K1 Upflow filter Principles (DIY koi pond build)

[@DazzleKoi]

Arghh, sorry Marek, I accidentally deleted your comment thread (the delete is right next to the approve button) and there is no way of getting it back. If you (or anyone else) had commented again and I hadn't replied could you repeat it please? Sorry about that 😒

[@leecalladine]

Your level of knowledge and deep understanding of the science is very impressive.

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Lee, that means a lot Sir 👍🍻👍

[@PaulWheelerPhotography]

Fantastic video. As you say, so many people have misunderstood the principles of the filter, and I now understand how it works. Thankfully, I’ve not yet attempted to build my own, and probably wouldn’t waste my time trying after this. Love a bit of science!Thanks again.

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks Paul, much appreciated. I do agree about a bit of science 😁😁😁 🍻

[@mykoiobsession]

Another very informative video that explains the hows, whys and why nots in simple to understand terms. As always very much appreciated.

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks for taking the time to comment mate, very much appreciated 🍻👍🍻👍🍻👍🍻👍🍻

[@paulholt8311]

It all makes sense when you explain how it works👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks Paul 👍🍻👍🍻

[@northernkoikeeper512]

Thanks Daz. You certainly understand the science behind it all. I am pumping from my skimmer to over my Bakki Shower. I am only using a 110mm pipe here with K+ media because that's all I've got space for. When I've cleaned my 110mm Up-Filter I get an amazing amount of dirt from it. Surely then that means it's better to have the 110mm Up-Filter than none at all as that dirt would have been returned back to the pond without it. Flow on pump is about 8,000 l/h. The science is fine but sometimes the practicalities have to be considered. Thanks for the information Daz.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate, absolutely its better to have it than not 👍 I do think about that when I clean the tempest or in fact any filter. People worry and do a filter down if it sends some waste back to the pond after a clean but at the end of the day, if it wasn't there at all, ALL that waste would still be in the pond. Its all relative I guess. It really is amazing how much crap these filters take out. My pond has never been clearer. How's the fractionator going?

[@northernkoikeeper512]

@@DazzleKoi Thanks Daz that's what I thought. I have never had any luck with building a Foam fractionator! I follow what everyone else is doing but it rarely works for me. Wrighty's worked brilliantly and got loads of skimmit and everyone else's seem to as well. Is there something I'm doing wrong? Or is there very little protein in my pond? Maybe you could add your experience to this and do a video on Foam Fractionators? That would be ideal. Great work Daz.

[@DazzleKoi]

Yes there is defintely scope for a video in there mate. I guess it could be that you just have nothing to take out but I'd be surprised to be honest as I've seen nasty black crap come out of the cleanest looking ponds. I know the size of the bubbles is critical, have you any scope to change the bubble device to make more, smaller bubbles?

[@peterfinkill8098]

@@DazzleKoi yeah I've got a lot of different air stones so I will try each to see if that makes a difference. I'm also buying a Tornado protein skimmer off a mate. I will also try with that. Thanks Daz.

[@markbrady7462]

Excellent explanation of the current trend in up filters. Just received my Tempest from Tim ready to install it. Take care and stay safe.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Mark, you wont be disappointed, I'm really happy with mine. Cant wait for summer to really throw some food at it but blanket weed and 2 or 3 feeds of wheatgerm a day so far and its coped admirably.

[@simonmonks8725]

Very impressive! I have just modified my own DIY filter before seeing this and it works pretty much the same but through a 2 stage filter. Box one with 30cm deep K1 with Jap matting on top cut around 2 down tubes into box 2 moving bed. Box 2 inflow has a large 100 micron bag attached to catch the fines & around 40 liters of K1 circulating before going back into the pond. The water returning is 100% crystal clear so far. Needs to be tested in summer when things are in full flow & feeding at its peak. So far so good but these really work! 👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Simon, that sounds spot on. Its pretty good stuff K1 and pretty versatile to. Let me know how it goes when you start feeding more in the summer 👍🍻👍🍻👍

[@simonmonks8725]

@@DazzleKoi thanks mate will do. Really enjoying your content too, very informative but easy to understand. 👍

[@julienapier9568]

Very informative video I’ve seen some bad filters being made but the one wrighty has made it takes some beating it works really well thanks Kev & Jue

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks guys, yes wrightys looks very good. I'm still loving this tempest to, I flush it every day and really green water comes out of it despite my pond being the clearest its ever been. It really does do a cracking job. The only down side is its shown that my pod wasn't doing half as well as I thought it was 😓

[@andysmith1643]

Hi Darren . The way you explain this topic is great . I’m thinking of getting a tempest and this info is highly insightful . Can always rely on you , for what us Londoners call ( and I say this with respect ). “ the ins and outs of a dogs ar#$hole “ which Basically means in great detail . No one else on KZbin gives such detail . And as an builder and ex engineer my life is has been spent chasing detailed information . Keep up the good work buddy . 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🐟🐟

[@DazzleKoi]

haha, cheers Andy. I've made a conclusion video on my time with the Tempest which should be up soon. I'm still very happy with it though and havent found to many downsides. 👍🍻👍🍻👍

[@countrykoipond]

Your videos always make me think and this one is no exception. Good advice whether you are making a filter or buying one.

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks mate, good to hear that 🍻🍻🍻

[@barrykoikeepercooper8052]

Great understanding of the science of the upflow meter for us dim wits thank you for sharing and yes a lot of good DIY idea out their but a lot of real crude models hopefully you have given us a little more knowledge to understand a little mores 🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Barry, hopefully save people some time and money 👍🍻👍🍻👍

[@Tom_Prendiville]

Hi daz i was expecting this video and as usual you haven't disappointed 👍🏼 When the rush calms down i may revisit this filter idea on a larger scale, but for now its not a requirement for my systems. I hope you are well Take care matey.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Tom, thanks very much 🍻 I'm quite intrigued about the possibility of making much bigger versions of these. Let me know if you ever give it a go and how successful it is 👍👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate, that's good to hear 🍻🍻🍻 Take care 👍

[@jasonhowell5362]

Good info, ive been using up flow filters for years all kinds of media used, i was once laughed at many years ago regarding up flow filters whos laughing now lol, keep the vids comming, stay safe.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Jason, thanks for your feedback, onwards & upwards 🍻🍻🍻

[@baitking1]

Hi Daz another great video explaining how the up flow filter really works it’s all mind bending stuff to me. What a massive difference there is between the different diameters of tubes. I bet that has made a few people sit up an take notice especially if there half way through building one & only got 100/150mm tubes,

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate, yeah its surprising how big the impact is. This is why I stress a lot about getting the correct bottom drain as the difference in water velocity between a 4" pipe and a 3" pipe is huge 👍👍

[@TimWaddington]

Brilliant Daz 👏🏻👏🏻

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Tim 🍻🍻🍻

[@georgea2583]

Another very informative video again Darren. Thanks for sharing 👍🐟

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Graham, is that you in the little logo? I used to love carp fishing myself but I just don't seem to find the time these days .

[@georgea2583]

@@DazzleKoi Hi Darren, it’s George. Think maybe a word prediction error Lol 😂. I do love my carp fishing and try to get out when I can, although at the moment impossible as my Syndicate Lake is in Bury and that’s 20 miles from where I live 😡

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate, sorry yeah I'm not sure how I managed that 😊 Hopefully not to long now and we can get back to a bit of normality. Carp fishing and golf I used to love but I've not had the time for either for about 7 or 8 years now. Maybe one day 🍻

[@richardbrunton2068]

Fair play great info again, if I was building one of these ( I’m not ) I would of gone for the more air is better route, so I think you have helped a lot of people there. Cheers daz👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks Richard, I hope so 👍👍

[@MrJoffG]

This is brilliant, i just saw this pond on Quality Nishigoi last week!

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers mate, ,much appreciated 🍻🍻👍👍🍻🍻

[@sandypollard562]

Will be adding one soon 👌😊😊

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Sandy, hope you're ok, they are definitely a great addition if you can fit one in somewhere 👍👍👍

[@garyneo2259]

hi m8i another great video as all ways started to clean my filter every 2 days as you advised PH 7.5 to 7.8 KH now at 7 drops water and fish have never seemed better just wanted to say thank you for all the advise you gave me. regards gary

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Gary, glad to hear that. It is satisfying when you see them get a big boost from it. Watch them eat this year, you'll need to order extra food 😁😁

[@garyneo2259]

@@DazzleKoi thanks m8

[@mickelliott4583]

I have built such a filter but used 2 x 110mm tubes fed from one pump, the thing I have added is water jets at the top to aid with the cleaning, which washes the muck down and out.

[@DazzleKoi]

Sounds interesting mate, let me know how it works 🍻

[@mickelliott4583]

@@DazzleKoi Will do, is there a way I can end you some pictures or a video?

[@DazzleKoi]

Only way is by email I think mate, [e-mail] , if you want to do that 👍

[@keithcowburn4715]

Its clear that many feel using an airline from an air pump like Wrighty's is a superior method of cleaning so why not put this to the test. You could put an airline through the top and through the top grid and position it so the end of the airline sits vertically upright a few inches above the bottom grid so it acts like Wrighty's. If you do a clean alternatively using the waste valve tap and then the pump/airline and compare the muck in the bucket this will tell us which cleaning method is superior. I'm sure many would be interested to see this.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Keith, we will have to agree to disagree on this one Sir. I have no desire to start messing with a filter that I don't actually own and I'm extremely happy with. As you say, adding an airline and blasting it with air is easy to do, but after years of development and thousands of units running in the swimming pool industry, EA have learned that less is more. I have studied the cleaning process and I can see why it is done the way it is. My tempest is completely spotless after a clean and I've proved that no waste at all goes back to the pond after a clean. As such I cant see how it could possibly improve on that? I've explained how it cleans and why it does what it does in my opinion. If anyone disagrees they are free to build one themselves and put lots of air in. Wrighty is a very clever man and his filter is excellent. I have yet to see a stocking over his return to see what goes back to the pond after a clean so I can't comment on how good his cleaning process is compared to the tempest, I don't really see how anyone can. Also, my tempest sits after a pod on a bottom drain line. Wrighty has his after an RDF. The bottom line is, if anyone is going to build their own, it is exactly the same design regardless of how much air you put in. The only difference between Wrightys and the tempest is the volume of air going in during cleaning. If Wrighty turned his air flow down he would get the same cleaning process as the tempest. So whether you choose to blast lots of air in or you choose to do it gently doesn't change the design.

[@MikeZak101]

Am I right in thinking that from how the tempest works with static media pushed up in a chamber, air used to agitate it while back washing, to me it seems in principle to be basically a miniature bead filter which have been around forever.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Michael, yes essentially a miniature bead filter.

[@KoiRun50]

So interesting. Great job. Didn’t know there are so many factors (principles you mention to take into consideration) involved in an up flow filter. Interesting the k series size and applications. I mean what’s next, k nano??

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate, you need to get 'K nano' patented now. I feel its just a matter of time 😁😁

[@colinsharp1314]

A great bit of advice thanks and keep up the vids mate 👍there great

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Colin 🍻🍻

[@carollycett1329]

Thanks for advice stay safe Carol

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Carol, you to 👍🥂👍

[@brett7220]

Very informative.👍🏻 what air flow rate would you recommend?

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Brett, honestly I don't know exactly and each filter will be different to. Unfortunately all you can do really is get it up and running and put a means of varying the air flow so that you can play about with it until it gives the best results. Its going to be very small though, just a few litres. If its going to use a dedicated pump I imagine the aquarium pumps are probably ideal. If its coming off a bigger pump then I would suggest two valves. One to turn it on and off and a second one that regulates the flow and once you have it set up you would never change.

[@itsdaznotdaz]

Would the 2800flow with a 150pipe work on a skimmer? Or any suggestions for a skimmer to return via a blade. Currently it goes through my drum but I’m not happy with that. Ideally I want it separately so I can turn it off when covered.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate, yes, no reason why not. That should work really well 👍

[@robjackson5596]

Hi mate at 5000lph how many seconds would it take to fill the tempest....or say a measured point of 600mm ....great video again 👍👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Rob , working on 0.145 feet per second and the tempest being just over 3 feet long it would be 21 seconds to fill it completely (0.145 x 21 = 3.045 feet)

[@robjackson5596]

Cheers mate info was spot on ..my tempest is running fine or fines ..keep the video's coming 👍sorry mate but my wife is sick of your voice in bed 😂😂

[@DazzleKoi]

😮😮😮 I don't really know what to say to that !!

[@simoncalveley5582]

Hi Daz, thanks for all the info, very interesting. Would the Tempest be OK fitted before a 3 tier Bakki shower? I have some sponges and filter floss over the media In my top section of the shower but it overflows daily In the summer months and at one point was cleaning night and day!! Was thinking, the Tempest before it would save me a lot of Cleaning. But would the shower still work? I was running a 10000lpm pump on it full on. The height it needs to pump is around 1.5mtrs Thanks Daz. Cheers Simon

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Simon. I suspect your shower is wide (60cm plus?) so it is never going to perform really well with lower flows over it and especially when it only has 3 tiers. You really need to get as much flow over it as you can, ideally 12,000 litres plus, to get any proper benefit from it. So adding a tempest and reducing the flow to 5000 litres is going to render it virtually useless unfortunately. Sponges and floss in a shower are also not a good idea. They will slow the flow down to a trickle going in to the top tray. You need good velocity and the water to smash against the media as forcefully as possible. With the right shower media you can throw dirty water over it and it will consume mechanical waste via bacteria. If you don't have a ceramic shower media in there it will block up though. I have some videos on showers and the principles they need to work properly. If you haven't seen them I think they would be useful to you. What you suggest is a good combo, its what I have here, but you need a shower no more than 40cm wide, with 4 tiers ideally, and with ceramic shower media, for it to work after a tempest at 5000 litres an hour. I think you would need to do something else , either change the shower for a narrower one (I built one in the videos for peanuts) and get some media such as kano (offer in the media vid) and then push it out to maximum 6000 litres an hour flow through tempest, or look for a different mechanical filter to go before your existing shower, maybe a sieve.

[@simoncalveley5582]

@@DazzleKoi thank you for all that info. I will defo watch your video on showers before making any decisions and changes. Thanks again Daz, very much appreciated again.

[@DazzleKoi]

No problem mate, let me know what you think 👍👍

[@simoncalveley5582]

@@DazzleKoiHi Daz, Watched all your Bakki shower videos, fantastic, and so greatfull. OK, I have been online ordering!!! I am going to build exactly the same size as you have shown us, And run it before the Tempest at 5500lts. I am also going to make another one the same size and sit them next to each other running off its own seperate pump at 4500lts. So two smaller showers instead of the old one at 900mm. Only thing is no Media at Aquasource, See what they say on Monday. I can at least make all the box's up ready. Oh, I am going to sit them both on the old tray off The old shower so all the box's will have the bottoms cut out with mesh. I will then clad them both with something. Do you think I would get away with 7 box's of media between them both if you didn't quite use 4 box's on one?? So what do you think, have I missed anything?? Cheers Simon

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Simon, that sounds brilliant mate, should work really really well. Yeah Aquasource are having a bit of trouble keeping up with the demand since the video came out 😁 Yes, 7 boxes will definitely do 8 trays, that will be perfect 👍👍

[@beast8623]

Hello, I plan on putting in a retro fit bottom drain pump fed into my pond because of design reasons. I was wondering if the the amount of flow put through a retro fit bottom drain is the same principles you mentioned in your bottom drain video. Thank you!

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate, I'm not sure I fully understand your question. If you are retro fitting it is pump fed so all the pipework will be smaller as it is pumped under pressure rather than relying on gravity. As such the velocity through the pipework is always much much faster and so there is no opportunity for settlement. Does that help or have I missed your point?

[@beast8623]

@@DazzleKoi sorry for the poorly worded response! I understand your point on smaller diameter relating to higher velocity resulting in less settlement. My question was pertaining to whether or not there is a max flow for a retro fit bottom drain. For example what would the max flow for a pump fed 2 inch retro fit bottom drain be? Thank you!

[@DazzleKoi]

Ah right, I see. As far as I'm aware the only limit is the maximum you can physically flow through the narrowest section of the system. So that's based on cross sectional area of the thinnest pipe to get the theoretical max but then you have to account for head loss creating back pressure on the pump and how your particular pump handles that back pressure. Also, when I say the narrowest part of the system, that includes the gap under the bottom drain as well so you would calculate the area of the gap (which obviously depends how high you set it and the diameter of the lid etc) Taking an average figure for pump pressure etc you can push about 17,000 litres per hour through 1.5 inch pipe. 2 inch would take about 26,000 litres pumped.

[@beast8623]

@@DazzleKoi This is the exact information I needed. Thank you so much!

[@DazzleKoi]

No problem mate, good luck 👍👍

[@THEKOIPOND]

My one works really well

[@THEKOIPOND]

I have 5000 lph and 8L of media in but am decreasing flow adding or removing media to find its sweet spot but videos will follow in time

[@Matsuba81]

Brilliant explanation buddy imo if you carn't afford £250 for the EA Tempest i wouldn't bother but just my opinion these diy jobs i have seen are shocking and some are selling them too. As always great video , info and made sense have a good weekend & keep safe!

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Mark, much appreciated. Hope to get the shower done this weekend 👍 All the best

[@Matsuba81]

@Pond And Garden I couldn’t care less if you could afford 20 just my opinion if it comes to buying off Ea a tempest that’s been tested , designed by aquatic specialists or a diy job designed by Nobby no brains in his shed I no what I prefer .

[@zachunderdown3243]

@@Matsuba81 Wrightys filter pisses all over EA tempest 😂 a crappy little plastic valve on the bottom or a air stone on the bottom..... The price is 90 percent development and 10 percent product... Utter crap

[@Matsuba81]

@@zachunderdown3243 This is Wrighty who has a drum , sieve , bakki river , upflow filter and still has to vac his pond out lol .

[@benjohnston7223]

@@zachunderdown3243 I have to agree, wrightys filter is a good piece of kit! 👍🏼

[@georgecromar4094]

👍🏽

[@electoplater]

just watched a up flow filter made bt northen koi i think the koi world has gone bonkers

[@DazzleKoi]

Cant disagree with you their mate 😁👍👍

[@benogrady3328]

Very informative but your calculations a a little out as you used the outside diameter and didn’t allow for the wall thickness…. Sorry just saying

[@TheXxPSYCHO]

Guy sat reading off a sec sheet for a sponsor product. No thank

[@DazzleKoi]

I'm not sure what a sec sheet is or how I'm sponsored when I'm talking about making your own DIY filter but 'thank' for your invaluable feedback 👍

[@zachunderdown3243]

Very informative but videos are lacking a bit; it's easy to get distracted as it's just talking to a camera.

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks Zach, I'll keep that in mind. I'll think about how I can make it more interesting 👍👍