Example.
A well-stocked 5,500-gallon pond (25,000 litres) on a constant trickle feed of mains water with centrally placed bottom drain operating on one Eric Four unit at maximum flow rate of 2,200 gph. (10,000 lph.) producing a total pond water turnover every 2.5 hours.
The forward moving block of water takes 3.15 minutes to complete one ‘Pass’ from entering the unit to exiting the unit and this means 457 ‘Passes’ are made every day.
The Eric Four unit holds 110 gallons (500 litres) of water; a complete discharge of the unit takes just under 2 minutes to do from shut down to start-up.
As I am always in search of perfection, please now consider this: –
In cooler water temperatures of 8C -12C the filter requires a complete discharge every 24 hours. This means 2% of the pond volume needs replacing by the trickle every day and this would mean it would take 2-minutes per day in time spent.
In water temperatures from 13C – 16C the filter may require a complete discharge every 12 hours. This means 4% of the pond volume needs replacing by the trickle every day and this would mean it would take 4-minutes per day in time spent.
In water temperatures from 17C – 22C the filter may require a complete discharge every 8 hours. This means 6.6% of the pond volume needs replacing by the trickle every day and this would mean it would take 6-minutes per day in time spent.
In water temperatures over 22C the filter may require a complete discharge every 6 hours. This means 8% of the pond volume needs replacing by the trickle every day and this would mean it would take 8-minutes per day in time spent.
I hope this makes sense that cooler water with lower feeding produces little daily detritus given off by the Koi but as water temperatures and feeding rates rise, the detritus increases accordingly.
I’m sure that no one would object to carrying out a once daily 2-minute discharge and perhaps others would also be able to handle two discharges per day at 8.00am and 8.00pm.
However few would be able to manage more than this despite the fact it only takes 2 minutes to do this.
However, what if all of this could be done without any human labour being required whatsoever?
Well it can now – by way of the cleansing power of the Eric 4” drain to sewer together with the addition of the ‘THE ERIC AUTO’ unit!
In fact it can be programmed to operate on a daily basis as many times as you wish it to operate.
Imagine this taking place every time the discharge is programmed to begin.
1. The 4” line from the bottom drain is stopped.
2. The 4” line to the discharge is opened.
3. The water pump is stopped
(These three stages are carried out together.)
4. A 90-second pause whilst the unit is drained completely to waste.
5. After the pause is complete, the outlet to the discharge is closed.
6. The supply from the bottom drain is opened and the unit begins to fill up.
7. After a further 90 seconds the water pump is switched back on.
There is also a sensor valve on the incoming trickle of water that will by-pass the entire program should the trickle be stopped for any reason at all and this would require manual start-up by a switch on the control box.
There are also safety measures in place for the unlikely event that a power cut could take place whilst the discharge programme is being carried out.
This is as near perfect as it gets.
However, perfection does not come cheap!
This requires two electrically-actuated 4” ball valves; a control and timer unit; a small sensor valve and a weather proof housing as much of this will be below ground in most installations whilst the weatherproof control unit would be fixed to the top of the filter. Apart from materials there are also labour costs and extra fittings to consider.
The first unit is now in preparation and, when the time is right, it will be put to the test because everything surrounding all is easily achieved with readily available components.
At this moment in time I have no idea as to the final costs involved but will keep you informed as it all progresses.
Eric Manual or Eric Auto?
Now there’s a thought!
Always in search of perfection………