Pump and "P" pot

[jhenkel]

Shalom; any one have experience with separating the exteranl pump and the priming pot? My thought is to separate the pump and priming pot by about 6" so I can install a 1" tee with a downcomer(pipe)into the skimmer to keep the skimmer working as well as, the new 2" retro drain. I' like to instll both at the same time; both lines being valves to control the suction from both lines as needed.

Tanx,
Mckool

 

[addy1]

I t'd before the priming pot, one line to the skimmer, one line to the feed from the pond. The priming pot / leaf basket, helps keep junk out of the pump that might be sucked in via the skimmer or the pond line. My skimmer also has a large leaf basket.

 

[taherrmann4]

Not sure why you would want to bypass the priming pot. I would do like Addy has hers.

 

[jhenkel]

The line fom the skimmer wlli be protected by a filter, would also help ease the install and maybe a bit more suction for flow through the smaller line was the thought concept

Thanks for the responses,
McKoool

 

[jhenkel]

Shalom: The main line into the prime pot would be the 2" retro bottom drain; the ohter line 1" would be from the skimmer that has a filter at the intake so water from the skimmer would come from below the water level in the skimmerand be mechanically filtered. Thought that maybe a better suction would result if the skimmer pick up was between the pump and prime pot - this had been supported by a pond/pump equipment distributor sales person( been down this road before - Amen??) since I'm going to make a pump house to go over the pump and to house electrical switched outlets for the pumps( main pump, air pump,and outlet for backup pump and maybe pond lights), hopefully also will run aa aereation pipe (/2") around at least part of the pond bottom perimeter to assist flow to the retro drain.

Separating the pump and prime pot may make the install a little easier. Waiting for the pump and pipe fittings to arrive so I can dry fit the setup prior to glue time and only do it once - that will be a first.

As an addition; the pickup from the skimmer would also act as a siphon break if the water level dropped unexpectedly and save pumping the pond dry via the retro bottom drain.

May also investigate a low level shut-off switch for the electrical side, as well and if all goes well, this will be the last major ponding adventure.

Looks to be a several week process as building the pump house via board/batten like the grist mill for the waterwheel may increae my try my vocabulary, repeatedly.

If this triggers any "alarms", please let me know.

Tanx,
McKool

 

[addy1]

I have a 3 inch line coming from the pond, two inch line from the skimmer, they join together and go into the priming pot. If the water gets to low the skimmer draws air and breaks the suction from the bottom, happened once lol.

Both the line from the pond and the line from the skimmer have ball valves on them. I want to direct a lot of flow to the skimmer when the leaves are falling, equal flow during normal times. More flow to the pond pipe when I net the bottom so the pond line picks up a lot of the muck I am stirring up.

 

[jhenkel]

Shalom - Forgot to mention the valving. Yes I will have a valve on each line. The pump has 2" inlet so that is the restriction through which all must pass. Thought about a 3-way valve, but, to me, it extends the horizonal length of the setup, which I prefer not to do, and to a degree may limit futher changes in either of the lines .

Tanx,
McKool

 

[taherrmann4]

Shalom: The main line into the prime pot would be the 2" retro bottom drain; the ohter line 1" would be from the skimmer that has a filter at the intake so water from the skimmer would come from below the water level in the skimmerand be mechanically filtered. Thought that maybe a better suction would result if the skimmer pick up was between the pump and prime pot - this had been supported by a pond/pump equipment distributor sales person( been down this road before - Amen??) since I'm going to make a pump house to go over the pump and to house electrical switched outlets for the pumps( main pump, air pump,and outlet for backup pump and maybe pond lights), hopefully also will run aa aereation pipe (/2") around at least part of the pond bottom perimeter to assist flow to the retro drain.

Separating the pump and prime pot may make the install a little easier. Waiting for the pump and pipe fittings to arrive so I can dry fit the setup prior to glue time and only do it once - that will be a first.

As an addition; the pickup from the skimmer would also act as a siphon break if the water level dropped unexpectedly and save pumping the pond dry via the retro bottom drain.

May also investigate a low level shut-off switch for the electrical side, as well and if all goes well, this will be the last major ponding adventure.

Looks to be a several week process as building the pump house via board/batten like the grist mill for the waterwheel may increae my try my vocabulary, repeatedly.

If this triggers any "alarms", please let me know.

Tanx,
McKool

I built a pump house for my external pump, it also houses my aerator and transformer for my lights.

If you go with a low level shut off switch be cautious. If I shut down my pump it raises my water level in the pond by at least an inch b/c of all the water that drains from my bog, and several creeks. So if it shuts the pump down when the water drains into the pond and raises the water level it will kick the pump back on then you get where it shuts off and on constantly.

 

[ellisr63]

I t'd before the priming pot, one line to the skimmer, one line to the feed from the pond. The priming pot / leaf basket, helps keep junk out of the pump that might be sucked in via the skimmer or the pond line. My skimmer also has a large leaf basket.

Mine will be similar... I have three 4" pipes each going to a 4" to 3" reducer, then to a 3" gate valve attached to a 3" manifold, then to a prime pot with a 3" inlet and outlet then reducing to a 2" for the pump. I am still debating on puttin a check valve in even though the pump will be about 1' below water level.

 

[jhenkel]

Shalom - All good points - THANKS !! I'll valve both lines, I now have som many varied fittings sizes, I may need to have a fire sale, but I'll keep enough spare parts as to date my history of problems is at night or holidays - maybe there is a Devine message there that I've not received ??

I'll be flexible on the 1" into the skimmer, once I take inventory of the orders I've placed, I may have enough parts to change. Also after the new pump is in service, changes mayt be in order. My pumps with water experience is in this pond only so there is a learning curve to be had, especially, with an external pump and priming pot.

I don't have any real back drainage into this pond, only a a bit of what is in the line and maybe a bit from the filter in the grits mill, so a low level cut off via suction break should be okay and not drain the pond and leave enough water for the Koi to survive a short time. I have an air pump that can fill the aereation concern - if I use both air stones at full throttle, the Koi can water ski. So short term is covered and I have 2 submersible pumps that can be used as backup.

I'm putting a union ball valve on the discharge so if the pump goes out, I'll have an adapter (1") to connect one of the backup STP's( sorry - STP is an abb. for submersible turbine pump that I use in my fuel system business) to the ball valve via an adapter fitting

The goal is to minimize maintenance; simplify the use of a backup pump(s).

Again, thanks, folks, this is what helps to prevent overlooking the obvious, and gives guidance for others - sort of "Kool" - Amen!

tanx,
McKool

 

[ellisr63]

What I did on my QT tank when I wanted to work on the airlift pipes was put a plug on the pipe in the pond. It worked great but the water pressure makes it a bit hard to remove the plug.

 

[jhenkel]

Shalom - Addendum #1 - received the pump and "P" pot today, looks like I 'll have about a 17" horizontal rum from the pot to the Tee and 90 where I go down into the pond and the skimmer - this is the distance from one side of the skimmer to the other and this will allow me to continue to use the skimmer filter. Guess it's time to start redrawing/configuring the pump house construction. Rethinking what was going to be inside. May be having a firesale on plumbing parts.