Backfill jj's filter, or build an enclosure?

Hi Jan (Jordan, and other readers of this group),

You've been very helpful in answering several of my questions in the
past, thanks. I have another (no doubt not the last!). I'm planning
to build a 4-barrel filter like the one on your demonstration pond, and
I'm debating whether I should stick it in the ground and backfill it,
or build an enclosure for it. From your online pictures, it looks like
yours is backfilled. That would be the easiest solution, but I'm
wondering how you provided access to the filter valves? I'll have two
coming in, from a skimmer and a bottom drain, and two going out, one to
a "spring"-fed stream, and one to bypass the stream. Did you install
the valves inside the barrels? Meaning that you have to pull out the
filter material to get at them?

I'm also a little leery of burying the filter since that means I can't
get at the fittings if one of the bulkheads develops a leak. I'm
planning on using Uniseal fittings. I hope you'll tell me I'm worrying
too much, and I can just bury it and be done with it.

Chris

Hi Jan (Jordan, and other readers of this group),

You've been very helpful in answering several of my questions in the
past, thanks. I have another (no doubt not the last!). I'm planning
to build a 4-barrel filter like the one on your demonstration pond, and
I'm debating whether I should stick it in the ground and backfill it,
or build an enclosure for it. From your online pictures, it looks like
yours is backfilled. That would be the easiest solution, but I'm
wondering how you provided access to the filter valves? I'll have two
coming in, from a skimmer and a bottom drain, and two going out, one to
a "spring"-fed stream, and one to bypass the stream. Did you install
the valves inside the barrels? Meaning that you have to pull out the
filter material to get at them?

I'm also a little leery of burying the filter since that means I can't
get at the fittings if one of the bulkheads develops a leak. I'm
planning on using Uniseal fittings. I hope you'll tell me I'm worrying
too much, and I can just bury it and be done with it.

Chris

Hi Chris, Sorry I'm a bit slow checking in, wedding receptions (my son) and
graduations (my new DIL) going on this weekend. :-)

My filter has been in the ground since '97 and the demo.garden since '00
and so far no leaks around the bulkheads. I guess we figured if there was a
problem we'd just dig down to it.

In my pond we don't have valves because it's siphon affect. On the demo
pond a ball valve was put 2ish ft down off the pre-filter (between bottom
drain and filter). A large diameter pipe on end was put over it then it all
was back filled. I turn the ball valve with a garden claw.

But, valves do fail and another fool proof method is screw an elbow into
the bulk head at the lower side of the prefilter facing up. When you want
to clean it you put a stand pipe screwed into the elbow taller than the
level of the pond. Course this means removing the media and finding the
elbow thru the stirred up muck.

So my suggestion, feel free to back fill, but
use easy to re-dig sand. ~ jan


See my ponds and filter design:
www.jjspond.us

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

Thanks for your help. I've decided I can just put it in the ground
and backfill. The large-diameter pipe is an excellent idea.

Chris

On 16 Jun 2005 08:51:27 -0700, "Chris" wrote:

Thanks for your help. I've decided I can just put it in the ground
and backfill. The large-diameter pipe is an excellent idea.
Chris

I just gave my guys the go ahead on the filter for the Lily pond and I
think that's what we'll be doing also. ~ jan

~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~