"RichToyBox" wrote:

My favorite bead filter is the Sacremento Koi Advantage bead filters. They
have about the best design going. Their web site is
http://www.sacramentokoi.com/index.php and look at the advantage filter
system. They have pictures with dimensions, backwash instructions, about
bead filters, etc.

Hi Rich,

I've been looking for a bead filter and have been trying to sift thru the
claims of the various manufacturers. They all 'seem' to be the best. Could
you tell me what it is about this bead filter that you like above the
others?


Thanks,

San Diego Joe
4,000 - 5,000 Gallons.
Koi, Goldfish, and RES named Colombo.

"RichToyBox" wrote
The beads in a bead filter are floating polyethylene beads. These same
beads are used in the manufacture of plastic items such as plastic
corrugated pipe, milk jugs, etc. If you can find a plastics manufacturer,
you can probably save a bundle over buying them from a pond outfit like
www.aquaticeco.com. The filter itself is usually a pool sand filter
body. The valve must be changed out or modified to have the water flow up,
rather than down in the filter position. The diatomatious earth filter
heads are designed for upflow. The filter body should be filled about
half full of the beads.

The above is correct in every way. However, if you already own a pool
filter, changing a some PVC plumbing to make the water go in at the bottom
and out at the top is no big deal. (*Make sure you put in some sort of
screen to prevent washing out the beads.)


The commercial filters have added a spa blower 1.5 or 2 HP to blow air in
through the bottom during cleaning to break up the bead pack and get a
good cleaning. This is necessary with the standard low head filter.
Without a blower, a high pressure, high volume pump is required, and even
then periodically the filter must be opened to get all the bead pack
broken up.

The above is accurate, and retrofitting such an air pump would be possible,
but very problematic. Alternatgely, you can just open it and break up the
bead masses more often as he describes.

My favorite bead filter is the Sacremento Koi Advantage bead filters.
They have about the best design going. Their web site is
http://www.sacramentokoi.com/index.php and look at the advantage filter
system. They have pictures with dimensions, backwash instructions, about
bead filters, etc.

These seem to be excellent filters. However, a second mortgage may be
required to buy one. OTOH, if you were a serious breeder you would have to
have one of this quality as a cost of doing business.


Michael
New Orleans, Louisiana USA
================================================== ==============

"San Diego Joe" wrote in message
...

Hi Rich,

I've been looking for a bead filter and have been trying to sift thru the
claims of the various manufacturers. They all 'seem' to be the best. Could
you tell me what it is about this bead filter that you like above the
others?


Thanks,

San Diego Joe
4,000 - 5,000 Gallons.
Koi, Goldfish, and RES named Colombo.

I have the original BBF bubblebead filter which relies on air entering under
gravity draining of the filter to do the cleaning. I have it plumbed in
such a way as to allow the water to be fed backward through the beads to do
the cleaning. It is a fair bead filter.

I also have an Aquadyne. This brand of filter was given away by Dr. Roddy
Conrad a couple of years ago because snails clogged the internals so often.
I haven't had that problem with mine, but due to its design, it does have a
higher head pressure loss, slowing the flow somewhat more than other
filters. It has a bottom drain, (sand filter winter drain) that can be
opened periodically to remove settled solids. When I open mine I get snail
shells mostly.

I have the Advantage 15. The internal design is very clog resistant,
doesn't require the bottom drain, and has less backpressure against the
pump, allowing higher flows. I have heard many others praise this filter
and the manufacturer.

The Aquabead appears to be a similar system, but I do not have one of these.
I have heard some good stuff about it and the manufacturer.

The AquaUV Ultima filters are not bead filters and as such do not provide
the dense packing that allows solids separation and water polishing. They
may provide good bio filtration.

"RichToyBox" wrote:


"San Diego Joe" wrote in message
...

Hi Rich,

I've been looking for a bead filter and have been trying to sift thru the
claims of the various manufacturers. They all 'seem' to be the best. Could
you tell me what it is about this bead filter that you like above the
others?

I have the original BBF bubblebead filter which relies on air entering under
gravity draining of the filter to do the cleaning. I have it plumbed in
such a way as to allow the water to be fed backward through the beads to do
the cleaning. It is a fair bead filter.

I also have an Aquadyne. This brand of filter was given away by Dr. Roddy
Conrad a couple of years ago because snails clogged the internals so often.
I haven't had that problem with mine, but due to its design, it does have a
higher head pressure loss, slowing the flow somewhat more than other
filters. It has a bottom drain, (sand filter winter drain) that can be
opened periodically to remove settled solids. When I open mine I get snail
shells mostly.

I have the Advantage 15. The internal design is very clog resistant,
doesn't require the bottom drain, and has less backpressure against the
pump, allowing higher flows. I have heard many others praise this filter
and the manufacturer.

The Aquabead appears to be a similar system, but I do not have one of these.
I have heard some good stuff about it and the manufacturer.

The AquaUV Ultima filters are not bead filters and as such do not provide
the dense packing that allows solids separation and water polishing. They
may provide good bio filtration.


Thank you Rich! That was very informative and useful. At least I'm now a
coupe of steps closer to a wise purchase.

San Diego Joe
4,000 - 5,000 Gallons.
Koi, Goldfish, and RES named Colombo.