armor bags did a super job on the media bag. Super work. I'll take fotos later today.

 

[koikeepr]

can't wait to see 'em! What's an armor bag?

 

[D&RW]

David Carmichael owns and runs Armor Bags out of Florida. Primarily scuba diving bags, but he'll make anything you want.

 

[D&RW]

Well, I thought I posted pictures of the media bag from Armor bags, but I must not have submitted it. Here goes again.

The only problem with the resulting container is the opening was designed to be on one end and that won't work. I filled the bag & frame with the 3 cubic feet of media and it was so bulky I had a lot of trouble trying to fit it in.

So, I tied off the open end tightly and glued the tie shut. I'm going to place the whole thing into the filter-falls, cut a small hole in the upside of the bag and pour the media in through some kind of funnel. Then, I'll sew closed the hole on top.

 

[koiguy1969]

alright...pretty darn good fit!....

 

[D&RW]

I agree. I usually have pretty high standards and this guy's work is solid in my opinion.

 

[koikeepr]

yes, you showed us the frame contraption thingee, but not with the net over it. I see what you're talking about. That is pretty sweet. Looking forward to hear how it all actually works for ya.

How much did the scuba fella charge you for the pretty net bag, by the way?