Bickal Koi Farm: Koi House Blog Holding Tanks for "For-Sale" Koi - Filters

Aug 26, 2006 Ok, where were we.... Drain lines....I had to trench under the foundation wall and out into the yard for my drain to waste lines. I was too large to fit in this hole, so I had a "just right size" helper who removed some dirt for me. Since this pool is inside I went with 2" gate valves. Each valve has its own 3" tile line to drain out onto the grass. I lined the outside of the drain chamber with rubber because I have had water ebb out dirt in previous installations. Extension handles on my drain valves, and backfilled. Lined both settling chambers, and filled with water. Screwed in the edges. Then flushed both chambers and gave the fish a water change.

Sep 4, 2006 Pumps are installed. The first pump is a Sequence 750, 3600gph. Mounted with the output going sideways. This pump will run the Trickle Tower or Bakki. I got the floor put in. Its composite deck material. First Time I have ever used the stuff, but I wanted to try it. I am tired of wood decking that shrinks and splits and splinters. This stuff is not slippery when wet and can take getting wet without rotting. The walkway down between the two tanks is 24" wide.

Sep 5, 2006 The second pump is connected. This one will run a TPR. This pump is a 1/15hp, 3000gph. TPR1 is 3,000gph and goes to right hand wall where it runs into TPR2. TPR2 is the exit flow of 3600gph going through a 55gallon barrel filled with 3 cubic foot of broling K1. One bottom drain to each settling chamber. Settling chambers each have a 55 gallon barrel inside filled with bird netting (mechanical filtration). To reverse the flow, I put a 90 elbow on TPR1 and change the direction of the Elbow on TPR2 (under barrel). Here is an empty settling chamber. There is a 4" standpipe blocking the water which would normally come in from the bottom drain. The 2" drain in the center goes to a valve, and when pulled the waste goes out on the grass. The 2" line on the right side is where the pump draws its water from. Inside the settling chamber is a 55 gallon drum filled with slots. I cut these using my router. Inside the 55 gallon drum is a 4" center tube, also filld with slots. Here we can see the center tube inside the barrel is connected over to the 2" line by pipe. The pump draws its water from the center tube. This ensures an even distribution of flow through the media. The tub is full of media. In this case, bird netting. I have since removed the bird netting and use Bickal Bio-Rope instead.

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