Do you turn your pump off when backflushing your filter.

[HEADACHE6]

Quote: Originally Posted by dizzyfish Anyone out there leave the pump on when backflushing their filters? Mitch

"Backflushing" , Is it that time of the year already ?

[Asperin]

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[dizzyfish]

Quote: Originally Posted by HEADACHE6 "Backflushing" , Is it that time of the year already ?

Troy,
How come your not watching the games? Lim says backflush about once a month depending on your pond. I posted that part early in the thread, but it didn't come through real clear. The pressure gauge never shows any buildup at. I wonder if they forgot to put the plastic bioballs in. Either that or my filter brushes are doing one hell of a job. Has anyone every cracked one of those babies open?

Mickey,
I think you may be right. I sure wish I had read Koi2Kichi before I built my pond.
Mitch

[Tim C]

Mitch, again what is in the instructions and what is reality are two very different things. In the feeding season I HAVE TO rinse and backwash once a week - no if's and's or but's. If I do not, the flow is severely restricted and the water quality goes down. I do not have to backwash as severely as I did my old bead, but nonetheless, still have to backwash.

Remember, this is not meant to be a bead or polishing filter, more so it is meant to give you a good bio filtration package where gravity fed is too cumbersome.

[dizzyfish]

Tim,
Do your gauges build up pressure? If so how much do they get up to?
Mitch

[Tim C]

Quote: Originally Posted by dizzyfish Tim, Do your gauges build up pressure? If so how much do they get up to? Mitch

I have not seen an increase in pressure on the gauge. I usually watch my microscreen as an indication. If it becomes slow or stops - a rinse/backwash is in order - never fails.

[dcny]

There's a big difference between the Ultima/BioWave filters vs. true bead filters. Bead filters, as the name implies, have beads in them. These small beads pack very tightly. I believe they can filter down to 50 microns. Steve Childers or someone else knowledgeable can correct me if I'm wrong. That kind of packing produces alot of channeling. It would certainly be advisable to get a blower if you are running a true bead filter like SacKoi, AquaBead, Aquadyne, etc.

The Ultima and BioWave filters as pressurized bio filters. They use open cell media, similar to k1, which also pack but not nearly the same as a true bead filter. These pressurized bio filters may not need a blower although I bet one wouldn't hurt.

-Dan

[Rich L]

The only Lim microscreen in a pressurized housing I have seen didn't have the pressure gauge connected to anything. NO port in the mounting hole, nothing. Try removing the gauge and see if anything changes.

[Rich L]

Another situation where a blower is needed. Lots of hobbyists are oversizing their bead filters with respect to the design flow. The backwash should have a pump rated at the rated flow of the bead filter to remove waste from the top. A blower will cover that base well.

[schildkoi]

It helps to discharge the stuck beeads within the lateral grids.

Blowers have pros and cons. Pro, you cannot adequately clean a bead filter without one. (taht will stir a response I am sure). Also, the agitation fromn the blower can strip off biofilm.

Steve