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DIY Tips and Tricks - DIY ProjectsLearn how to create your own equipment and accessories.
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Top Poster: markf1fan (3,497)
Hi all, I have a 800 Gallon pond with a bottom drain feeding a Easy Pod.
The issue is, that because it was a small pond, I stupidly only fitted a 2 inch waste feed to the easy pod.
Now I have lots of bends etc in a small space so i fitted a eco 10000 pump. Which seems alot i know. But I do have lots of bends, has to pump through a UV and back to the pond. I want to know if there is a way of increasing my feed rate to the pod. I like a good turn over.
The valve on the return is only turned a quarter of an inch, If i could get more flow into the pod, i could turn it up a bit to increase turn over.
Now I know you are going to say, dig up the 2" and fit a 4", well would be easy of it wasnt all set in reinforced fibred concrete.
Is there a method that any one knows of to draw more water from the drain into the pod, without using a pump.
Stupily I kind of know the answer but need to know if there is a way of hooking up another bottom drain or something.
The flow rate is a limiting factor but simply increasing the flow will not enable to increase you feed rate. To fast a flow will also limit the ability of the Pod to remove solids in the cyclone section.
The maximum flow rate for an Eazy Pod is 10,000 litres per hour but you can have your water moving too fast in a pond. For the maximum ability of the bugs in your filter to breakdown NH3 there needs to be a minimum dwell time when a given amount of pond water is in contact with the media.
In fact the flow rate for a filter is totally misleading in terms of the amount of food waste the filter can handle. A much better measure is the amount of food (weight) that a filter can handle assuming it is an average protein food. From memory the Pod makers say it is 120 grams per day assuming a mature media in the pod.
Im taking it your gravity fed to the pod at the moment .
The only way I can think of to increase the flow through the pod without replacing the 2" drain would be to put the pump before the pod . You would have to raise the height of the pod and have 3" or 4" gravity return to the pond.
Hi Priceless
You can pump feed an Eazy, I do but the rules outlined in my post still apply. I have found the best pump rate for my Eazy is 8000 litres with a mature media this is allowing me to feed 140 gms/day of a high protein feed at a pond temp of 22 deg.
You could always drop another small pump in and direct feed a tower just for the high feed high temp months in the summer, take it out in the winter.
Thankyou for the replies. Im not sure raising the filter is an option as it,s supposed to be all hidden. Having it outside above the pond would really ruin the look of the whole pond. Replacing the drain is an option. I guess have to cut a channell in the pre existing concrete and rebar, Buy another 4" drain and replace it. Im not sure how this will effect the water tightness of the concrete as it's only pond paint used to seal it.
Would i have to totally sand down to the render to reseal it properly as it may peel if i put paint onto original paint.
I could have it fibreglassed but this makes it very costly just to replce a drain. Im wondering if anyone else has had to replce a drain at any time?
With 2" gravity fed pipe to a Pod you are looking at a max of around 6000L/hr when the tank is full, after a clean you may have to throttle back the outlet on a BV.
You can cut down the stem and take a grinder to the slots in the easy, not ideal but it will give you more scope for the head loss- BUT when the easy gets dirty the head loss will increase ..
Pod works well with a 6 on it, I would be looking at downsizing your pump.
Thanks Dave, I run a OASE 10000 on it and yes that,s why i have to turn the valve down so much.
Ok So Im thinking downsize the pump is an anwser as it will allow for more water to enter the pod.
This however will limit the turnover of the pond albiet its limited anyhow due to the small piping.
Ok so who wants to swap a 10000 for a 5500 Oase?? Its only 6 months old. I have to have the 5500 because the 5500 has a shorter outlet neck on it.
That would be a good move, the hype around fast turnover is really for filtration that is designed for it eg showers, when using something such a Pod I think you will find that the system will work much better at slower flow rates.
The only problem comes when you are using 4" BD to a pod when you can get waste settling out in there, with 2" this should not arise .
2" Bottom Drain issue 
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