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Swimming Pool Filters for ponds
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Posted by gardenfairy50 z5 MI (My Page) on Wed, May 27, 09 at 18:09
Has anyone ever used a swimming pool filter for their ponds. My pressurized filter recently died and I have a old Hayward sand filter and was wondering if I could use it. It was for a 16 x 32 swimming pool, should I take out the sand and use something else or put in new sand? Please help.
Thanks
Marlene
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Swimming Pool Filters for ponds
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- Posted by drh1 z4 VT (My Page) on
Wed, May 27, 09 at 21:55
Marlene, the filter will work in the sense it will remove turbidity - just as it did for a swimming pool. However, whether or not you replace the sand with new sand won't matter in the long run. First, the pressure drop across the sand bed is high (compared to biological filters and other systems often used for ponds) which requires a much higher horsepower pump to operate. Second, the filter will plug rather rapidly requiring frequent backwashing possibly more than once a day. Back in the days when we had a swimming pool I remember that the amount of water to backwash the filter properly required quite a few gallons. You could redesign the system to use things such as bioballs, etc. but the inconvenience for access, the problems of rebuilding....I guess I'd use something else. You could put it out by the pond, take the top half off and use it as trickle tower (fill with loose, plastic straps or other biofilter media and let water flow over the top of the media and out the bottom of the unit back into the pond - if you want a nice, shiny art-object out by the pond. :-)
---David |
RE: Swimming Pool Filters for ponds
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| I have wondered about the feasiblity of doing this as well. Aquadyne and Ultima-type filters look just like pool filters that have been adapted for lower-flowing biological filtration. Pentair pool filters and Pentair pond filters look like near-identical units (externally). As David suggested, one consideration is whether your pond pump will force enough water for effective backwashing. If your pump only delivers 1,000 gallons or so an hour, you might not be able to thoroughly flush such a system. If you try retrofitting your old pool filter, please post your results! |
RE: Swimming Pool Filters for ponds
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| I agree with drh1, using a swimming pool filter isn't the best solution for most ponds with plants and/or fish... too much biological matter that can easily clog up sand-based filters. I've been using an Ultima 6000 as my main filter (plus a solids filter, skimmer filter, waterfall filter and UV light) for the past 4 years and highly recommend the brand. My pond is 5000 gal and designed for "low" maintenance-- it takes me about 1/2 hour per month, two 15-minute sessions, to clean the mesh filters and backwash the Ultima. I use a PerformancePro pump (Artesian A 1\3-56) and it has more than enough pressure to backwash the filter. PerformancePro is another brand I recommend highly based on my personal experience as a koi-pond (not water garden) hobbyist. |
RE: Swimming Pool Filters for ponds
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Camperman,
Yes the outside container is a swimming pool filter but that is the only thing that is the same. Most use a DE multiport valve instead of a sand multiport valve so they can reverse the internal flow compared to a sand filter. Than the internal plumbing is totally different. A lot of bead filters use an air blower to help with the backwashing. The Ultima use to say that it required a minimum of a 3/4 hp high pressure pump to baskwash it properly. Can a swimming pool filter be used for a pond? Yes if you are willing to make the changes that are required but then it is probably cheaper just to buy one.
Mike |
RE: Swimming Pool Filters for ponds
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| Sand filters are great option when looking for a pool filter for your pool. Swimming pool sand filters push the water through a bed of pool filter sand to remove particles and debris from your swimming pool. The pool sand filter will then push the water through a set of lateral tubes and then back into your pool. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Pool Filter Sand
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