HBV-21
Filters up to 5,000 gallons
HBV-28
Filters up to 10,000 gallons
HBV-36
Filters up to 20,000 gallons
Download Owner's Manual
Koi pond and Hybrid Pond™
Filtration Systems
HydroBead Vortex™ filters accomplish two goals, one being water polishing (solids capture) and the other being bio filtration. Water enters the HBV filter through high volume vortex laterals that force the water to "spin" inside the fiberglass tank. Spinning water causes heavier solids to collect in the middle of the vortex where gravity forces the solids downward to a collection area where they can be easily removed simply by opening the bottom drain valve. The lighter weight debris is forced upward into the bottom half of the HydroFoam™ bead pack for capture until the next backwash cycle. The advantage of the HydroBead Vortex™ filter is its exceptional solids capture and removal abilities, combined with its relatively high Specific Surface Area (SSA) for the nitrification cycle. The other big advantage of HydroBead Vortex™ filters is, like all Russell Watergardens filters, it is EASY TO CLEAN! This makes the hobby of Koi keeping much more enjoyable, with less work involved in maintaining a healthy environment for Koi.
HydroBead Vortex™ filters, like the time tested and proven Hydro Vortex™ biological waterfall filter technology - combine the advanced solid settling characteristics of "spinning" water in a vortex with "up flow" technology. HydroBead Vortex™ filters combine mechanical vortex settling filtration with High Surface Area biological filtration in one rugged, easy to clean unit.
How does the HydroBead Vortex™ filter perform Mechanical Filtration?
Mechanical filtration is the process of removing suspended solids from water. Suspended solids in a recirculation system are generally small particles of sand, soil, un-eaten food, tree needles, and algae. These solids tend to reduce the clarity of water and cause problems by consuming tremendous amounts of oxygen - oxygen that is also required by your beloved Koi and other pond fish. HydroBead Vortex™ filters remove solids from water more efficiently than any other brand of bead filter by combining the power of a vortex with micro-straining with HydroFoam™ Styrofoam beads. Physical straining in the vortex and the HydroFoam™ bead pack is the most dominant mechanism for removing larger particles (>50 microns). Finer particles (<20 microns) are removed at a lower rate by a process called "bio-absorption". The particles are captured by bacterial bio film on the surface of the bead. Studies show that HydroBead Vortex™ filters capture 100% of particles >50 microns and 48% of particles in the 5-10 micron range per pass!* The more passes, the more solids captured. This is why it is recommended to pass 100% of your pond water through your bio filter at least once per 4 hours - preferably once per hour.
*IMPORTANT! In order for the HydroBead Vortex™ filter to perform FINE micron straining, it MUST be fully colonized with nitrifying bacteria such as HydroClear™ Nitrification Cycle. Depending on the water temperature, this can take up to 4-6 weeks at temperatures above 60-65° F.
How does the HydroBead Vortex™ filter perform bio filtration?
Bio filtration depends on the establishment of a colony of bacteria such as HydroClear™ Nitrification Cycle on the surface of each HydroFoam™ bead. The colony, when mature, will convert dissolved toxic nitrogenous and ammonia waste into harmless compounds.* The area for colonization provided by the HydroFoam™ beads is commonly referred to as SSA - short for Specific Surface Area. When the bacteria are given the proper environment, they grow in a thin bio film layer on the surface of each bead. Each cubic foot of HydroFoam™ beads contains approximately 884,000 beads ranging from 1/16" to 1/8" in diameter which translates into 452.20 square feet of SSA per cubic foot of HydroFoam™ beads.
The two specific types of nitrifying bacteria are: Nitrosomonas - which is responsible for the break down of ammonia, and Nitrobacter - which is responsible for the breakdown of nitrite into relatively harmless nitrate. These two strains of bacteria are the key ingredients in HydroClear™ Nitrification Cycle . As ammonia rich water passes through the beads with a fully mature colony of nitrifying bacteria, the Nitrosomonas consume the available ammonia. They convert ammonia into toxic nitrite. Then, the Nitrobacter bacteria consume the available nitrite and convert it into relatively harmless nitrate. Nitrate is then released as nitrogen through waterfalls or fountains, and is consumed by aquatic plants, and flushed out with partial water changes.
*IMPORTANT! In order for the HydroBead Vortex™ filter to perform bio filtration, it MUST be fully colonized with nitrifying bacteria such as HydroClear™ Nitrification Cycle. Depending on the water temperature, this can take up to 4-6 weeks at temperatures above 60-65° F.
What Does a Vortex Do?
A vortex inside your filter means that you'll have cleaner, healthier water than all the other brands of filters that don't have a vortex. Why? Because a vortex "spins" water, and spinning water causes particulate matter to settle in the center of the vortex. If the spinning water vortex is above a settling area, the spinning water vortex will cause particulate matter to settle down into the bottom of the settling area. If the settling area has a drain at the bottom, then the sediment can be easily flushed out. That is the key to the HydroBead Vortex™ filter's design! Water enters the filter parallel to the radius of the tank. This uses the pump's force to cause water to "spin" into a vortex inside the tank. A settling area is below the spinning water vortex, and a drain is located at the bottom of the settling cone.
Do a "Vortex Test" yourself!
Take an ordinary round 5 gallon bucket. Fill it with water. Go outside and grab a pinch or two of dirt. Sprinkle the dirt into the water that's inside the round 5 gallon bucket. Now stir the water in a circle with your hand or a stick. The following photos demonstrate what will happen:
See how the heavier particles settled into the bottom center of the bucket? You just witnessed the power of a vortex. Spinning water causes debris to move to the center of the vortex where gravity then drops it downward. HydroBead Vortex™ filters are the only bead filters on the market designed with a true vortex concept. No other brand of bead, "bubble", plastic pellet, plastic straw, or pressurized filter can compare. When looking at any brand of bead filter, ask yourself: "Where does the soil, sediment, and fish waste go? .......And how do I clean it?". Only HydroBead Vortex™ gives the answers to those questions.
Most koi pond bead filters have their roots in swimming pool sand filters - meaning they are "down-flow" designs. Others have an "up-flow" designed, but the water enters the middle of the tank where the vortex should be. The result is "non-spinning" water, and no particulate settlement. This forces the beads to trap ALL the debris which requires more frequent backwashing. Other bead filter brands have "wings" attached to the center inlet pipe that cause water to turn around the center inlet pipe which causes the water to be constantly pushed outward and away from the center. This also results in a "non-vortex" and doesn't settle any debris from the water before it enters the beads. Again, relying on the beads to trap ALL the debris, and requiring more frequent backwashing.
HydroBead Vortex™ filters send water into the heavy duty spun-wound fiberglass tank via a Patent-Pending inlet lateral jet on the side of the tank - not the middle - that forces the water to spin in an unobstructed vortex inside the tank. Like shown in the photos of the bucket test above, the spinning water causes heavier material in the water column to settle to the bottom of the tank for simple removal via the bottom drain valve shown in this photo. Just open the bottom drain valve and it's gone in seconds! No need for unnecessary backwashes. This keeps the beads more free of organics, which keeps the bio film performing its primary job more efficiently - processing ammonia. HydroBead Vortex™ filters are designed to keep the beads cleaner, and thus the bio film is more efficient. More efficient bio film results in more fish waste and ammonia removed from the pond. More fish waste and ammonia removed from the pond results in happier HEALTHIER Koi.
After the vortex section inside the tank, the water moves upward through super light weight HydroFoam™ Styrofoam floating beads. As the water spins inside the HydroBead Vortex™ filter, not only is heavier debris forced down to the bottom of the tank, the spinning water also keeps the HydroFoam™ floating bead pack in a "fluidized" state. This keeps the HydroFoam™ beads from "clumping" or clogging, and traps smaller debris from the water for super clean and "polished" water. The super lightweight HydroFoam™ Styrofoam beads have extremely high Specific Surface Area (SSA) in relation to solid plastic beads and are easily cleaned because of their light weight nature with simple backflushing.
HydroFoam™ beads are so light weight, that they quickly and efficiently backwash without the need for blowers or two-speed pumps. Unlike the hollow plastic "macaroni noodle" type filter media that clog with detritus and sediment inside each media piece - very much like lava rock nuggets do - HydroFoam™ beads are solid Styrofoam. This means that HydroFoam™ beads never have anaerobic areas like the centers of the "macaroni noodle" type filter media.
HydroFoam™ foam beads - unlike the heavier plastic beads found in other brands of bead filters - agitate much more easily during backwashing - so multi speed pumps and/or backwash air blowers are not needed. Also, unlike the hollow "macaroni noodle" type media in another brand of bead filter - HydroFoam™ beads are solid, and thus don't get clogged with debris like the hollow "macaroni" type media can. Hollow media, while having higher SSA ratings than solid beads, clog with detritus and debris over time which lowers the available surface area - thus becoming less efficient with age. Also, hollow beads don't backflush as completely as solid beads because backwash water is forced "around" the media, not "through" each individual hollow piece. So over the life of the pond, hollow beads become less efficient as a result of clogging and not being completely rinsed during backflushing - HydroFoam™ bead's surface area remains constant - they do not lose efficiency over time as they rinse completely during backwashing.
Spinning water vortex technology from Patent-Pending lateral jet design, together with super lightweight HydroFoam™ floating Styrofoam beads achieve optimal filter bed fluidization and solids capture. Each HydroBead Vortex™ filter features a heavy-duty commercial grade "spun-wound" fiberglass tank construction in a forest green color for seamless blending into the landscape. HydroBead Vortex™ filters are available in several sizes capable of filtering applications up to 40,000 gallons and able to support over 3,500 grams of total fish weight. HydroBead Vortex™ Filters are designed to effectively filter out solid wastes that are commonly associated with water gardens, koi ponds, and hybrid ponds.
Perfect for filtering water in ponds where Hydro Vortex™ Filters aren't part of the design. Use a Hydro Bead Vortex™ filter when your pond features HydroRock™ columns instead of waterfalls!
Russell Watergardens uses HydroBead Vortex™ filters when creating some water garden ponds, all Koi ponds, and some Hybrid Ponds™ with HydroRock™ columns like this shown here to the right. HydroRock™ columns are an elegant alternative to traditional waterfalls. HydroBead Vortex™ pressure filters are the absolute best filters in their category!
HydroFoam™ Floating Media Offers
High Specific Surface Area
HydroFoam™ super lightweight beads are approximately 1/8" in diameter, but have 50% more Surface Area than smooth hard plastic beads. Each HydroFoam™ bead has a Specific Surface Area of .0736 square inches.
HydroFoam™ beads have 452.20 square feet of Specific Surface Area per cubic foot.
At 1/8" in diameter, there are 512 beads per cubic inch. (8x8x8 = 512). There are 1,728 cubic inches per cubic foot. (12x12x12=1,728). 512 beads x 1,728 = 884,736 HydroFoam™ beads per square foot. Each bead has .0736 square inches of Specific Surface Area. 884,736 x .0736 SSA per bead = 65,116.57 square inches of Specific Surface Area (SSA) Divide 65,116.57 square inches by 144 to convert to square feet of Specific Surface Area. (144 square inches per square foot) (65,116.57 / 144 = 452.20) Thus, HydroFoam™ beads have 452.20 square feet of Specific Surface Area per cubic foot.
HydroFoam™ beads provide relatively high Specific Surface Area (SSA 452.20) for bacterial colonization while promoting optimal solid waste capture and removal.
HydroBead Vortex™ filters are easy to install, and EASY TO CLEAN!
Each HydroBead Vortex™ filter features an easily removable top lid for lateral inspection and servicing. Each HydroBead Vortex™ filter also features mineral oil-filled pressure gauges. The mineral oil prevents the gauges from building up condensation on the inside of the glass. Pressure gauges without mineral oil become impossible to read when water condenses on the inside of the glass lens.
HydroBead Vortex™ also feature air relief valves at the top of each filter to remove air pockets from above the outlet lateral.
EacEach HydroBead Vortex™ filter comes complete with a
6-way side mounted Multi-Port Valve
Backflushing couldn't be easier! Simply move the handle to backflush!
Each side mounted Multi-Port Valve is attached to the plumbing lines with unions for simple removal if necessary.
Also, a convenient "Viewing Glass" on the Backwash Outlet Port lets you visually see when the filter is finished cleaning itself.
Each HydroBead Vortex™ features:
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HydroFoam™ beads with 452.20 SSA per cubic foot
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Vortex Centrifugal Water Motion Technology
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HydroJet™ High-Flow Lateral Technology
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Side Mounted Multi-Port Valves
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Easy Access Top
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Oil Filled Pressure Gauge
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Air Relief Valves
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Bottom Sludge Drain Valve
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Heavy Duty Spun-Wound Fiberglass Tank
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Forest Green Color for Seamless Blending into the Landscape
HBV-21
5,000 max gallon pond.
3,500 gph max pump flow rate.
1,130.40 Total Specific Surface Area (SSA).
HBV-28
10,000 max gallon pond.
5,700 gph max pump flow rate.
2,712.96 Total Specific Surface Area (SSA).
HBV-36
20,000 max gallon pond.
8,100 gph max pump flow rate.
5,200.96 Total Specific Surface Area (SSA).
HydroBead Vortex™ Filters by Russell Watergardens are a revolution in bead filter technology.
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