Author Topic: Back flush ran clear??? Then a mere trickle? Problem solved! Embarassed here! (Read 3332 times)

Jerry · « **on:** April 26, 2008, 09:06:21 AM »

Most unusual, then it slowed to a trickle. Obviously the flow is being restricted.
The pond is very CLEAR. Always is too!
To remove the plants in my skippy as well as the floor scrubbing pads is a chore.
As I said, it is running well and very clear.
What is going on?

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2008, 12:06:58 PM »

Without knowing exactly how your system is set up it is difficult to say but I hazard a guess you have no choice but to disassemble the skippy to locate the blockage.

Don · « **Reply #2 on:** April 26, 2008, 12:30:12 PM »

Jerry,

Like Mikey says, I don't know your setup but I periodically (couple times a year) have to flush the line between the pump and the skippy with the garden hose because it gets an accumulation of gunk. Don't really know what it is but it is small enough to make it through the pre-filter and clings to the inside of the hose restricting the water flow over time.

Might give that a try before taking the skippy apart.

Don

Esther · « **Reply #3 on:** April 26, 2008, 03:30:40 PM »

Where does the backflush line come out? Can you push something in to the back end like a roto rooter type thing and maybe break lose whatever is blocking?

Once a long time ago, my DH, the plumber, was flat on his back on the floor in the living room, not able to get up because he had thrown his back out. Of course it was then the kitchen drain decided to clog up. I turned on the basement water real hot, hooked up a hose and put one of those cone shaped sprayers on the end. I opened the cleanout in the pipe, turned on the water, crimped the hose real tight, adjusted the sprayer to a strong straight stream, shoved the sprayer down the pipe while holding a 5 gallon bucket beneath the cleanout in case the water backed up. I shoved the sprayer until I felt it wouldn't slide any longer and uncrimped the hose. I kept pushing on the hose and sliding it back and forth a bit. IT WORKED!!! That drain hasn't clogged up since either. LOL

Jerry · « **Reply #4 on:** April 26, 2008, 04:09:48 PM »

Esther sounds like a plan!
I may just wear googles! The pond is still very clear!
My pump gets water from the skimmer. It goes into skippy from the bottom.( upflow) then overflows down a spillway/waterfall.

Esther · « **Reply #5 on:** April 26, 2008, 05:24:02 PM »

Jerry, do you have a ball valve that stops the water from gravitying back into the pond from the Skippy when the pump is shut off? Guess I don't know what difference it would make if the Skippy was empty of water or not. Oh well just thinking.

Jerry · « **Reply #6 on:** April 26, 2008, 05:32:12 PM »

I think I have the answer. As you can see in the photo the Skippy is loaded with moneywort.
I betcha it is grown through all the filter pads! Thus the clog. BUT, if it ain't broke...
Worst case, the water gets ugly. if that happens, I can then remove the moneywort and the filter pads! A chore to be sure, bur as I said, my water is sparkling!

(A knife valve Esther)

Esther · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2008, 09:56:23 PM »

I wouldn't be surprised at all if your plant roots have clogged the cleanout. I will never put anything that grows in the Skippy again. I did it maybe two or three years ago and didn't like the way the roots grew all over in my then scrubbies. It was a terrible pain to get them all cleaned out come winter when I had to pull them out. Now if I put anything growing in there, it will be contained in a bucket.

Jerry · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2008, 10:08:27 PM »

If I don't clean it out, what will happen? Right now the water is sparkling clear. What did come out of the back flush was clear too. So maybe I haave a natural filter there? ala a bog?

Esther · « **Reply #9 on:** April 27, 2008, 04:49:57 AM »

What does it matter if the backflush doesn't work? I don't even have one. Sounds like you'll have a bog filter. But I wonder if it would eventually fill to the point where you won't have a good flow through the Skippy. I would guess the reason that clear water came out the drain is that any crud that is in there is being blocked from coming out by all the roots. Does anyone else just leave growing stuff in their Skippy?

Jerry · « **Reply #10 on:** April 27, 2008, 07:06:42 AM »

I know of a few and they had a big job getting it out.
So I think the thing to do is wait and see. I may have the chore of removing it eventually.
Maybe in a week , maybe in a few months?
I think if I left town Id do it first.
Thanks for the tips.

I had one gallon cans of bananas in there once, they did superbly. In cans , of course.

Joyce · « **Reply #11 on:** April 27, 2008, 07:58:44 AM »

I betcha the roots clogged it too.

Mikey · « **Reply #12 on:** April 27, 2008, 08:22:39 AM »

Jerry: I put a piece of that moneywort you gave me in the rocks beneath the spillway coming out of my stock tank. MISTAKE! The roots were everywhere and they were one cause of the leak problem I was having. It was a bear removing them. I loved the way the moneywort looked, but in the end it created more problems than it solved. Now that I think about it, those roots were competing with the nutrients in my water and right now I am having an algae bloom as I have never had before........ Another case of "Darned if I do & Darned if I don't"........ $:-\$

Jerry · « **Reply #13 on:** April 27, 2008, 09:30:16 AM »

Sorry Mike. I removed a section today. It willclouds the pond for a day ot two.
Yes Joyce, that is the logical conclusion. Interesting that the water comes out clear! So it does a job, but not without the problem that mike alludes too.
I will start removing a bit at a time.

Jerry · « **Reply #14 on:** April 27, 2008, 10:49:05 AM »

A bit at a time my Ass. I just could not Wait I removed the plants from the top of the Skippy. The pads don't look too bad. I will clean Them in a day or two. (I am not 100% yet, but getting close) When I clean the pads the back flush will likely work. If not, I will have access to same.
I filled a mickey mouse composter with the stuff. What a mess!
By the way, a $1.00 bread knife is a great tool!
Bottom a few clogged pads. That was a square one. All the rest are the round floor scrubbing pads.
my "crystal clear water!" IS GONE! It will be fine tomorrow. :'(

Esther · « **Reply #15 on:** April 27, 2008, 12:35:32 PM »

Oh mercy, what a job $:-\$ . I bet it was a little stinky down there too. Yah, that crud will settle out soon. I would have hung a couple of mesh baskets with filter media in them or set one across the outlet of the Skippy to catch the crud that got stirred up right away. Hope you did that. I have a mesh wire basket that just fits the spillway opening in the Skippy. BUTTT a couple of times I left it in there and it got clogged during the night and when Pete got up, IT WAS RUNNING OVER---------STUPID. Never did that again. At least it doesn't matter when the ones I put in the waterfall get clogged because the water is still contained between the rocks. Bet the water isn't crystal clear coming out the back flush now.

Jerry · « **Reply #16 on:** April 27, 2008, 02:57:57 PM »

I did not Esther, but the water is slowly clearing. I am ordering new pads anyway, they are cheap.
I will install and then clean the old ones. Yes, I will have to be diligent and nip moneywort in the bun!
Thanks for your help.

Joyce · « **Reply #17 on:** April 28, 2008, 04:33:33 AM »

Did you check the plumbing too anyway, to make sure it is clear?

I have cheapo steak knives stuck in the ground all over the gardens....tools.

Hope we find them all before we move!

Jerry · « **Reply #18 on:** April 28, 2008, 07:21:08 AM »

I will today Joyce.

I will cut off the water to Skippy and pull the pads, rinse, reinstall and all will be fine.
When I drain the Skippy the plumbing will be easily accessible.

Off to Dr today, I am confident I will be given an OK for all activities.

karen J · « **Reply #19 on:** April 28, 2008, 07:41:23 AM »

Quote from: Jerry on April 27, 2008, 10:49:05 AM

A bit at a time my Ass.

I've been noticing that lately.

I think our skippy has to be redone. All the plumbing has shifted.
Those plants sure can make a mess. We had a similar mess, like Esther, with the plant roots completely infiltrating the scrubbies. Now all the plants get potted in shallow pots. And the roots/runners get trimmed away if they try and escape.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #20 on:** April 28, 2008, 08:36:48 AM »

I did plants in my bio filter once. Never again. First of all the box was small. Secondly no plant is small and the roots....mamma mia! Now I just have a small bog off to the side of my pond plus other water containers full of water plants.

Jerry · « **Reply #21 on:** April 28, 2008, 10:27:56 AM »

I ordered more scrub pads. since the pond is clearing nicely, I will wait for the new pads, then do a switcheroo. I will clean the old ones sans pressure.
When I drain the Skippy I will see the outlet and make it clean!

Oh yes, the DR. said I was 100%, go back to the gym!

Esther · « **Reply #22 on:** April 28, 2008, 10:48:46 AM »

ALRIGHT, Way to go Jerry.

Ky Kim · « **Reply #23 on:** April 28, 2008, 11:32:42 AM »

Where did you order your pads from? Gonna have to get some, because the polyester cushion pads that I always use from Walmart, there always out of them. They work great, but hard to find anymore.

KIm

Jerry · « **Reply #24 on:** April 28, 2008, 11:57:25 AM »

I use this place. I got it from Carlos (Spanish Leperchaun)http://www.shoplet.com/office/db/gFPAD1199.html

Ky Kim · « **Reply #25 on:** April 28, 2008, 12:20:08 PM »

Not bad prices at all, you just use the white ones?

Kim

Jerry · « **Reply #26 on:** April 28, 2008, 12:27:25 PM »

I use green, don't ask me why, I have no idea!

I just reordered.

tranquility · « **Reply #27 on:** April 28, 2008, 04:04:19 PM »

Jerry I have several of those big Ginsu knives around to cut apart the plants....some of them--that seems the only way you can separate them

.....You should see the looks on new customers faces when I come out carrying those big knives

I hate to be the bearer of bad news though---if you didn't get all the teeny tiny seed they produce out of the skippy---they will just come back $:-\$ ....
Lawanna

Jerry · « **Reply #28 on:** April 28, 2008, 04:35:18 PM »

Oh Yes I know Lawana. Thats why I want new pads. When the old ones dry out (after cleanng)
All roots will be dead!

I love the bread knives, They are ideal for dividing clumps, trimming banana and palm leaves and so much more. Cheap too, $1.00.
I have gotten pretty good at throwing them too. I can hit a manure bag at 30 feet!

I leave them around like Joyce does , but the wife complains how dangerous it is, nag, nag, nag!

Julles · « **Reply #29 on:** April 28, 2008, 04:39:51 PM »

Oh man! I was so proud of myself, dodging poison ivy and slippery banks to climb down to the bayou along our local bike trail, so I could pull up some money wort - transplanted it to my bog as soon as I got home.

Wonder if I've made a mistake?