How to choose a Drum Filter

How to choose a Drum Filter

There are two main styles of drum filter available on the market. Some units focus solely on mechanical filtration, though you can buy a Combi Drum or Drum Combi, which combines the mechanical drum filter with a biological chamber, usually utilising a moving bed bio. 

A koi pond does need some form of mechanical filtration to remove the solid debris and a biological filter to remove the ammonia and nitrite produced by the koi. A drum only unit can increase flexibility, having separate drum filter and bio chamber can allow for a different layout to fit unusual or busy spaces. Having separate components can allow a larger bio chamber, or provide different options for plumbing in extra pond equipment such as bakki showers. A Combi Drum filter can simplify pond plumbing, requiring only an inlet and outlet pipe. The Combi Drum filters often have a smaller bio, which is worth assessing if the bio capacity will suit your fish load.

After measuring your filter house and your fish collection, the next consideration would be budget. 

There are many brands of drum filters on the market, some are made in the same factory. When looking at brands, it’s important to consider 

• Initial  purchase price

• Cost of spares

• Availability  

Drum filters are a mechanical-electrical item, exposed to water. At some point, it will need a component replacing. If you pay the highest price for the most premium brand, when that filter needs repairing, the cost of spares are usually at the top end of the price range too. Speaking of reliability, failure is often a reason many people argue against drum filters. Almost all drum filters on the market have a bypass to ensure the pond water can continue to be recirculated - maintaining the biological, ultra violet, and optional pond heating performance.

Almost all drum filters come with a built in UV-C or have the option to add one. Adding the UV inside the drum has two benefits. The close proximity of the lamp to the screen prevents biofilm accumulation on the screen, which would lead to a drop in flow rate and increased cleaning cycles. The second benefit is the replacement of a traditional inline UV, which adds restriction to the flow rate of your pumps. A typical submersible UV like those used in drum filters is often very efficient - 40w submersible UV's generally have a rated capacity of 7000 gallons. 

Some drum filters have basic controllers, others have a digital display for operating parameters, and some have WiFi/Cloud capability. In our opinion, CCTV offers more benefits to WiFi/Cloud options. If you’re a frequent traveller or work away often, well placed CCTV cameras can give you piece of mind that the pond and filter is working.