Filter help!

I've just collected these three waterfall features..concrete and bloomin heavy!...along with a pump and filter.

However,the filter is in need of a clean and I was wondering how to position the 'cups' inside it correctly,and what is their function?

 

Hi Nick. The 'cups' as you call them are there to provide surface area for bacteria to grow on. This is needed to keep Ammonia and Nitrite levels down. Ammonia and Nitrite are very toxic to fish, and I'm assuming to have Goldfish or the like ? As for positioning, I don't think it's that important, the main thing being that you have a flow of water through the media ('cups'). There are lots of issues regarding filters, but hopefully this info will suffice.
Cheers...freddy.

 

The filter you have is a waste of time, its not even worth putting on E-Bay. I shall explain.

You seem to have a tiered water feature and a biological filter.

Water features on their own do not require biological filters. (People are just happy to change the water, or let it go green)

Biological filters are for ponds, they break down the fish waste making it harmless, (As freddy correctly said) but with no fish, there is no fish waste.

The filter foam you show in the picture is so bad it should be binned, (That one is not supposed to be green looking) Usually you have 3 layers of foam, coarse, medium and fine they lay on top of the filter media (You called them cups) the sponges physically remove larger items such as algae AFTER it has passed through a U.V. But you do not seem to have a U.V. so again this makes your filter of little use.

Below is what a brand new set of filter foams should look like



I am just wondering if the previous owner used the "feature" you now have as a "return" to the pond from the outlet of the biological filter. (Which is why you have both items) In which case you do not need the filter. There is also the question of where is the U.V. (its very rare to use a biological filter and no U.V.)

 

Thanks for your replies:gnthb:
The previous owner died a few weeks ago and his loving family have been into his garden and totally ripped out his three linked ponds,filled them with soil and made raised flower beds. He was chair bound and had the ponds at a raised level.
Any UV or similar gear has gone! The stuff I have is what was in the skip which his disabled wife told me to take out and see if I could make use of.
I have given the filter to a mate who will be able use it and I intend building the waterfalls over my pond so our dear friend came come around and see it working once more.

 

Sad Story Pal.. You will have to show us your waterfalls when finished.. You have a heart of Gold

 

yes, a picture would be nice.

 

That's a promise!I always back up my actions with proof....:wink: