The filter sits behind the waterfall. It measures
4' x 4' x 16'. The pond water flows through a large, flexible drainage pipe (holes enlarged) through the side of the pond and into a settling tank. (the old water seeks it's own level trick) The large particles settle out here, then water is pumped from the settling tank up to the filter, entering about 1 1/2 ft. from the bottom. Smaller particles settle here and the water flows up through a bed of 4" deep lava rock topped with a mat of blue filter material. The water is then gravity fed to the waterfall and back to the pond.
Beneath the bridge is a home made bottom drain, made from a plastic food grade bucket. It is attached to several feet of flexible pipe which runs up to the skimmer, then on through the pump. Part of the water is directed to the water wheel, part to the wishing well and the rest to another settling tank before it reaches the main filter that supplies the waterfall.
There are 2 bottom drains in the main filter for ease of cleaning, one in the wishing well, waterwheel barrel and one each in the two settling tanks.
