Pump fed VS Gravity fed using SLO explained

I decided to make this video to explained the most frequently asked questions regarding the advantage of gravity fed using SLO (solid lifting overflow) over pump fed the most commonly setup among fish keeper, so nxt time if somebody ask me again same question, i will jst gonna show them this video which will b easy for me.

[@Fiverkoi]

Good job mate, really made it clear about how this two types, Gravity & Pump-fed works.

[@BackyardHobby]

Thank you for watching my videos

[@csolar5052]

i love this set up. You have the cleanest talapia water on youtube

[@BackyardHobby]

Thank you, i want clear clean water for my tilapia since were the one consuming them for food, dirty water make the fish taste weird. thats why i dont buy tilapia if i dont know who raise them.

[@andrewmanglona]

Great explanation of the two type of SLO.. Comment from GUAM, USA

[@BackyardHobby]

Thank you to my fellow Gumanian, im a backyard hobbyist rm mangilao Guam.

[@georgeplisko2439]

Hi ty for the video I found the water level of each tank helpful good day George

[@MrFiesta10]

Well explained. Great set up! still wanted to visit your farm someday. Thanks!

[@BackyardHobby]

Hello, for the hobby! youre welcome to visit my backyard, jst message me so we can setup an appointment. Tnx for watching my video….

[@joshkeb3471]

Simple and well explained, Thank you.

[@heheardmycry478]

Oh my goodness this was so simply put, all other videos I watched were just confusing I wanted to give up on the whole idea. The drawing really helped. I'm so excited I can't wait to get started. What size solar panels would you recommend for a 110 gallon tank? And do you think my size tank is sufficient enough to hold maybe 30 - 50 fish?

[@swamplife2413]

it all depends on what size fish you plan on having in there. if you are trying to grow them to eating size you will need a much larger tank to grow that many fish in

[@ngoziokudoh225]

Good job . Well explained. Thanks for sharing

[@BackyardHobby]

Thank you my friend!

[@sameerh.mohamed7913]

nice explanation but could you tell the size of pipes and the height of the pipes in chambers.thanx

[@GreymsView-ix8yi]

Great video I enjoyed it.

[@pourkin]

Thank you for your explanation

[@francus7227]

1:54 I think you meant to say...."It's like the blending machine in your kitchen that makes DAIQUIRIS !" So if you like PINA COLADAS and getting caught in the rain.....

[@PemburuUdangGalah]

Nice explaination video. May i know why your pond water have yellowish/tea color tint? are the food/fish pellet causing it?

[@BackyardHobby]

Im doing heavy feeding everyday, thats the cause but if i dont feed them a day that will b gone....

[@brummiekoi]

Great system you have running there never come across this before great idea I hope to be fitting a bottom drain in the spring and extending my pond too for exactly that reason with the pump and fish waste I hope to be putting a video together soon showing how I am dealing with this problem great video 👍what software do you use for creating and editing your content best regards Tony 👍

[@BackyardHobby]

Hi Tony, gravity fed (SLO) is a good remedy for improvement if youre currently on pump fed setup. But if youre constructing a new pond or doing a big renovation better do a legit bottom drain. Im using imovie software frm imac computer to edit my videos, i jst learned them frm youtube tutorials. I watched your videos nice DIY bakki shower, maybe u can do a video on how you made your bakki shower. Thanks mate.....

[@aquillae]

Hello, nice videos and explanation. I was wondering does it matter if you put the outlet from your first settling chamber on the corner or across (further away) from the inlet? Thanks

[@BackyardHobby]

Its more ideal to put the outlet at the center of the chamber(settling) to get an even flow.

[@ricowee9828]

Hi. I did the same system. I pump the water to vegetable as aquaponic then back to aquarium. I faced problem that the water level not enough if increase the pump Flow rate.

[@BackyardHobby]

It means your siphon pipe is too small to handle your pump flow rate

[@nilo2104]

Hi @backyard sustainable hobby what is the dimension of your pond? Mine is 3 feet by 8.5 feet by 10 inches deep with koi. It is made of concrete. I have been using pump fed for couple of years, indeed it is tedious to clean but I am able to survive :) I will renovate my pond because I want to incorporate some designs (waterfalls, streams and plants on the sides) I understand your idea and decided to integrate this to the renovation. May I know how do you clean the chambers and how frequent do you clean? Hope you may also provide other idea to my pond renovation. Thank you in advance.

[@BackyardHobby]

Hi Nilo, my 650 gal koi pond is made up of fiberglass and has a dimension of 6.5ft by 6.5ft by 24 inches deep, its a ready made tub thats why i did used SLO to imitate bottom drain to capture all heavy solid (fishpoop) into mechanical chamber and i use filter sock to capture suspended solid & micro solid. Im a fan of crystal clear water LOL. Have u watched my 650 gal koi pond video? if you havent, pls watch it, theres a part on that video shows how i clean my mechanical chamber, i clean my mech chamber once a day which only took me 5 mins the most then refill 5 gal water the most to maintain water level. i dont do schedule water change. Since you are planning to renovate your pond on concrete, i suggest to do legit bottom drain. better do it right in the first place so u will be satisfy & enjoy your pond in the future rather than regret then renovate again will cost u more. Tnx for watching my video! Happy fish keeping!!!

[@nilo2104]

@@BackyardHobby I agree that we have to enjoy our pond with minimal time spent in maintenance. I am also fascinated by crystal clear water. In order to maintain its clarity, I clean also the filter everyday. Hehehe! This is not practical in many ways so I will modify the filtering method. I will consider your suggestion and design how to put a bottom drain since my concrete pond is laying on solid pavement. I saw also your video with huge filtration. You did a fantastic filtration! Mechanical (Heavy solid waste), Mechanical (Light solid waste), Bio and Sump with additional 2 Bio filters again before it enters to your pond. Frankly, I cannot put such large containers in my small area. So I will try optimize my version with maximimum functionality. By the way, I was thinking to put the mechanical filter below a bog filter or wet land (others do an aquaphonics) then the water will travel to a bio filter. When the water from bio filter reached the sump, the pump will push the water to the waterfalls before the water gets back to the pond through a cascading water. Basically, what I will do is to hide the filters that you recommended to the water feature designs. I will incorporate a plants outside the pond for filtration and perform the nitrogen cycle. I want the fish to eat some natural food from their pond habitat. To maintain the water level of the pond, I will gather the rain water into a separate container. The rain water stored in this container will automatically refill the evaporated water of the pond. In this way, I may simulate a small eco system into my pond. Give me a feedback if you find my plan too idealistic or at some point achievable. Hope I also able to give you idea and you understand my concept. In a way, we able to exchange strategy. Thanks!

[@destinlewis4555]

Very great video can you please provide us with information on the pump you use what type is it or the name

[@BackyardHobby]

The ideal water cycle in your tank has to be two full cycled for every one hour. Example if your tank is 300 gallon your pump has to be 700 gallon /hour, i add extra 100 gallon bec water has to travel through pipe before reaching your tank. I usually use Becket brand frm homedepot, its strong & durable, mine is already 10 years old and still running.

[@user-do9le6lc8y]

The fish tank and the other filter canisters have to be on the same level on the ground?

[@BackyardHobby]

The way i designed mine is like a ladder, frm fishtank to sump they’re in descending 1 inch lower each canister going down , so water will flow by gravity.

[@user-do9le6lc8y]

​@@BackyardHobby Thank you 🙏. That clears my doubts.

[@nathanborja4532]

do you have a video how the step by step way of fabricating SLO? i dont understand how it suck the solid waste up without a pump.

[@BackyardHobby]

It's the gravity which suck up the solid waste, water is force to find exit & SLO pipe has those holes frm the bottom. Im receiving a lot of questions regarding this, planning to do another video to explain more well.

[@nathanborja4532]

@@BackyardHobby Thank you

[@nilo2104]

I was thinking that the solid waste will be sucked by the water current going to the chambers whenever the pump is pulling out the water from the sump. The water from the sump that is being transferred to the pond is being replaced by the water from the bio chamber. The pump creates force to pull the solid waste from the pond and it also leads the water to each chambers. This is just my assumption on how it works.

[@BackyardHobby]

@@nilo2104 Yes, the gravity creates sucktion from the bottom, sucking all solids waste going to the chamber, filtering all solids to make sure solid free water will be sucked by water pump to Biofilter to get rid off amonia. What i like abt this system is less maintainance & effective so you hv more time to enjoy your pet fish rather than cleaning long hours.

[@ronaldvilla8942]

@backyard what's the distance from SLO hole that sucks the solid waste to the bottom?

[@RonAustin56]

Where is the pump in this SLO?

[@BackyardHobby]

I put the pump in the sump chamber

[@destinlewis4555]

Hi where can i get the filter

[@BackyardHobby]

Its DIY filter, important is we know the mechanics of it.

[@roif.8005]

Do you sell your fish or you eat them with your family?

[@BackyardHobby]

I eat them with my family, but a lot of people wanna buy so i sell them fingerlings and teach them the proper way of fish farming for then to grow their own.

[@greyimages3425]

how do you improve suction with the SLO?

[@BackyardHobby]

The bigger the pump the stronger the suction, but it depends on what size of pipe need to be used. 800 gal/hr to 1200 gal/hr submersible pump need atleast 2 inch pipe for smooth flow, higher than that need 3 inch pipe .

[@greyimages3425]

@@BackyardHobby so the entire piping through your system is 3inches since you use the 2100gal/hr?

[@BackyardHobby]

Yes, i used 3 inch pipe bec of my 2100gal/hr pump

[@greyimages3425]

@@BackyardHobby what’s the max flowrate and max head of your pump?

[@BackyardHobby]

@@greyimages3425 The deal flow rate or cycle is 2 full cycle per 1 hour, for example my tank is 1000 gallon thats the reason why i used 2100 gal/hr, it means for every 1hour my tank got cycle twice,