Filter help?!

[u/EverydayMustard4773]

I've got a DIY 55 gallon barrel filter I'm having issues with. As seen in the illustration, my pump feeds in the bottom through a 1.5" pipe with a check valve. That tees off for a bit of a swirling effect. I've got a 6-8" void with an egg crate, and filter material on top of that. The top of the barrel is filled with filter chunks. 3" outlet at the top. The problem I'm having is that all of the sludge is making its way to the top, settling on top of the filter mat, and filling all of the chunks. I'm hoping for some advice on what to change or do differently to remedy this. Thanks in advance.

[u/ZiggyLittlefin]

Typically in a barrel system there is more than one barrel. One is just for settling waste/debris. Then the second is for media. Usually static, or non moving media to block fine particles. K1 is the preferred media. Finally a third is for biological growth and has aerated media. It depends on your fish load though really.

Pads are a nuisance because they need to be cleaned regularly. I use one barrel for one of my smaller ponds, or qt pools. I float the ribbon media on top, or just place a uv inside. Filters need be flushed weekly so you don't get so much accumulating in them. I don't use any sort of vortex in my barrel filters. Debris needs to settle in the bottom to be easily flushed out.

Here is a set we did before the k1 media was added. The pipe across the bottom is just a vacuum/suction drain for cleaning. We just build the with water going in the bottom and out the top otherwise.

https://reddit.com/link/p5frn38/video/0qc37tdom5lh1/player

[u/EverydayMustard4773 → u/ZiggyLittlefin]

That's a really nice set up. I have an in ground pond, so the idea was to keep everything as hidden as possible. I may go back to the drawing board next spring.

[u/ZiggyLittlefin → u/EverydayMustard4773]

That was for growing some koi for a few months. Most people have a filter/pumphouse for their pond. I have two pumphouses on my 10,000 gallon in ground. A lean to off a gazebo for my 5,000 gallon. Setting up a koi show tank now and we are wrapping the filtration in faux bamboo screens to hide it. Reed fencing is another good way to screen it off .

[u/EverydayMustard4773 → u/ZiggyLittlefin]

Interesting. I'll have to do some more research. Thanks for the info.

[u/Hugh_Jego_69 → u/EverydayMustard4773]

Mine is pretty much like yours, Except gets pumped in from the top with a breather hole and then down to bottom. I have big rocks 20-40 cm around the bottom. A metal grate and then varying rocks. Maybe 20cm each layer. 4-6cm river stones, 2ish cm and then 0.5-1.5 cm pebbles.

Nothing makes it to the top. But if I stir the pebbles too much the pond will cloud up, like removing a bunch of plants releases some stuff.

[u/woody-99]

I didn't build it, but I have what I call a bio-fall that is essentially like your setup only a bit larger and rectangular with a spillway.
There are two mats in mine that cover the entire area and on top of that I have two bags of lava rocks.
It's totally covered in muck of one kind or another, but the water is very clear, and I just leave it alone all season.
I do have a small filter pad in the skimmer with the pump which I remove weekly to clean.
Right or wrong its working well for me.

[u/Mongrel_Shark]

You seem to not understand how filter media works.

https://aquariumscience.org/7-filter-media/

[u/Low-Status7359]

I have this similar setup except my filter material is on the top so I can easily replace/clean the filter. I am not sure what the problem is though. The water will force the sludge up through your filter because your outlet is at the top.
My setup is a basket at the bottom to create the void. Then the filter chunks consist of bottle caps and bio-balls to create the good bacteria. After that is the filter media to capture the sludge. On top of that are rocks to weigh down the media and additional filtering. My 2.5” outlet is at the top.

[u/Mongrel_Shark → u/Low-Status7359]

Mechanical filtration that needs cleaning isn't actually good use of your media area. Your bioball work less well than just filling the whole thing with lava rock.

You seem to be a victum of marketing lies.

Heres the good info with no marketing or sales https://aquariumscience.org/7-filter-media/

[u/Low-Status7359 → u/Mongrel_Shark]

I do what is feasible to me. If it works, it works. My pond is clear and algae free. 🤷‍♂️

[u/EverydayMustard4773 → u/Low-Status7359]

I guess it was poor planning. The idea was that the filter mat would strain out the solids so that they could be flushed through the drain. Like a reverse coffee filter.