It Worked!

[hewhoisatpeace]

I have a Skippy style filter, and it has worked pretty well. Clears ammonia fast, anyway.

On the downside, it was full, after 3 months, of crap. Literally. Had a pretty intense algae bloom going on almost all the time, using washable air filters, matala-style mats cut into 4" x 6" chunks, and top dressed with a layer of lava as media. This settled over the few months since I installed the filter, so I had a plan.

The Skippy folks said I'd never clean the actual filter, but I follow instruction, well, like, almost never. Or less.

I added a cubic foot of bio-blocks on sale at Pondliner.com plus 20 5-packs of 4"X6" scrubbies from Dollar Tree, lifting out the lava and replacing it over the pads.

I also added a 2" ball valve to the filter intake, and a 3/4" hose bibb between the pump and the ball valve. And, a clear 5' X 1 1/4" drain hose the the raised bottom of my filter. Now, I can use the hose to spray off (or backwash) my filter media, while opening the bottom drain hose to drain the filter until it runs clear.

I say it worked because I have such water clarity now that I've discovered fish in the pond I've never seen before! Pictures to follow soon.

 

[DrCase]

Sounds like it works

 

[addy1]

Fantastic, glad to hear that! great to have good clarity

 

[blly8325]

I have a Skippy style filter, and it has worked pretty well. Clears ammonia fast, anyway.

On the downside, it was full, after 3 months, of crap. Literally. Had a pretty intense algae bloom going on almost all the time, using washable air filters, matala-style mats cut into 4" x 6" chunks, and top dressed with a layer of lava as media. This settled over the few months since I installed the filter, so I had a plan.

The Skippy folks said I'd never clean the actual filter, but I follow instruction, well, like, almost never. Or less.

I added a cubic foot of bio-blocks on sale at Pondliner.com plus 20 5-packs of 4"X6" scrubbies from Dollar Tree, lifting out the lava and replacing it over the pads.

I also added a 2" ball valve to the filter intake, and a 3/4" hose bibb between the pump and the ball valve. And, a clear 5' X 1 1/4" drain hose the the raised bottom of my filter. Now, I can use the hose to spray off (or backwash) my filter media, while opening the bottom drain hose to drain the filter until it runs clear.

I say it worked because I have such water clarity now that I've discovered fish in the pond I've never seen before! Pictures to follow soon.

I have a 2500 gal pond w/ a skippy set up. It's a rather new pond 6wks old. I noticed my water getting green. I used some old mat'l from the 2 mini me bios I was running in my old pond. The 3/4 " pipe that I plumbed out in the 100 gal stock tank wasn't cutting it. The pump that I have is rated at 3600/hr. I recently plumbed to 1 1/2 PVC. Now I have way better flow to my stock tank. So much that the out flow shower drain is covered w/ water. Before water would only go half way up the drain. I also upgraded a little on my media. Yes I also have the $1.00 store scrubbies but I added A/C filters that I purchased from H.D. They're Green about 2 ft x 3ft like $7.00 each. Cut em up into squares. The filter is less dense than the scrub pads. These will let more water thru and give more room for the beneficial bacteria to grow. My pond is definetly clearing up. Oh do you have your top of your Skippy open to sunlight? I use to put plants in there but when winter freeze out came I noticed the top of the filter would have massive amounts of decaying stinky slop. Ammonia is not good, so I have been just covering the top with a plastic cover disquised w/ rocks.

 

[hewhoisatpeace]

More media is always good, if you can fit it. I have the layer of red lava on top, just under water, with channels running to my overflow.

My pump runs 3200 gph at 4' head, so I don't think a shower drain will accomodate me. I cut a rectangular hole near the top of my 100g tank, had no weir, so I just said "hell with it" and glued my liner to the inside of the stock tank (hasn't leaked a drop yet - my filter is up on blocks so I can tell).

I do run plants in the top. Taro and dwarf hyacinth. The hyacinth I know is like a filter with all those hairlike roots, and makes great compost. I guess I have yet to see winter with a running pond, so I'll see how I feel about cleaning out the plants.