Thank you for this & the previous diy video, i am in the process of building my filter & with your instructions it has made it so simple! Thanks again Lee 👍🏻
Hi mate, hopefully you’ll get this comment, doing this build as a two bay pump fed filter, everywhere I read says a 2” outlet is perfect including yourself if the pond is larger (10,000L pond, 5000l pump) but just picked up an EvoUv 30 and the hose tails are 1 1/2” which would then step it back down, velocity may help in places but would the barrels be able to handle 1 1/2” intake and outlet, starting to get all confused by it
The UV is before the filter. The water is being pushed through the UV the pipe size can be smaller than the filter outlet. The filter outlets are often bigger because there is less pressure and the filter could overflow otherwise.
Hi again interesting video. I am wondering about the cleaning of the sponges and the Japanese matting. You say you simply wash it out and let it flow but isn't that water contaminated? So won't your garden become contaminated?
I never tried uni seals. The bulk heads are cheap and strong. Any size tub is going to work. A larger one is always going to work better need less cleaning etc. Good luck.
I pack in shade cloth, works great. my water pumps straight to the bottom of the barrel and exits out the top, with the drain at the bottom, same as yours.
Great vid Lee. In the process of building and cut a hole for 2inch bulkhead but because I will be using flexi piping it has to be reduced to 1.5 inch. Think I should have stuck with 1.5inch fitting. As Im pumping 10000l/h I am going to fit a 2nd 1.5inch outlet near the first. Have also cut and fitted the 1st 2inch internal downpipes at an angle and it seems to sit better. I would like to control the outflow from the 2 outlets but ball valves see OTT o this system and better for a glued pipe set up rather than flexi pipe. Any thoughts?
Great project, Question! Do you need a high pressure pump, or does the water gets pushed up the pipe exit after it's been filter just by the natural pressure from the water?
The air works with k1. Its an interesting idea. At first I just thought no, but it might help, perhaps someone could do the experimental bit and report back.
Hi, your water inlet is at the top, would it be better if the inlet was at the bottom and have the clean water exit the top? Larger debris would be at the bottom so when you open the discharge it would clean more debris out.. or would that not work?
Hi Lee, I like all your videos. I do have a question. Would it be ok for the intake water to be piped to the bottom and just use the opposite side bulkhead with pipe to waterfall. I use this method on a small 250 gal tub. It works well for me.
There are many ways you can adapt it. However if in let at bottom all the muck will be in the bottom and you can't get to it with the sponge cleaning etc.
Hi Lee great video, have you any suggestions for getting rid of the fines in my koi pond, I have a Nexus 220 which isn't very good removing fines, this returns back to the pond. I have a skimmer which returns to a bakki shower. It's approx 3000g thanks Andy
Fines are a challenge. The more you try and get the fines out the more maintance your going to need on the filter. Maybe the new Evolution Aqua in line filter might work well. You might be able to pick up an in expensive bead filter 2nd hand and put it on the return from your nexus?
Hi mate. I've been running the filter for a few years but im now struggling with pressure from the outlet. I added a uv filter but i put it on the outlet side not the inlet. Also its all done out of 32mm pipe. Ive always struggled with it overflowing from dat one if i just put 32mm in and 32mm out. So i put a drilled and capped pipe on the inside to reduce the inlet flow. Any advice would be amazing or a ditect way of messaging you. Thanks
32mm is extremely narrow. Outlets would be much better done in 50mm 2inch or at the very least 40mm 1.5inch. also the sponges are probabley degraded. Often the demand on a filter will increase over time due to the increase in fish load.
Ok I will up the outlet to 50mm and see how I get on. I've always struggled controlling the inlet rate and the filter overflowing. Hopefully giving a bigger area to the outlet will enable better outlet flow and enable me to just inlet 32mm without it overflowing
Hey Lee, I notice that you have a clamp to hold the lid tight. Is this necessary? I am 3/4 through my 'copy' build and before turning the pump on I wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to flood the cellar....
The clamp is absolutely required on the one on my pond. It's pressurised. You need to be very careful because the pressure could blow the top of if the lift is high. It also needs a good job doing o. The seals etc. Otherwise they could leak under increased pressure.
So I have the same barrel with clamping lid that i want to make a filter out of. but I need to make it a pressure filter.. do you have a video on making the pressure one? I currently am running a total pond pressure filter and I can not stand it. can't wait to toss it in the trash.. my pond is pretty small with three turtles. but the goldfish I added for feeder fish never became feeder fish and now are about 5-7 in in a 300 gallon pond. the total pond filter has to be cleaned every couple days.. I'm hopping that even though by new barrel of about 20 gallons is overkill. it should by me more time in between cleanings. but i also want to add a self cleaning feature with out having to open it and pull everything so often to rinse off.
I have a 1200 gallon pond with one on and the water is absolutely crystal clear and parameters perfect. Only difference to lee’s design is I use alfagrog for bio. I’d honestly say it could handle a fair bit bigger.
I have a question, do you think using the bottom valve to do water changes without using a sump pump is the same as doing water changes with a sump pump? Thank you!
If you are putting the sump pump into the bottom of your pond to remove sediment building up. Then it is probably not going to be as effective. If your just wanting to change water then yes.
@@leecalladine Hello thanks for the quick response! I am currently battling high ammonia level since my pond isn't cycled, is it okay to add additional beneficial bacteria daily as well to the filters?
Definitely more pond tour videos
Thank you for this & the previous diy video, i am in the process of building my filter & with your instructions it has made it so simple! Thanks again Lee 👍🏻
Got some more videos coming really soon. I am working on a step by step guide to doing pond with drum filter.
@@leecalladinewash 1 zoo,
@@leecalladine0
Thank you Lee for this update. I made this with the help of your previous video was working great👍 thank you.
Thats good to know. I am really pleased with mine .
50mm works an absolute treat! Thanks again
Thanks lee! another good and useful video👍🏻 keep up the good work mate 👍🏻
I will thanks for the feedback and keep watching them!
Excellent video lee going to make one for my small 300 gallon pond
It will work perfectly I am sure. Please let us know how it goes. All the best.
@@leecalladine will do thx mate 👍
your video helped me alot
Hi mate, hopefully you’ll get this comment, doing this build as a two bay pump fed filter, everywhere I read says a 2” outlet is perfect including yourself if the pond is larger (10,000L pond, 5000l pump) but just picked up an EvoUv 30 and the hose tails are 1 1/2” which would then step it back down, velocity may help in places but would the barrels be able to handle 1 1/2” intake and outlet, starting to get all confused by it
The UV is before the filter. The water is being pushed through the UV the pipe size can be smaller than the filter outlet. The filter outlets are often bigger because there is less pressure and the filter could overflow otherwise.
Hi again interesting video. I am wondering about the cleaning of the sponges and the Japanese matting. You say you simply wash it out and let it flow but isn't that water contaminated? So won't your garden become contaminated?
Great Video Lee. Can I use a 5 gallon bucket for my filter and do you prefer bulkheads or uniseals
I never tried uni seals. The bulk heads are cheap and strong. Any size tub is going to work. A larger one is always going to work better need less cleaning etc. Good luck.
I pack in shade cloth, works great. my water pumps straight to the bottom of the barrel and exits out the top, with the drain at the bottom, same as yours.
That's great. Does it need much maintenance?
Can this be used for a gravity fed pond and what changes would need to be made keep vids coming 👍
Great vid Lee. In the process of building and cut a hole for 2inch bulkhead but because I will be using flexi piping it has to be reduced to 1.5 inch. Think I should have stuck with 1.5inch fitting. As Im pumping 10000l/h I am going to fit a 2nd 1.5inch outlet near the first. Have also cut and fitted the 1st 2inch internal downpipes at an angle and it seems to sit better. I would like to control the outflow from the 2 outlets but ball valves see OTT o this system and better for a glued pipe set up rather than flexi pipe. Any thoughts?
Control of the outlet may result in back up. With the filter overflowing?
Hi Lee how much would charge a oap to sort her raised koi pond. It keeps going green thank you Rita
Pop into the shop in Nottingham perhaps I could help.
Great project, Question! Do you need a high pressure pump, or does the water gets pushed up the pipe exit after it's been filter just by the natural pressure from the water?
You don't need high powered pump. It depends if you make it sealed if it can work like a pressurised system.
@@leecalladine Good to know. Thank you.
Hi Lee. Do you think an air supply at the bottom of the barrel would aid in cleaning or does that only work for media like K1 ? Nice videos !
The air works with k1. Its an interesting idea. At first I just thought no, but it might help, perhaps someone could do the experimental bit and report back.
Hi, your water inlet is at the top, would it be better if the inlet was at the bottom and have the clean water exit the top? Larger debris would be at the bottom so when you open the discharge it would clean more debris out.. or would that not work?
The entry at the top is critical to the design. You can reach the foam sheet for cleaning without dismantling.
Hi Lee, I like all your videos. I do have a question. Would it be ok for the intake water to be piped to the bottom and just use the opposite side bulkhead with pipe to waterfall.
I use this method on a small 250 gal tub. It works well for me.
There are many ways you can adapt it. However if in let at bottom all the muck will be in the bottom and you can't get to it with the sponge cleaning etc.
Hi Lee great video, have you any suggestions for getting rid of the fines in my koi pond, I have a Nexus 220 which isn't very good removing fines, this returns back to the pond. I have a skimmer which returns to a bakki shower. It's approx 3000g thanks Andy
Fines are a challenge. The more you try and get the fines out the more maintance your going to need on the filter. Maybe the new Evolution Aqua in line filter might work well. You might be able to pick up an in expensive bead filter 2nd hand and put it on the return from your nexus?
Hi mate. I've been running the filter for a few years but im now struggling with pressure from the outlet. I added a uv filter but i put it on the outlet side not the inlet. Also its all done out of 32mm pipe. Ive always struggled with it overflowing from dat one if i just put 32mm in and 32mm out. So i put a drilled and capped pipe on the inside to reduce the inlet flow. Any advice would be amazing or a ditect way of messaging you. Thanks
32mm is extremely narrow. Outlets would be much better done in 50mm 2inch or at the very least 40mm 1.5inch. also the sponges are probabley degraded. Often the demand on a filter will increase over time due to the increase in fish load.
Ok I will up the outlet to 50mm and see how I get on. I've always struggled controlling the inlet rate and the filter overflowing. Hopefully giving a bigger area to the outlet will enable better outlet flow and enable me to just inlet 32mm without it overflowing
@@leecalladine one other thing. Would you place the UV on the inlet or outlet side?
@@chriscarbone1681 inlet side normally.
@@leecalladine 50mm works an absolute treat! Thanks Lee
Hey Lee, I notice that you have a clamp to hold the lid tight. Is this necessary? I am 3/4 through my 'copy' build and before turning the pump on I wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to flood the cellar....
The clamp is absolutely required on the one on my pond. It's pressurised. You need to be very careful because the pressure could blow the top of if the lift is high. It also needs a good job doing o. The seals etc. Otherwise they could leak under increased pressure.
So I have the same barrel with clamping lid that i want to make a filter out of. but I need to make it a pressure filter.. do you have a video on making the pressure one? I currently am running a total pond pressure filter and I can not stand it. can't wait to toss it in the trash.. my pond is pretty small with three turtles. but the goldfish I added for feeder fish never became feeder fish and now are about 5-7 in in a 300 gallon pond. the total pond filter has to be cleaned every couple days.. I'm hopping that even though by new barrel of about 20 gallons is overkill. it should by me more time in between cleanings. but i also want to add a self cleaning feature with out having to open it and pull everything so often to rinse off.
The same design will work pressure. It's working that way in the video.
that clothe looks like shammy leather ? Also can you use simple sponge material
Sponge is perfect.
So you you run a costs on hand made to bought ?
How many gallons or liters would you say one barrel like this filters?
There is not a a good answer. But I would say easily a 1000. Gallons.
I have a 1200 gallon pond with one on and the water is absolutely crystal clear and parameters perfect. Only difference to lee’s design is I use alfagrog for bio. I’d honestly say it could handle a fair bit bigger.
@@michaelelstob9067 Thank you for the reply! I am going to use lava rock in one barrel as its cheaper!
How often do you clean this diy filter?
Sponges weekly. Drain the rest out about 3 or 4 times a year.
I have a question, do you think using the bottom valve to do water changes without using a sump pump is the same as doing water changes with a sump pump?
Thank you!
If you are putting the sump pump into the bottom of your pond to remove sediment building up. Then it is probably not going to be as effective. If your just wanting to change water then yes.
@@leecalladine Hello thanks for the quick response! I am currently battling high ammonia level since my pond isn't cycled, is it okay to add additional beneficial bacteria daily as well to the filters?
@@beast8623 definitely. Plus water changes. Regular.
Is there a list of products used
Yes on the first video. And a step by step guide to build it.
Wat size of pump is needed for the barrel filter
2500 ltr or bigger is better.
How many gph can go through there
It depends on the pipes. And if your pressurise it. But in general I would limit the flow to 500 gal.