Test Results For The Advantage 10 Filter
Head Pressure
Head pressure is a measure of the amount of resistance an object creates. It is usually measured in "feet of head". One foot of head pressure is the amount of pressure required to push water up vertically one foot. Therefore, the lower the head pressure, the less resistance the object creates. Since Koi ponds are required to run 24 hours a day, the head pressure of your pond becomes very important. The lower you can get the head pressure, the smaller, more efficient pump you can use to move your required amount of water. The savings in your electrical bill can be significant.
The lower the head pressure, the better!
|
Gallons per Min. |
30 |
40 |
50 |
60 |
70 |
80 |
100 |
|
Advantege10 |
1.2 |
3.1 |
5.5 |
8.3 |
10.4 |
13.4 |
23.6 |
|
Ultima II 10,000 2in |
1.5 |
3.2 |
4.6 |
7.1 |
10.6 |
14.3 |
21.3 |
|
Aquadine 4.4 |
1.2 |
3.1 |
5.5 |
8.3 |
11.6 |
15.1 |
24.3 |
|
Challenger 60 (redesigned) |
2.3 |
4.6 |
7.3 |
11.5 |
15.2 |
21.1 |
31.4 |
(Measured in feet of head)
Biological Capacity
The biological capacity of a Koi pond filter is a measure of how readily it can convert ammonia and nitrite (which are toxic to Koi) into nitrate (which is relatively non toxic to Koi). This is accomplished by the nitrosomonas bacteria which breaks down the ammonia and turns it into nitrite. Then the nitrobacter bacteria break down the nitrite and turns it into nitrate. The key to making this process work well is to create a good environment for the bacteria to grow in. The Advantage bead filters creates an excellent environment for the bacteria by creating a huge surface for the bacteria to grow on. The surface area of a single cubic foot of beads is impressive. Helpful also is the fact that the beads are backwashed on a regular basis. This accomplishes two things. One, it flushes out a lot of solid waste freeing up the bacteria to work on what is left. Secondly, it washes away the dead layer of bacteria which is constantly being produced on the beads exposing the new bacteria. The results are impressive.Sacramento Koi has a 1500 gallon pond equipped with an Advantage 10 filter. They equipped this pond with the larger filter because they use it to treat new fish when they bring them in from Japan. They had a total of 9 fish in the pond averaging 8 inches each. They had been in the pond for the last 7 months. When Sacramento Koi received a new shipment of Koi from Japan, they removed the 9 smaller fish to another pond and placed all the new fish in the 1500 gallon pond. There were a total of 28 Koi, all between 16 and 19 inches long. This is a about a 500% increase in the fish load, all at one time. You would expect the ammonia and nitrite levels to skyrocket. They were prepared for that. After testing the water everyday for 6 days, they found no detectable signs of either ammonia or nitrite. They opened another nitrite kit because they thought the first one may have been defective. It also tested zero. They were surprised. They knew the biological capacity was good, but had no idea it was that good. They have yet to see another filter system with the capacity to respond to that kind of fish load increase in that amount of water as well as the Advantage filter.