AST Endurance™ Bead Filter
Automatic Pneumatic Backwash in a Small Footprint
The AST Endurance™ Filter is an advancement of our patented PolyGeyser® technology with the addition of many new enhancements and increased performance features.
Features Include:
- Automatic pneumatic backwash enabling the filter to operate for extended periods of time without intervention, saving time and labor
- Lowest water loss filter in the industry, less than 5% of traditional filters
- Large sludge storage chamber that concentrates the sludge minimizing servicing needs
- Superior solids removal and biofiltration in one filter, delivering crystal clear water
- Low profile design allows for “airlift” water pumping, minimizing energy costs
- Elegant, simple design with no moving internal parts and no replacement media ever required, guaranteeing trouble free operation
- Units arrive pre-filled with bead media which never needs replaced
Optional Add-Ons:
- Optional automatic sludge discharge making the filter virtually maintenance free
- Optional UV light add-on to assure algae control even under warm water conditions
Your Pond Workhorse
AST Endurance filters are ideal for ponds or tanks 200 to 4000 gallons in size and are designed for use in KOI, Aquaponic, Fingerling and small Growout applications. The tables below shows the approximate sizes of ponds, tanks and aquaponic systems the Endurance models will support.
Aquaponics Applications
They also work beautifully for aquaponics applications.
The Endurance filters separate out solids in the water and store them in a large sludge chamber. The integrated chamber allows partial mineralization for plant nutrients. This nutrient rich water can then be automatically released to plant grow beds as part of the backwash process. The amount of water and delivery frequency can be easily adjusted to keep your nitrate levels ideal for fruiting or green growth.
If you are looking for an integrated tank and filter also popular for aquaponics, check out the AST FIT 400 SYSTEM.
Video Resources
AST Endurance Filter: Revolutionary Automatic PolyGeyser Backwash
AST Endurance Filter: Water Pumped Configuration, PolyGeyser Technology
AST Endurance Filter: Gravity Fed, Airlifted System- No water pumps required! PolyGeyser Backwash
AST Endurance Filter: Auto-Purge Sludge with Air! Cleaner water through PolyGeyser Technology
Featured Customer Project
This AST Endurance unit is being utilized in a small-scale, home aquaculture project for raising tilapia.
The customer set up the filter in his greenhouse and insulated the tank with wooden boards to regulate the temperature of the water. For optimal energy savings, the Endurance unit was configured with an airlift operation utilizing no motorized pumps or mechanical moving parts. Sludge is concentrated in the chamber and then automatically dumped into a nearby bucket allowing for easy maintenance.
Let's Get Started Today
From a simple filter to a complete custom system, our engineers can help you find the perfect filtration system for your needs. Get in touch today!
Endurance Operation: Standard Configuration
These exceptional filters backwash automatically, several times a day. The user does not need to turn off the pump or close any valves during the backwash sequence. The filter does not require an electric timer. The backwash cycle is regulated by the air that is injected into the charge chamber. The filters clean and recycle the dirty water produced in backwashing every two to three hours. Sludge is only removed once or twice a week.
1) Normal Filtration
The water moves from the inlet up through the bead bed. The bead bed provides surface area for the water purifying bacteria and captures solids within the aquatic system. Air is slowly injected into the charge chamber, gathering in the top of the filter. As more air enters, this places downward pressure on the water level. The water level drops trapping water in the settling zone, and solids from the last backwash settle into the sludge basin. The rate of air injection controls the length of time between backwashing events.
2) Early Backwash
Air has made its way through the trigger into the bead bed. The bubbles agitate the beads; knocking solids and biofilm off the beads. As the air pressure in the charge chamber drops, the dirty water from beneath the bead bed sweeps through the chute carrying the solids into the adjacent compartment. No water flows out of the filter during the short 3 – 5 second backwash event; instead the dirty backwash water is captured in the charge chamber and the sludge basin. The beads float in the drop zone where they continue to be scrubbed by the escaping bubbles.
3) Late Backwash
The water flows downward through the mixing bead bed and more solids are washed from the beds to settle towards the bottom. The downward flowing water sweeps into the middle compartment, flushing the solids that have accumulated on the bottom of filter and depositing them into the sludge basin. The water level rises in the shorter chambers.
4) End Backwash
Eventually the water rising in the sludge chamber floods the trigger, bringing water movement in the charge chamber and sludge basin to an end. Trapped solids begin to settle as the filtration chamber is refilled with the water from the inlet. The beads float back in place to reform the bead bed. As soon as the water rises to the outlet, filtration resumes.
Periodically Drain Sludge
At the end of the backwash, the beads rise back to the top of the filter. Most settled solids have been swept to the sludge chamber. The filter will continue to filter and backwash itself several times a day. After the sludge has built up, the user can open the sludge valve to drain the concentrated sludge from the filter.
The filter backwashing frequency is usually set for a few hours, so the filters will backwash several times a day. Sludge accumulates in the sludge basin. Every few days, perhaps once a week, the sludge drain must be opened to let the sludge out. A natural fertilizer, the sludge can be poured out on the lawn or nearby plant where it will naturally degrade.
AST Endurance 2000: Setting the Auto-Backwash Timing for Easy hands-free Backwash
Endurance Filter: When NOT to drain the sludge or How to avoid Bead Loss in Your Endurance filter
Let's Get Started Today
From a simple filter to a complete custom system, our engineers can help you find the perfect filtration system for your needs. Get in touch today!