McNeary's Arborists Inc. ( A full Service Tree&Landscaping Company )
Springflo
Springflo is our choice for a biological medium. We have used lava rock, bio-balls, filter mats. We have heard that plastic forks and plastic brillo pads work well, but we still like Springflo.
It does not channelize and is easy to clean. When we first used it, we did not clean the container for 6 months. When we did we simply grabbed the mass of Springflo and set it on the adjacent filter. It was light in weight and not particularly messy. We found about six inches of gunk in the bottom of the filter and hosed it out. We then put the Springflo back in with out washing because we did not want to disturb the bacteria any more than we already had.
The entire process took about 10 minutes. I now clean the filter about every two months but simply slosh it around and drain the water. I find that upon filling the tank again there is a lot of loose debris so I drain a second time and done. Probably 98 % of the sludge will go out the drain. After doing this for about a year I have had no problem with Nitrite after this cleaning.
Other products like lava rock clog up quickly. Anything in a bag such as bioballs is hard to clean. Rocks or stone are heavy; sandfilters as used for swimming pools clog up too quickly. Filter mats are difficult to clean with a hose and in the cleaning process destroy all the bacteria. The more we use Springflo, the more we like it. As near as I can tell it will last forever. The manufacturer does not say that, but I think the only thing that will destroy Springflo is heat and you should not have much of that around your pond.
Specifications:
Below is the sheet that comes from our distributor.
Springflo
What is Springflo?
Springflo is a thin plastic ribbon filter medium, developed over a three-year period. Originally conceived as a plain polypropylene ribbon, 30% calcium carbonate* was added to make it sink in water (when colonized by microbes, it sinks even faster). The surface area was then increased by over 50% by heavy embossing with a diamond pattern. (The embossing pits assist the settling of bacteria and other fine particles.) The result is light, easy to handle and clean, and is virtually uncloggable. Springflo is sold according to its surface area – the space available for friendly microbes to grow and purify the water. One large box of Springflo has a surface area of approximately 16.5 square meters (180 square feet)!
How is it best used?
Submerged nitrifying filtration
For submerged filtration, ensure that the water flowing into the filter is sufficiently aerated to support the large population of microbes that Springflo can support. If the Springflo is aerated directly, the bubbles will tend to strip away the biological film of microbes.
Tickle nitrifying filtration
The Springflo will tend to settle down, and should therefore be supported by rods or similar, at intervals down the column.
Fine particle settlement
Springflo is excellent for the settlement of the fine particles, which escape the primary settling tank (e.g. Spirex). The most efficient technique is to divide the water flowing out of the Spirex tank into 2, so cutting the water speed by ½ (slower water settles more solids).
Why use Springflo rather than other media?
Easier to use and maintain
We’re sure you will agree that Springflo is the most user–friendly media you can buy! It is very obvious when it needs to be cleaned – and cleaning could not ’t be easier! Simply turn off the pump and stir the Springflo round. All of the built-up debris peels away, ready to be flushed to waste. Compare this to cleaning gravel, or other mineral media!
Springflo is so effective at settling debris; it is best to remove it from the filter before flushing the debris to waste. You can see when it is clean. Note that you will not strip all of the friendly bacteria by gentle shaking.
Cheaper
For example, one large box (180 sq. ft..) of Springflo has the same surface area as 22 brushes (12"x 4"). Brushes could cost 2-3 times as much!! It needs no heavy-duty support screen, nor support rods, when immersed.
How much is needed?
One large box of Springflo on average, occupies approximately 2.3 cubic feet 114.3 gallons 165 liters. However, Springflo can be expanded into a greater volume, or crushed into a smaller one. Absolute quantities of Springflo required for a given setup will vary according to the overall design efficiency of the filter system, fish loading, temperature and feeding rates, for example.
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If you would like to order some Springflo, we can get if for you and have it shipped directly to you. Contact us by e-mail since that will get you the quickest response: Order Form
jmcneary@arborman.com our phone is 704-332-4628
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McNeary's Arborists Inc. 3521 Monroe Road, Charlotte NC, 28205 |
Send E Mail to: jmcneary@arborman.com
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