Good response. I would like to hear from people that went from a
mechanical filter to a bead filter. I have not yet heard anything bad
from any bead filter except the bubble bead filter.

Does anyone out there have a bead filter? If so, how long have to had
it? Have you ever had any problems with it? What is the brand of
your filter? Thx!
Oingofan

On Sun, 02 Mar 2003 17:49:38 GMT, "Gregory Young"
wrote:

Ingrid, it sure would be nice if you would sure of your facts, before
providing such misinformation. It really does impact the credibility of this
NG.
Read my comments below.

wrote in message
...
I have heard that bead filters are not as wonderful as advertised. They
were
originally made for swimming pools for use with chemicals (and sand, not
beads) with
no real crud.

You have "heard"? In a scientific forum, perhaps?
It would appear you may be mixing BF up with similarly appearing sand
filters, which function differently. BF designed for water garden/Koi ponds,
are of a different water flow design from the sand/bead filters offered for
swimming pools.

when used with ponds with fish they get gunked up and eventually
accumulate H2S inside (may take up to 3 years to happen).

Not true. When backwashed, current designed BF flush to the top and out, not
from the bottom. The bottom drain is there for large sediment only.
Backwashing, esp with blowers breaks up the mass, which by the way offers a
huge surface area compared to most other biofilter systems, which is why
they support larger mass of fish/unit volume of water. But you pay for that
in $$.

When backwashed the
outlet is on the bottom, but the gas in on the top and isnt removed unless
taken the
whole thing apart. so the H2S starts getting dumped into the water and
the first
sign is the fish are piping, lethargic and at heading into the return
water. The
beads eventually clump to the point where they are just one big mass.
it isnt a mechanical filter at all, AND the biobugs need a lot of oxygen
to function.
since it is closed, only the oxygen in the water is available.

Again, not true, unless of course you are using a sand filter you modified,
or perhaps an older design of BF, where the flow may allow that to happen.
Modern, well designed BFs don't have that issue.

that is unlike a
veggie filter or any filter open to the air. Jo Ann can explain what the
problem is
better 1-251-649-4790
INgrid

Strange that many of the breeders/maintainersof large Koi ponds, where
there are large fish mass to water ratios, manintain them strictly with BF.

Strange that many of the large Koi dealers use BF (and UV) as only agents to
maintain their heavily stocked Koi holding tanks/vats.

Folks, you can go to the AKCA website (www.akca.org), or to Dr. Eric
Johnson's (www.koivet.com I believe) website, to get accurate information on
the utility of these filters.

Hope that helps address your question Tony..

Happy ponding, and let us know how you make out with your BF,
Greg





"Tony & Diane VonNeida" wrote:

I'm seriously contemplating purchasing a bead filter for my 8500 gal
pond.
I'm looking at Aquadyne, Challenger 60 by Fluidart, and also Aquabead.
Wondering if anyone has experience with any of these? Would appreciate
all
opinions.
thanks,
tony