backwash

[moikoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by KoiCop Ray . . . Thanks, your points re: biofilm are well taken. We have (2) Ultima II 6K's. Since we use them for mechanical filtration (before J-mat biofiltration chambers), I backwash and rinse them (using the factory instructions, above) daily. If we were using them for polishing after the bio filtration, I'm sure that once-a-week cleaning would be sufficient.

Don
are you talking about me? i know you said my filter is in reverse order i backwash every week for about 20 mins and then rinse for about 3 mins to drain enough water out for my weekly W/C.

[Steve Nguyen]

Mike,

it make senses since settling chamber already take care of removing high percentage of waste.

btw, I am doing about the same rate but it's really on demand rather than just backwash weekly. I backwash when I saw the water flow reduced from what I normally observed. btw, the darn pressure gage doesn't work. it's always at zero reading.

Steve

Quote: Originally Posted by koiczar Don/Ray Both very good points. I have an Ultima 20,000. I consider it's use purely mechanical. It gets a backwash 2-3 times/wk. Seems to be working quite well. Mike

[moikoi]

my pressure gauge never work either.

[KoiCop]

Moi . . .

I never mentioned your name!

(But if you're happy and your koi are happy, then I'm happy, too! )

[mitten]

Just to make Moi more happier, let's all pronounce his name in French. Mwaa Kwaa.

[koiczar]

Steve

About half the units we've installed, the pressure gauge doesn't work. I would suggest going to Orchard Supply and getting one that reads 30 or 40 lbs pressure. Make sure the thread diameter matches. This will give you an even more accurate reading that the one that comes with it. It reads to like 60lbs and is less accurate for what we use them for.

Mike

Quote: Originally Posted by Steve Nguyen Mike, it make senses since settling chamber already take care of removing high percentage of waste. btw, I am doing about the same rate but it's really on demand rather than just backwash weekly. I backwash when I saw the water flow reduced from what I normally observed. btw, the darn pressure gage doesn't work. it's always at zero reading. Steve

[Rich L]

Fluidized bed sand filters are soured 24/7 and are still the best filter/footprint around because of the huge surface area. So don't worry about over cleaning.

If you check, you will find most of the old timers backwash daily. Of bourse the don't used it for bio filtration.

Grant Fugita, a world respected dealor and now hobbyist will say to flush your mechanical filter as often as you flush your own toilet. I know that means weekly for a few of you but few people understand how seriously Grant takes it. He flushes his filters at least twice a day.

Think about it. Your fish dumps. That material is a tremendous amount of nourishment for bacteria and will allow hetrotropic bacteria as long as it is available to them.

If you're dumping every now and then, increase your backflushing and watch your ORP.

[moikoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by mitten Just to make Moi more happier, let's all pronounce his name in French. Mwaa Kwaa.

is that a bad French word?

[mitten]

Not that I know of, Moi. But it takes a stretch to say koi as kwaa, we know it's pronounced koy. If we weren't at a koi forum, and if we weren't koi nuts, moi would be pronounced mwaa in our heads while reading it by almost all of us. I may need correction, but doesn't moi mean me or mine in French?

Michael is my name, and I'm called Mickey. Is your name Moi? Pronounced Moy? Is it short for something else? Are you French, Moi?

Every time someone comes to the house and I show them the ponds I show them how simple and fast it is to flush the vortexes. Eight seconds. Eight seconds. Done. Both vortexes. Every person has to hear the phrase "flushing the toilet" from me. I make some of them pull the Valterras themselves and that really saves me some work.

[KoiCop]

mitten . . .

Only you would have come up with Moy Koy vs. Mwaa Kwaa. LOL