[androal]

CURRENT SYSTEM BACKGROUND: I have 3x spirex option 2000 vortex filters servicing my 4000 gallon koi pond.

They are arranged as follows:

1) Primary Vortex Chamber: fed from a bottom drain.

2) 2nd Vortex Chamber: fed from Primary vortex, contains a series of brushes located at the top of the filter (serves as additional mechanical filtration w/some biological filtration ability).

3) 3rd Vortex Chamber: Fed from 2nd Vortex, water flows over spring flow ribbon media that serves as the primary biological filtration system for the pond.

Water is pumped from the top of the 3rd Vortex chamber to the top of a plunge waterfall and also to a mid-level return about half way down (2ft) the 4ft deep pond.

There currently is NO supplemental aeration in the pond. The waterfall plunges 4ft into the pond - directly infront of the return - serving to aerate the pond.

I am gathering information on the ideal media types/aeration combinations to upgrade the current system.

I am contemplating the following upgrades, and am curious to learn of anyone’s experiences/opinions about these contemplated choices:

I. AERATION:

1) Retrofit the current 'traditional dome' bottom drain cover with a spindrifter 'aerated dome' bottom drain dome cover
2) Add aeration stones to BOTH 2nd and 3rd stage vortex chambers

II. REPLACE BIOLOGICAL FILTRATION MEDIA IN VORTEX CHAMBERS #2 & #3

1) Kaldeness K3 Media
2) R-Matala

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CONTEMPLATED UPGRADES:

1) CORRECT LOCATION?: Based on the (above) upgrades, which vortex chamber is the R-Matala media ideally suited for? Initially I thought the R-Matala media would be an upgrade to the brushes I currently have in Vortex chamber #2, but when I read the forums about how people have retro-fitted the Kaldeness media, it seems like most people are putting Kaldness in the 2nd chamber, and putting japanese matting in chamber #3. This makes me think the R-Matala belongs in Chamber #3?

2) BEST COMBINATION W/AERATION?: The spirex option 2000 vortex filter is 37" in diameter and 48" deep. It has an 'Up-Flow' design which forces water entering the chamber down to the bottom, so that water rises from the bottom of the chamber to the top, where it is pumped out to the water fall/return. i. What is the best combination of R-Matala types to use, and in what order should they be placed vertically in the chamber? ii. How much space should exist between the different layers of R-Matala media? iii. What type/how many aeration stones should be used to aerate the R-Matala media and what is the correct placement of the stones to acheive maximum efficiency? iv.What is the ideal amount of aeration to provide the media in this proposed setup (liters/min)?

3) OTHER OPTIONS/OPINIONS: Does anyone have any experience w/this media type (or others... japanese matting?) used in vortex chambers like I have? I am contemplating the R-Matala media because it sounds like any easy upgrade (comes in correct shape/size right out of the box - no need to cut it). Are there other, more preferable ways of upgrading this system that I am not contemplating?

Any insights are greatly appreciated!