difference between greywater and septic?
ronbow
11 years ago
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11 years agobrickeyee
11 years agoRelated Discussions
The difference between a liner pond and a REAL pond
Comments (40)dang it....I had a really well though out response all done, and my internet explorer crashed. So I'll try again...lol!! First...a few comments regarding how koi ponds compare to aquariums. Normally, aquariums are lightly stocked with small fish. It's really easy to keep the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate cycle operating perfectly in a correctly stocked environment. Same as a rock bottom pond...lightly stocked and properly maintanied it can work. In a pond's bio filter, ammonia is converted to nitrite and then to nitrate. Nitrate is most easily removed froma koi pond by way of regular water changes. Ever try to keep an aquarium with goldfish? Many goldie keepers I know keep no gravel in the tank at all, because of maintenance. That gravel gets really filthy very fast. I had a lovely goldie tank once....and gave it up. the maintenance was a nightmare! I'd rather deal with a huge koi pond any day of the week. Some people are reporting sucess with rock bottom ponds and no maintenance. Again...it is directly related to stocking levels. I hope these ponds continue to perform well for years to come, but for the vast majority of people, they will not. Most watergardeners install their ponds (and rocks) and then run out and buy a bunch of adorable little 5" long koi. The koi grow.....fast. They produce mountains of fish waste, which all gets trapped in the rocks. But because the pond looks clean, the owner is lulled into a false sense of security and does not think that there is a thing wrong, until the fish start dying or the fins start rotting off. Then they do one of two thing....they learn where they went wrong and correct their mistakes, or they just buy new fish (which is unfortunatly what most people do). Matt...you are on the right track with your new pond. You certainly can install your bottom drain now and add the rest of the system later. But instead of using a pipe cap, install a 4" ball valve on the end of the line. The water can't be permitted to sit stagnant in the unused drain line for too long or it will start developing the dreaded hydrogen sulphide gas. Opening that valve every couple of weeks and allowing the water to flow out for a couple of minutes will prevent the problems. I am attaching a link to the Atlanta Koi Club's web site. They have an excellent pdf that explains a lot about how a koi pond works, water quality, stocking levels, how much biofiltration is needed and many other wonderful facts. Cindy...See Moregreywater and soaps
Comments (17)FYI - you can easily make your own liquid castile that costs a lot less than Bronners, et al. - simply grate 1 bar of castile soap into a heat-proof bowl,jar or pan (I use Kirks - available in the stores here for approx. 75 cents) & pour 1 quart boiling distilled water over it.Stir until soap dissolves.This can be diluted just like Bronners for all kinds of purposes.You can even infuse herbs in the water first & add essential oils when the mixture cools.It 's better to let the stuff sit for a couple of weeks if you use any additions,so it can 'cure'.I dissolve & store it in a quart-size mason jar & put in a pump bottle for hand & dish soap in the kitchen. I think castiles are relatively safer for grey water uses than detergents.But for laundry use,have you seen those ceramics contraptions?I think they'd be ideal & if you figure cost per load it's actually cheaper than laundry detergent..... Here is a link that might be useful: Real Goods...See MoreGreywater: could I do this?
Comments (8)Definitely go with the downhill option. Your obvious but not steep slope- How much is it? If it is more than 3cm/meter it should be fine I think. You might consider some very minor (ie you, a shovel, and bucket of sand) landscaping along the route of your non-kinking hose to ensure an even drop. But your basin idea sounds perfect to me. How much fall will you have vertically between the drain and basin? You might consider a second drain to the fruit trees from the basin. You could make it primitive (dig a trench, and fill the bottom with gravel, then replace soil on the top two inches or so) or you could go with pipe. The primitive drain might work better if you have a clay soil, but I think that goes without saying. Our greywater system is working at 3/100cm. But it is just 3 meters from the house. It is just a stub at present though. I have to fill it with some more plants. Cattails seem like a nice option. Hungry plants they are. Maybe I'll plant some willows near it as well. I love willows. Good luck, and keep us posted. Eric in Japan...See MoreDifference between shallow trench and inground septic systems?
Comments (3)Thanks. I was waiting for a phone call back from the engineer when I posted this. She got a hold of me today with the answer "You had the best perc rates out of all of the lots. I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that on the report." Gee, thanks for giving us a heart attack thinking that we might need something other than a gravity system!...See Moreionized_gw
11 years agoronbow
11 years agoionized_gw
11 years agobrickeyee
11 years agorandy427
11 years agoionized_gw
11 years agobrickeyee
11 years agolazypup
11 years agoionized_gw
11 years agopiedmontnc
11 years agobrickeyee
11 years agoronbow
11 years ago
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