Filtration Question

[Meyer Jordan]

The Helix skimmer is no better at trapping needles than any other skimmer. That info is straight from the manufacturer.

A pressurized filter can be placed anywhere on the outflow line of the pump, preferably a location that provides ease of access for times of cleaning.

 

[DoDad]

My skimmers don't catch many needles but my sieves catch them all.

 

[AppMan]

The Helix skimmer is no better at trapping needles than any other skimmer. That info is straight from the manufacturer.

A pressurized filter can be placed anywhere on the outflow line of the pump, preferably a location that provides ease of access for times of cleaning.

The Helix has a basket with small holes in it. My skimmer has a net with larger holes in it. It has to capture more needles.

 

[AppMan]

My skimmers don't catch many needles but my sieves catch them all.

What type of sieves do you have?

 

[barryian]

New to the forum and I appreciate any & all advice.

We inherited a pond with a home we bought 4 years ago. Built approximately14 years ago it is 1200 gallons, has a plant shelf around the entire perimeter and a depth of 3 feet. I understand there are issues with plant shelves, but this one has flagstone on it that overhangs the "bank" by 5-6 inches providing the fish a hiding place. It has not been upgraded from its original Aquascapes BioFalls and skimmer although I did replace the pump with a Aquasurge 3000 pump 3 years ago. The previous homeowner planted Leyland Cypress and Pine tress next to the pond (now 30 feet tall) that constantly shed into it. The needles get caught up in the skimmer net (a pain to get out) and sink to the bottom of the pond. I can not keep the darn thing clean.

I've done a lot of research into solving this problem and considering replacing the old skimmer with a Savio model that has a basket instead of a net and easy to reach filters (I'm 61 and don't bend as well as I once did) and not under the pump. I'm thinking of adding a bottom drain to a Aquascapes Hydro Vortex Filter. I only have 3 medium sized koi in the pond and do not intend to have more than 5. My quesation is, if I decide to upgrade my waterfall do I still need a unit with filteration like I have now, or will the bottom drain and external filter be sufficient. Or should I just leave it the way it is and buy a pond vacuum? Which would be A LOT less expensive!

I have a similar scenario to someone in the discussion. I have the large Savio with the fine filter and a bead filter with a Sieve pre-filter and main drain. I have a weeping European beach kept at about 15ft in an umbrella shape 30 years old over the pond but also have some pine, spruce, Leland cypress and they do drop needles along with tons of poly - nose from swamp maples on my neighbors property. No problem once late spring starts and the system takes care of it all. Just have to hose the savio filter more often in the beginning. Main drain and Savio do the trick. Nothing to ever vacuum.

 

[DoDad]

What type of sieves do you have?

I have a Aquaforte UltraSieve III on two bottom drains and a Cetus Sieve on my skimmer.
In a few weeks the bottom drains will go to a Rotary Drum Filter.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

The Helix has a basket with small holes in it. My skimmer has a net with larger holes in it. It has to capture more needles.

Contact Eric Triplett the manufacturer and get his take. He has indicated in the past that needles are a problem.

 

[AppMan]

I have a similar scenario to someone in the discussion. I have the large Savio with the fine filter and a bead filter with a Sieve pre-filter and main drain. I have a weeping European beach kept at about 15ft in an umbrella shape 30 years old over the pond but also have some pine, spruce, Leland cypress and they do drop needles along with tons of poly - nose from swamp maples on my neighbors property. No problem once late spring starts and the system takes care of it all. Just have to hose the savio filter more often in the beginning. Main drain and Savio do the trick. Nothing to ever vacuum.

Thanks for the info. That sounds like an ideal system for my issues.

 

[AppMan]

I have a Aquaforte UltraSieve III on two bottom drains and a Cetus Sieve on my skimmer.
In a few weeks the bottom drains will go to a Rotary Drum Filter.

Thanks for the info.

 

[AppMan]

Contact Eric Triplett the manufacturer and get his take. He has indicated in the past that needles are a problem.

Will do. The video I saw was him extolling the virtues of the Helix in capturing needles. Perhaps it was an older video and he's had some different experienceds since then.

 

[barryian]

I have a Aquaforte UltraSieve III on two bottom drains and a Cetus Sieve on my skimmer.
In a few weeks the bottom drains will go to a Rotary Drum Filter.

@DoDad ... Hi ... You had mentioned you have the AlphaOne 2.5 as I do. You sell them so probably know the answer. You had mentioned the blower ... Just under the blower is the spring check valve it sits on. As we both know, you turn the pump off, put it on rinse and then turn on the blower to agitate the beads. So, question is, when the pump is on in filter position, if that blower spring check valve goes bad, could the pond empty out ( I have a main drain ) or is there no water pressure pushing up during the filter cycle position. This just popped in my head. Thx DoDad!

 

[DoDad]

The check valve just stops water from going up into the blower which would short it out ruining it.

 

[barryian]

The check valve just stops water from going up into the blower which would short it out ruining it.

I just went out and pushing down on the valve, yes water pressure is alway there when the pump is running. Have you ever thought of a fail safe if the valve should fail and blow... hence emptying the whole pond? I started everything up yesterday using the blower and then lifted it off and put it away so it doesn't get weathered and rusted as my other did.
I'm wondering about some type of threaded cap when not in use and how the unit would then simple mount over the threads.
Sounds complicated but quite simple and would give me piece of mind. Am I crazy with overkill or does this make sense?

 

[DoDad]

I have two bead filters . The other one is a Advantage 15 bead filter and it ha a ball valve between the blower and filter.

 

[barryian]

I have two bead filters . The other one is a Advantage 15 bead filter and it ha a ball valve between the blower and filter.

Thanks! AWESOME idea ... It'll take 20 minutes, some cleaner, cement, valve and 2" pipe ... Why didn't I think of that! Thanks again! Very nice setup, very much like the AlphaOne. Even the video is similar to
Gary C's backwashing video. That's a big boy. You're running that with an AlphaOne 2.5 on the same pond?