I have been working on a new TT for my pond. It is basically two 6' towers of 10" pvc.
Here is the first pic and if anyone is interested I'll post some more. Just reply too this thread and I will keep them coming. Still about 2 weeks away from operation.

Keep em coming. It's always interesting to see
what your up to! Would it be possible to
include a list of everything you used for this
at some point? So if someone in the future
wants to take a stab at building one would
have a referrence to use.

Since you asked I will post some pics on monday. It is late and it has been a long day at work.
The units I built are large and are capable of handling well over 1,000 gph each but they could be scaled down for any ponds use.
I got pics from the start of the project and it should be fully functional within 2 weeks. Still got a lot of other plumbing too do.
And for anyone that reads this, trickle towers are one of the best forms of biological filtration and degassing and they never need too be cleaned and there is absolutely never any media too replace(assuming you use the right media too start with). Just give them mechanically clean water too start with and a nice dark place too grow.
Like the guy on TV says " set it and forget it".

I started out with a 13' section of 10" sewer pipe cut down too 2 6' pieces. These will be the main vessels.
Next I drilled out some sheet pvc for the drip plates. 4 total. I cut a couple of 1" rings off of the sewer pipe too be used as supports for the drip plates. Once the 1" ring is cut you take a small section out and then they can be fitted inside the larger pipe. I connected these with SS screws.
Then I constructed a spray bar with a simple pvc cross and end caps. All plumbing was done with 2" pvc.
After the water is sprayed through the towers it falls into a rubbermaid catch basin. Too return the water too the pond I used 3" pipe that gravity feeds back. I also used a uniseal too make the connection from the 3" pipe too the rubbermaid.
I know it sounds confusing so here are some pictures. If you have any questions fire away.
Here are some spray bar pics.

Another one of them connected too the towers. I used a jig saw too cut out slots for them too sit in and also used a union for easy removal.

Here you can see where the water will collect before it flows back into the pond. The towers are just sitting on a couple of pepsi crates so that they are higher than the return lines.
I used this design too allow for maximum aeration.

Here is the drip plate. One will be put at the bottom too hold the media in place and the other will be put at the top so there is even dispersion of the water.
If you attempt something like this make sure you clamp all of them together first and then start drilling. Otherwise it will take forever.

Here you can see how the spray bar sits in the vessel.

Here is the footer I used as a base for the blocks too sit on. Just some 3" pvc hammered into the ground and filled with cement.
I wanted a foundation for them that was not going too move.

This is the media I will be using. Seven cubic feet of 1" bio barrels that I bought from AES. I might even need a couple of more cubic feet but I will wait till later.
By far the most expensive part of this project but they will last forever and never need cleaning. They just get better and better with time.

If anyone has any questions feel free too ask as I have more pictures too better explain it.
I've been designing this for quite some time and gleaned my ideas from other towers in operation. Just tweaked them a bit too my liking.
I'll post some pics when they are running but if this rain don't let up soon it might be longer than two weeks.

Holy smokes, you've been busy. It looks impressive.
Are you gonna try to cover the towers with anything?

I already made some covers for it since I am trying too keep light and rain water out of the towers. I used sheet pvc with some 1" pvc as risers. I glued the risers onto the sheet pvc with marine adhesive and cut some slits in them so they rest on the top of the vessels.
Here is a pic of them upside down.

I'm impressed all the way around! Where do you get the sheet PVC? That would be FUN to work with. I bet you could use acrylic solvent to join pieces together too! Very cool stuff.

Tim

I have never seen a trickle tower, so let me see if I got this right - the water gets pumped from the pond to the top of the towers, enters the towers through the spray bar. The towers are filled with the bio media, and the water "trickles" through the media towards the bottom of the towers, where it ends up in the rubbermaid containers. From there it goes back into the pond via gravity?

You got it 100% right Andrea. Very simple design but it allows the bacteria too grow in an oxygen rich environment.
I found sheet pvc at a pipe supply company. Pricey stuff.

oh boy! now you did it! do you realize what youve done? andreas sure to have her husband outside helping her to construct her own tt! probably as i type this!

what a very proffesional looking project, jetman!

your diligent construction of your trickle tower reminds me of the saying, "necessity is the mother of all invention". very true indeed!

so, is your pond "up and running" yet? or is that a new project as well?

good luck and again, very nice job!

Hey! I had to grasp the concept first before I send him on a mission!

And no, didn't start any work yet, I slept in late, and hubby decided to finish the filter first. But the towers are a great idea! Any additional biofiltration is a welcome one.

The pond has been running for almost a year now. I am hoping too have the towers running by this friday but the heat factor really gets too me. I am actually reworking my plumbing and adding a second pump so there has been a lot of trench and pvc work going on. It also doesn't help that the pond is in a screen room so the trenches have too be deep enough too get under the footer. Brutal work in this florida heat.
I also put a numerous amount of hours coming up with the final design and media choice and spent over 6 months researching them. I wanted too build it once and build it right.
I got most of my ideas from this project by Ray Jordan but added a few of my own twists too it.
http://www.texaskoi.com/Articles/KoiPondTT..._yourselfTT.htm
The main difference being the bottom construction.
Andrea,
Tell your hubby I apologize.

Rob, just went through your set up and before I'd finished I was thinking to myself I wonder you'd seen the site by the guy from Texas with the bamboo around his TT LOL. Looks like you done a great job! After you get this up and running are you going to hide it somehow? Last week I went to the pipe store to price 12" pipe, wholy cow that stuff was high, but the caps were even more pricey. BUT on my rout there is a where house that is doing some major add ons. They have a 10" pipe and what looks to be 12" pipe laying out in the field, peices that they didn't need obviously since the water line is done. I am going to see if they'll part with them . Not sure where I'd put the TT though but I am thinking it'd be a good addition. I need to build a settling chamber first, I really think that might be the better of the two with all the gunk that is able to get into the filter.

Scott

Scott,
You are right. After doing tons of research on the towers and then seeing Ray Jordans job I was sold. I did add a few changes though.
I added a union just before the spray bars so they can be easily removed.
I used a different bottom configuration so I could eliminate the need for such a high priced air pump yet still get maximum O2.
I am also using a different media and we shall see how that turns out.
I also had too cut the inner supports for the drip plates into half. Otherwise it is impossible too get the bottom one in. It is all hidden very well behind the waterfall and some fake ficus trees. All in all it is a great concept.
Now please let me know how you are going too incorporate a settlement chamber on a pump fed system. The only way I can think of is some type of pressurized system and they are expensive.

Yes pressurized systems run around $700. Now, if I had that kind of money I'd probably buy one because I really think that it's a good idea (after having this filter) to have something like that. I am not totally sure how I am going to do it, I am back and forth on my plans. I know that the toughest part is going to make sure it is properly sealed. With all of the other projects that I have started I figured I have time to figure out the best way to go about it. Right now I am thinking of building a ractangular box about 3 foot long, maybe 12 inches wide and about 4 foot high out of 1/2 inch plexi-glass. I think that I'll be able to get a good seal if I either incorporate some sort of tight latch, or maybe even a screw on top somehow? Just not sure I may go with some other way. But I think as long as I get it air tight it should work? Don't you think? I plan on building a frame out of wood to go around it, this frame I want to be very tight just to make sure that my little invention doesn't for some reason decide to come apart on me. I have a hard time explaining what I'm thinking of when it comes to this sort of thing so hopefully you can see what I mean? I also want to fix some brushes in this settling chamber so that the solids will deffinately not have a rout out. The in line I think would be best placed in the middle of one side and the out close to the top on the opposite side. So the water has to go the three foot distance to go out the other side. Maybe the in should be at top also since there will be brushes along the top? I'm just not sure how I want to do that part. I am in hopes though that the solids will either get stuck in the brushes or float to the bottom. I want to put a drain with a garden hose fitting on it in the bottom this way I can wash it out without moving it.



Scott

Oh rob it looks great,thats a very neat system you have there
How did you ever get a great idea like this ?

I think I have an idea on what you are considering. Personally I don't think it will work as well as a micro strainer and if you did get it too work you are going too spend a fortune anyway. Half inch plexiglass is going too be EXPENSIVE! I just picked up a 4'x4' x 1/4" sheet of schedule 80 pvc and it cost $55.
I love the idea of the pressurized strainers but since they are so new I think I will hold off for awhile. Let them perfect it instead of causing myself headaches.
Do you know of anyone who is using something similar? As always, enquiring minds want to know.
Update:
Got the towers running today. I was a little shocked that all of the media did not fit in but will check it next month after some settling has taken place. As you notice in the pic, no waterfall. Tomorrow the skimmer and waterfall should be running. Still planning on being done by friday.

Finally done and I ran into no major problems. I think I am going too bet on the horses tomorrow since I never have luck like this. The only problem was not being able too use all 7 cubic feet of media. I got close too 6 in there and will check them next month and hopefully I will be able too add more.
Heres the pond. As you can see the TT's are well hidden and only feet from the pond.

Here is a look at the new filtration area.

Here is a better look at the plumbing. Not the greatest too look at but very functional. I laid around 100' of pipe and only used 1 90 degree bend.
Flex pipe is the best!

A better look at the bottom of the towers. They are inside the screen room.

Last shot of some of the tower plumbing. 3" all the way out.
So far I have noticed some foaming in the water which was expected. And for some unexplained reason one tower is running at around 750 gph and the other one is at around 1500 gph. Don't really have an answer for that one since everything is plumb and level but I look at it as a plus. This way I will have two different flow rates and am still turning the pond through them once every 2 hours.
Orp has also boosted around 20mv but I am taking that reading with a grain of salt. Time will be the true test.

I don't know anyone who's done what I'm wanting to do. It's just something that I've been going over in my head. I think it'll work, but I'm not the best at engineering things .

I've gone through you pictures and new posts. Wow that is a nice set up. You did a good job with making the plumbing look organized as well. Do you like the gate valves that yo chose? I was going to go with that type but chose the knife valves instead. I guess in your climate the type you have is probably good. Here they crack because of the weather.

Your pond looks great. What size aerator do you have and if I may ask, was it expensive? I've thought about getting one but I think I am probably okay because I have spray bars along one side of my pond. The fish aren't gasping and in fact I had the water shut off for two hours today while I was working on the filter. No one seemed to mind, so I must be getting good aeration. My next project I'll probably put in an aerator. Also, does the air stone get clogged up like those that are in fish tanks?

It looks like you've got the towers pretty well hidden. It really looks nice and I am sure that it's going to help tones with cleaner clearer water. Are you still using your UV light or are you hoping that these trickle towers will do the job for you without it?

Scott

Scott,
There are no gate valves at all on my pond. Only ball valves. Since most of the plumbing is 2" it also makes sense monetary wise. I got the schedule 80 valves from AES and they were only around $12 a pop. They are much stronger than the one you get at the DIY stores.
I had the uv off for 3 days as I was working on the pond and I noticed a slight tinge of green too the water. Once these filters establish I will try turning off the UV and see what happens. Just not ready for that yet.
I'm also running an aerator system from AES. I am using the airstone model # ALP4 hooked up too a sweetwater pump. I bought it as a kit but if you buy the parts seperately it is cheaper. It is an absolute monster in the pond regarding aeration. It looks like a koicuzzi. The best part is you can have it running within 5 minutes, the worst part is that it will suspend any detritus on the bottom. In the long run that is actually a good thing. The stones do get algae on them but I only spend 5 minutes every couple of months brushing it off with a scrub brush. I wish I could say that for the rest of the maintenance.
Good luck on that settlement chamber. My only advice is if no one has ever built one before be extremely careful. There is no reason too waste money if it won't live up too your expectations. Try running your final plans by some knowledgable koi keepers on the boards and see what their input is. Might save you lots of headaches and cashola.

Once I get it figured out exactly how I am going to do it I'll probably run the idea by someone, that is a good idea. I don't need to waste anymore money.

I was thinking that if your TT's work great to keep the water clear you could probably only run the UV light part time. Someone on another message board was talking about how they do it that way and it cuts down on the cost of replacing bulbs, instead of replacement every 14 months is once every third year. Pretty good savings because the bulbs are so expensive. If I remember they only run the UV two or three months? Not sure.

Yeah, ball valves, they call them gate valves at the plumbing store here. Ball valve makes more sense. When I went looking for knife valves they kept handing be the ball valves when I'd ask for a gate valve. Anyhow I'll look up the aerator, thanks for the info.

Scott

I have been thinking about your idea recently of a settlement chamber before the pump. Please correct me if I am wrong about your idea but this is why I think it won't work.
Since the chamber will be hooked too the bottom drain before the pump you are essentially making a gravity fed system. With a 2" pipe you will pump the chamber dry because the bottom drain will not be able too supply enough water. If you try too make it water tight it would be troublesome too access it daily if need be.
Maybe you can elaborate on your design. I am all ears since it would be a great addition too my pond or for that matter anyone who is using a pump fed system.

I was planning on putting it after the pump before the filter. This way all water goes through it before it hits the filter. I was at one time trying to figure out how I could do something like that for the water from the bottom drain before the pump but with my limites space and the way the pond it's no possible.

Yes water tight, but with a lid that seals because I'd have to have access to clean it out.

Scott

Ok. That makes more sense too me now and sounds much more doable.
In my scenario that is my bead filter. Since I put up the towers the only thing I am counting on my bead for is mechanical only even though it will still do some biological.
I am pumping bottom drain too pump,
too bead,
then the return from the bead splits with one going too the towers and the other going too the UV line.
The second pump pulls straight from the savio skimmer and is returned too the pond via a waterfall and a tpr.
I would love too have something BEFORE my pump that was simple too backwash. It would make my life a whole lot easier. Any thoughts.

jetman,

all i have to say is, WOW!!. you have a very beautiful pond going there. your hard work and determination has definitely paid off. i hope to someday have such a awe inspiring oasis such as yours!

are you going to try out some marginal and aquatic plants in your set-up?

sooper huge props to you!

Thanks for the kind words. I spent many more hours in the design and research mode than the actual construction.
So far after only two weeks they are performing great. They seemed too have knocked my ever present battle with string algae for a loop. My maintenance time since installation has been reduced by 75%. ORP has not gone higher yet but the swings between high and low have stabilized. I can't wait too see what these babies will do with some time too get established.
As for plants:
I don't have any plans too put any plants in the pond. My pond is all about the fish. The way a true koi pond should be. At least IMO. Different strokes for different folks.
See you in march. Right?

Jetman, how did you handle the air problem. I am considering building something simalar (or just a regular DIY). I can see how the water flow will go, but not so much the air. Is this a big issue?

Basically the top and bottom are open too the atmosphere.
The top water is sprayed in and then goes through a pvc plate with several holes too evenly disperse the water.
After the water travels through the vessel and reaches the bottom it goes through the same type of pvc plate and just falls into a sump that is then gravity fed back too the pond.
This way I am assured maximum aeration. I was going too build a CLOSED BASE system but this would require a large air pump being pumped in from underneath and in my opinion would not be able too do what an OPEN BASED system can do. It's also cheaper and cost was a concern.
It takes around 10 seconds for the water entering too exit so I am very happy with that aspect.
In a submerged biofilter you are at the mercy of what the dissolved oxygen of the water is that is why IMO trickle filters are superior.
Hope that helped but if you have anymore questions fire away.

That is excellent.

The air looks pretty simple. I just have to make sure I don't get any backflow.

Wow, only one cubic foot of media? Does it matter the heighth of the tower? I was looking at almost 2 feet in heighth originally for the container of bio media but can go higher.

My mechanical would be a sheet of filter pad at the top and a sponge at the intake for the pump. The pump will be around 500gph when calculated with 5 feet of tubing.

One cubic foot of media should be fine for 400 gallons but more is always better. If you can do 2 cubic feet than by all means do it.
And the taller the better. This way the water will have more dwell time in the filter. Just remember the taller you go the more GPH you are going too lose. There is a big difference in head loss when running pipe horizontal compared too vertically.
Got any plans you would like too share?

I will take some rubbermaid drawers with a ton of holes in the bottom of each drawer. I thought that way I can change to any media I want, there will be plenty of air, and I can just stack more drawers if need more room. It would drip to the bottom and gravity feed from the bottom drawer. I may need to just sit it in a rubbermaid- I haven't decided.

Actually, this may be pretty hairbrained, but except for leaks out of the drawers, I don't forsee any problems. Do you think some ammo AND nitrates could gas-off, or is this too imprecise to tell? I don't know if I understand the concept. 1 cubit foot per 400 gallons is all I have in terms of parameters. Then I can also do tests, of course. Thanks for the encouragement

If you need too sit it in a rubbermaid you will have too pipe it from the bottom tub back too the pond. In that instance "uni-seals" work great for making a waterproof seal for putting pipe into a rubbermaid and are dirt cheap. Make sure you get a rubbermaid that has smooth walls. Any ridges in it and it won't work. You can get the uniseals at aquatic eco.
If you trickle your water over the media you will gas off some ammonia. Since the ammonia is gassed off too the atmosphere it will not be able too be converted too nitrite and then nitrate. It literaly disappears into the atmosphere thereby reducing your load on the nitrogen cycle.
I know this thread is about TT's and am not sure about your overall filtration plans but I think you might need some more mechanical and a larger turnover rate. Turning over the water once an hour through the TT should handle your bio part. My only concern is you will not being turning over the water fast enough on the mechanical end. So you will not have ammonia or nitrites but will have dirty looking water which will be high in organics.
I would increase the turnover through the mechanical filter and then just use about 400-600 gph for the trickle. That can be easily achieved with a "T" fitting and a ball valve.

why arent any of the pictures showing up.
dan

The links were broken when the site was moved from one server to another. Jetman would need to put them back up to work. I thought I had saved some, but it doesn't look like I did.

hey jetman, will you repost the pictures please?

Hi, I am a new member. I noticed that the images did not appear in the post, although the place holder for the image was in place. The image was not there.

Cheers
davway

Jetman isn't around at the moment, but I am sure he'll will dig up those pictures and repost them as soon as he gets here... eventually....

ROOOOB, come out, come out, wherever you are!

is there any way to get these pictures back up? i'm wanting to make an indoor pond setup with a rocklike waterfall/stream thing, and pictures would greatly help.

I could try to reach Rob, and see if he still has them... I'll let you know.