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