Simple drip water change system - questions!

[flaringshutter]

Hello all, as I mentioned in a previous thread I was thinking about getting some tosakin. Well, that plan is much closer to happening now and I am getting the system all set up.

I have a 20 gallon heavy-duty bucket to serve as the baby pond/tosa bowl on our deck, plumbed for a mini canister filter outflowing through a RUGF to minimize current. Now I am considering how to accomplish the required frequent water changes easily.

So here is my plan. I want to keep the system very simple. The overflow would simply be a length of 1/4 inch tubing, poking through the bucket wall just below the water line (sealed into the wall with silicone), which will drain to a nearby rain gutter. This I can crimp to flow at the GPH I want, or even attach another drip valve at the end.

The inflow would be a drip irrigation setup plumbed in from a nearby garden hose outlet. I'm thinking that with the adjustable valve set at 1/4 GPH I can change 6 gallons of the 18 gallons in the pond each day. That's about 28% change per day, with 90% of the original water changed in a week.

With an inline filter on the drip inflow (or even just daily Prime dosing) I shouldn't have an issue with chlorine...

Is there anything I am missing about this plan? I feel like it is too simple and there is some problem with it that I'm not thinking of.

Here is a little diagram:
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/2634/dripplan.jpg

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

[thomasn]

neat plan!

you think the 1/4" out tube would clog with poo or debris? maybe you should go up to 1/2" for outflow..

[flaringshutter]

That's a good point - perhaps I will drill a hole above the outflow for an emergency overflow.... and instead of setting the outflow tubing itself in the wall, set a permanent adapter in the wall that the tubing will connect to so I can change the tubing if it gets clogged. Thanks!

[cowiche ponder]

My only concern is yet the chlorine/chloramines. It would depend a lot on which you have?

Otherwise I think it is a great idea! As long as there isn't chances of leaves or larger stuff floating on the tank that would still possibly plug your hose/tube out? It will act as a skimmer for everything. Dust and pollen are not a problem, but even a small leaf could clog up even the 1/2 inch line

[bekko]

I have a similar system, but mine feeds from a water fall on an adjacent pond. The quarter-inch tubing on the outlet will definitely clog. I have three-eighths tubing (inside diameter) and it clogs about once a month. You do not need to control the flow on the outlet. Just put the outlet tube at the desired water level. Tosakin do not jump so if the outlet tube clogs and the tank overflows on a deck it is not a huge deal

You could put an activated carbon filter in the line feeding the tank. This would take care of chlorine and chloramines without having to build a dosing system. The bad thing about activated carbon filters is that it is difficult to know when the carbon has been expended. You can do a rough calculation of how much water can pass through the carbon before it is expended based on the amount of chlorine/chloramines in your water supply. But, chlorine levels do not stay constant and activated carbon capacity varies depending on the source, so it is only an estimate.

-steve

[flaringshutter]

Hm. Perhaps just a Prime bottle fitted with an adapter to a drip valve, set at the proper dose for 6 gallons/day, hung upside down on the wall above the pond? It would be a gravity-feed, low-tech auto doser, but cheap.

Great idea on the outlet, Steve. That's simple enough. The drip valves are super cheap but removing the outflow one means it's one less thing to clog up. :) Thanks!