Low Profile PolyGeyser Filter Operation & Backwash
Operation:
Keep the correct water level for optimum filter performance. The water level should run at the diameter of the return pipe. This is half of the pipe’s return height, leaving plenty of room for air to push the water along.
These Polygeyser® filters will backwash themselves so you do not need to manually initiate backwashes on a regular basis. You will need to adjust the air using your suflow air gauge, so that your unit regularly backwashes four to six times a day. If you notice your filter is not backwashing as vigorously as it has been previously, running the air on high will force the unit to backwash a few times to dislodge stubborn deposits. Be aware that the water will become temporarily cloudy from fine solids. Then reset the air gauge to the typical four to six backwashes a day and normal operation will take care of the rest
When Draining Your Filter Water
These units are different from many filters on the market, and special care needs to be taken when draining these filters due to the unique auto-backwashing mechanisms.
- Do not drain the tank completely unless the inlet valve is closed. Beads will escape the filter if the valve is open.
- When draining the filter while the inlet valve is open, do not drain below the inlet or beads will escape.
Setting The Sludge Removal
If your filter is utilizing the auto-purge features, there different methodologies for setting the amount of sludge to be removed. You can adjust air flow remove more or less sludge.
For mineralization, consider letting more sludge pile up within the sludge chamber for digestion. This can help increase available nitrates for plant culture. Test the water quality to ensure the water remains suitable for the fish. More frequent water changes may be needed, or more frequent backwashes to remove excess solids. Running at a lower air pressure will keep the system from purging larger solids from the system.
For fish culture exclusively, purge sludge preemptively to prevent declines in water quality. Set your unit to remove larger amounts to lower the amount of waste breaking down in the system. Adjusting for more powerful air flow will result in a stronger current that will lift more sludge and waste out of the filter. This filter will also backwash more frequently when being operated in this manner.