"The System" that "The Answer" was Design For- Steve Childer @ koiphen.com Ya'll have heard me say its all about "systems" and not individual components. So let's look at "the system" that "The Answer" was design for, shall we? The Answer was designed for multichambered filtration systems using 4" gravity feed/flow. When I say "multi-chambered" we typically think of a 3 chamber system. Back when the Answer first came out, that would be a vortex followed by 2 matting chambers...pretty much standard configuration. Now if we have a visual on this type of system, let's look at this systems characteristics. Taking the friction of the piping out of the equation, we want that maximum flow through capability without sucking the last chamber dry. Using 4" lines, at 3700 gph (US), the elevation drop is 1"....per transfer...pond to vortex = 1" + vortex to 1st bio = 1" + 1st bio to second bio = 1". So at this flow through there would be a 3" elevation drop from pond to final chamber (plus the transfer line friction loss that would cause additional drop). For most vortex configuations, much more than a 3" drop on a final chamber would cause the pump to suck air from this chamber. The Answer 410 with a 100 Micron screen is rated at about 3200 US gallons which is about the real maximum that a typical 3 chambered system can run at anyway. Added flow through capabilities can easily be given to an Answer 410 by simply increasing the screen size to 150 or even 200 Micron. But to what good if the system itself will not support it? At 100 Micro, the screen allows for the 3200 gph rate to pass through PLUS the amount that the Answer pumps back out (I want to say about 1600gph but am not sure). Should someone take this component (Answer) and apply it to a differing system with different characteristics, it may, or may not perform to the same level due to that specific systems characteristics and not the Answer itself. As an example, I know of cases where the system that the Answer was installed on was flowing at 3600 gph with discharge ports tops at 6 inches from the top of the chambers prior to adding an Answer. With the system off, the water level was at 1" below the top. Turn the system on and the level droped to 5 inches from the top (4 inches of total elevation drop). This system was at its capacity to meet the pump demands without the Answer. When adding the Answer and its lower flow through capabilty the pump sucked air at the 3600 gph and the owner complained of having to throttle back his pump to accomidate the lower flow. Is that a problem of the Answer or for the person who installed a component that didn't meet his system? You could just as easily make a case that the circulation pump is to blame since it is now to large for the reconfigured system. 3 possible solutions to solving the problem of the mismatched system while still realizing the benifits of the Answer. 1) Throttle back the pump to
the new system capabilities Or 4) Take Answer off of the system and live without any improvements that it can afford. Now if we go to another option that keeps poppong up over the years and that would be to divert some of the pumps capacity back to the Answer and do away with its pump. Sounds good in theory and a "possible" money saver, right? If our system is currently flowing at 3200 gph and near its design capabilities for a 3 chambered system and we divert an equal amount of water from the main pump back to the Answer that is currently being used (believed to be 1600 gph), then we are now reducing the draw through the drain by 1/2 since of the 3200 gph that is flowing through the multiple chambers, 1/2 is diverted back! This effectively (in this configuration) will reduce the system turnover rate and filtration by 1/2! Using 6" transfer lines can help to reduce this effect but like anything, there are trade-offs to consider. The moral of the story? Understand the system design constraints and plan accordingly. Its NOT a component issue in reality, its more typically people's lack of understanding or the systems that they are attempting to work with and the components that they use......and their unrealistic expectations of performance when things get "mis-matched". Steve |