6
BACKWASH INSTRUCTIONS
When you first start up your filter, we recommend that you let it run
for two weeks before you perform your first backwash. After that, 2
-3 times a week during the warm season should be all that is needed.
During the winter months backwashing can be reduced to as little as
once every 2-3 weeks. To perform a backwash do the following:
1. With the pump running open the valve to the sludge drain (
B
).
Keep it open for 15-20 seconds, then shut it. This will purge the
large solids that have made it into the filter and settled out in the
bottom of the tank to waste. It is very important to get them out of
the system for overall water quality and more efficient filter
operation.
2. Next turn off the pump.
3. Move the multiport valve to the
rinse
position. When the blower
(
D
) is activated in this position, air and a small amount of water will
leave the filter to waste. It is important that the valve is in the
rinse
position for the blower agitation of the beads.
4. Activate the blower unit for 1-2 minutes. During this time the
beads and debris are dispersed throughout the interior of the filter.
This breaks up the beads and releases the trapped particles. This
debris then can easily be backwashed out to waste. Place your ear
to the side of the tank. You should hear a lot of “plopping and
sloshing” going on inside the filter. If you only hear air moving
through the filter then you need to open the tank and make sure that the beads are not gelled.
5.
!!IMPORTANT!!
Some water has been forced out of the filter. The tank needs to be entirely full of water before backwash is performed. To
fill the tank with water, open the air release valve at the top of the filter and turn on the pump. When water sprays out the air release valve,
the tank is full. Turn off the pump and shut the air release valve.
6. Move the valve to the
backwash
position. Turn on the pump and run until the water is clear in the sight glass. The water will run clear at
first then dark and then clear.
7. Move the multiport valve to the
rinse
position. Turn on the pump and run until water is clear in the sight glass. This takes any remaining
debris and sends it to waste, instead of sending a cloud of dirt back to the pond. Turn off the pump.
8. Move the multiport valve to the
filter
position and turn on the pump. Backwash is done.
*
Note
* The backwash instructions on the label of the blower are a short version of the above instructions.
WATER SAVING DRAIN:
The Xclear Beadfilters 400/500/600 come standard with a water saving sludge drain. The water saving sludge drain
allows a low volume backwash if water is in short supply, expensive, or you have a low volume pond, but heavily stocked. After using the
Blower or an initial hydraulic backwash to break up the bead pack, let the heavy solids settle in the water below the bead pack then open the
sludge drain and drain them to waste. The sludge drain will allow the entire tank to be drained, without losing beads through the sludge
drain. So one is only using the water volume of the filter tank to wash the beads. This saves many gallons of water that may be used with an
hydraulic backwash.
This is only valid for the Xclear Beadfilters 400/500/600, not for the Xclear Beadfilters 750/900!
The 750 and
900 do not have a valve outlet with strainer which causes the beads to come out of the filter. Keep close attention when the beads start
coming out of the filter and close it.
NOTE
: The “normal” backwash procedure costs more water, but by refilling your pond after backwash you will make, necessary water
changes automatically! Water changes of 5 to 10% per week is a good rule of thumb for most ponds.
A
E
B
D
C
