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  1. #1
    Junior Member Rank = Fry JulianJH's Avatar
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    EA Nexus 320 Help please

    Hi All (1st timer, newbie here)

    I'm sure (Hope anyway!!) that someoone here can offer me some good advice regarding my EA Nexus 320 filter.

    Firstly to let you know my set-up:
    EA Nexus 320 gravity fed filter, with Aquaforte 20,000 variable pump (running at 50%), Airpump 150ltr. 2 x 75W UV's - 1 on return and 1 on water blade. Pond is 22,000 litres and I have 24 medium sized Koi. Pond is also South facing and I don't over feed.

    The pond is 2 years old and I have had different issues since its build, mostly to do with water clarity. I have a local aquatic centre who test the water samples I take in about every 4 months and they confirm that quality of water is always good, although a little hard. They don't seem to know much about the Nexus though. Unfortunately the more I read the more negative comments I see regarding this filter. But I've made my purchase and am not in a position to change this for an alternative. But would consider adding something else in-line if it helps me.

    Apart from treating for blanket weed a couple of times a year with Colverleaf powder, I add some EA Clear Pond mini balls every couple of months or so.

    Water clarity is fairly good (obviuosly not as good as it will be in the coming winter months, but very acceptable) My issue is that I need to clean the Nexus 320 filter every 2 days (every day in the summer). If I dont, then it starts to choke up putting the pump under strain and restricting water flow. I really am amazed at how much rubbish is being pulled out of the pond over such a short period. For those of you who know this system, during cleaning the inner chamber (the easy) air agitates and moves the micro media around to break up the waste. Even after 1 day you wouldnt believe how dark green the water of the inner chamber goes during this cleaning process and is full of algea.

    I like the idea behind this filter and ease of use is brilliant, but it doesn't offer anything close to an acceptable period between cleaning. I went on Holiday recently and had to rely on a friend to visit every other day so as to keep things going.

    As I said above, I dont mind adding something to the set-up if it will help, but for obviuos reasons want to avoid ending up with 2 filters which require cleaning every 2 days. 1 week between cleaning would be ideal.

    One last point is that during the spring to early summer I suffered quite badly with fines in the water, but this seems to have cleared up, perhaps as I added some additional Media to the biological chamber, although perhaps it will return next Spring - Hope not!!

    I do hope one of you kind people can help me please, many thanks in advance.



  2. #2
    Maybe add a sieve before the Nexus?

    Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

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  4. #3
    Junior Member Rank = Fry JulianJH's Avatar
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    Thank you for a reply. I have been told that. Does it surprise you of how frequent I am having to clean this and how green the waste water is?

  5. #4
    I've never had a nexus, mainly because what you've written has been written a hundred times before!

    Have a look at a drop-in draco drum. Essentially a self cleaning screen filter that takes the place of your static media. Again, I've never used one, but people seem to find them the perfect solution to your problem.

  6. #5
    Junior Member Rank = Fry JulianJH's Avatar
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    Many thanks for your suggestion of the Draco Drum. I have seen this and it's reviews are very good and as you say it simply drops in. The main issue I have with this is that it needs to be connected to a permanent water supply. Unfortunately, I cannot connect the pond with this unless I have a hose pipe permanently running over the patio, which would look very unsightly.

    Any other thoughts or suggestions please would be most welcome

  7. #6
    Very green you say and your clarity is not as good as it could be, your UV’s could be struggling in the summer, my pond is a little smaller than yours but needed a 110 and a 55 to keep it clear. UV’s would they be 75w EA’s, if so if they are two years old they would be the first generation that were terrible for restricting the flow, just saying.

    As you have stated the Draco would not work so well for you as you don’t have a permanent water supply, with yours needing cleaning as much as you do it would be needed, I don’t on mine but if I was building today it would be the one thing I’d change for sure.

    i have 4000+ , gallons, a 220 is just about big enough, but run it alongside another filter so it’s well on top of the job, EA rate the 320 for 7000 gallons, it’s just about on its limit.

  8. #7
    If you only have the 1 x 20 k pump running at 50 %, on 22 k litres of water, then id say that you could do with quite a bit more flow, your probably only actually getting a full turn over of water volume once every 3 hours, how much more can the nexus flow,?

  9. #8
    what about using a seive such as ultra sieve gravity feed , then pumped to a bead filter..
    nexus needs far more cleaning than other types in the same price range, and dont offer better result in my view.

    I was going to buy a nexus 220 but they take up a lot of space and for the issue you have said are the same issues I here about.
    they have updated the central filter sieve originally 200/210 now 220, shows it was badly designed to start with.

    some people have done conversion to mechanical pump sieve . called evolution answer , apparently fits straight in, not sure which model... worth a look...

  10. #9
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
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    I'd agree with familyman about increasing flow, maybe to around 13,000 litres per hour.

    Also the Draco Drum I believe can be operated from a pump taking water from the clean side of the Nexus, instead of mains water supply. I only know that because someone else recommended it to me as an option, but to be honest I struggled to find much information online about where to get the pump itself although if you are serious about getting one you could speak to Draco themselves.

    As for the cleaning frequency - Yep, my 220 was the same in the summer with just 7000 litres and 8 small Koi. Cleaning every few days and amazed how much muck came out. EA told me I was cleaning it too frequently (despite the water level drop) and over time as the bacteria colony build up they will breakdown and consume more waste meaning less cleaning. I wasn't convinced about this but recently tried it "to prove them wrong" by leaving the Nexus for 2 Weeks without cleaning and to be fair it coped ok and there was no disasters.

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  12. #10
    Junior Member Rank = Fry JulianJH's Avatar
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    Many thanks doe your reply, the 2 x UV's are 1 x 75W Aquaforte and 1 x 75W PondKraft

  13. #11
    Junior Member Rank = Fry JulianJH's Avatar
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    Hi Familyman Many thanks for your input. I am running the pump at this rate as if I raise to the maximum of 13,000 then the outer biological chamber drops significantly

  14. #12
    Junior Member Rank = Fry JulianJH's Avatar
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    Many thanks the drop in filter is a draco drum and needs permanent water supply which doesn't work for my pond location.

  15. #13
    Junior Member Rank = Fry JulianJH's Avatar
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    Many thanks, yes I heard that it takes from clean side, but issue is it will still need topping up the whole time which in my opinion still requires a constant supply. I've tried to leave it longer but the filter chokes up and the water blade ends up as a dribble and it would al;so appear that it puts more stress on the pump?

    I feel gutted as my investment in the Nexus has been a bad choice, to be honest it's not fit for purpose. Looks the part but it's all show and no go!

  16. #14
    Koi ponds really require a constant water supply anyway, so you can constantly trickle change water, to avoid big chemistry changes from large water changes, so you could kill 2 birds with one stone.


    You could put a single supply up to your pond to set up a constant trickle change and to feed the draco drum, you would just fit a service / stop valve on the end of the trickle in pipe, so you can adjust the flow and keep pressure for your draco washing, and any over flow would just go straight down the draco drum waste chute, thats how I set mine up back in the day.
    Push fit hep 2o is dead cheap and really fast, you can install a pipe run in minutes.

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  18. #15
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Kyusai Scamp's Avatar
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    Honestly I think your Nexus is working as it should. When you clean huge amounts come out. The volume of green muck, also suggests your UV’s are also working, clumping the dead algae for your filter to collect. But the issue is the Nexus is removing so much it needs cleaning every two days. That’s the issue and that’s a pain we all agree.

    I wonder why it’s removing so much muck? You are not overfeeding, you say but some foods make the water dirty/ cloudy....increasing the flow through your filter may help clarity, but will mean your Nexus will block even quicker. Unfortunately if your pond water is not great, it’s a question of keep cleaning the Nexus as you are until the muck is reduced...unless you upgrade your system/automate.

    I have the same Nexus, and in the summer had to clean 2 x per week, as I travel for work it was a hassle too. So I put in a Draco and job done, no more hassle as it self cleans. I buried a water supply in the ground to have a permanent trickle to the pond, and just teed off this to have supply to Draco it’s not too difficult to conceal a water supply..running along bottom of fence is also an option if lagged..good luck whatever you decide!

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  20. #16
    Junior Member Rank = Fry JulianJH's Avatar
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    Many thanks Family man, it looks like I am going to have to try working out a pipe run, but this won't be easy, although only needs to be done the once!

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  22. #17
    Junior Member Rank = Fry JulianJH's Avatar
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    Many thanks Scamp, sounds reassuring that you have a Nexus and have found that the Draco solved your issues. I Have the Nexus 320, what model Draco should I buy please? I think EA are in complete denial about their Nexus filter issues and just bang on about how their filters are the best in the world!! Can I also assume that the Draco will work off the same Aquaforte 20k pump which is currently in place. Thaks again in advance

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  24. #18
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Kyusai Scamp's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JulianJH View Post
    Many thanks Scamp, sounds reassuring that you have a Nexus and have found that the Draco solved your issues. I Have the Nexus 320, what model Draco should I buy please? I think EA are in complete denial about their Nexus filter issues and just bang on about how their filters are the best in the world!! Can I also assume that the Draco will work off the same Aquaforte 20k pump which is currently in place. Thaks again in advance
    Hi Julian
    here is a link to the Draco website:

    Drop in Drum, Origin Range

    For the 320 Nexus you need the 'Origin' filter. You can't buy direct but there are many Koi places selling them. You'll find many positive reviews from people with the drop in Draco, its a good solution for us who do not want to start our filter setup from scratch again..

    The max speed through the Draco is around 17k litres...so I would imagine your pump will be fine, as it will not be pulling 20k litres in reality (pipe loss etc).
    Its a very simple and quick install, you basically lift the old Easy section out of the centre, and drop in the Draco and connect to the original waste exit with the supplied pipe work. You need a power supply and a garden hose connection, with decent pressure (2.5bar). Heres the install guide:

    http://www.dracodrum.com/pdfs/Nexus-...l-Guide-v2.pdf

    Cheers

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  26. #19
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    goes out the window..
    Quote Originally Posted by JulianJH View Post
    Many thanks Scamp, sounds reassuring that you have a Nexus and have found that the Draco solved your issues. I Have the Nexus 320, what model Draco should I buy please? I think EA are in complete denial about their Nexus filter issues and just bang on about how their filters are the best in the world!! Can I also assume that the Draco will work off the same Aquaforte 20k pump which is currently in place. Thaks again in advance
    hi mate as all have said . the nexus on it s own is rubbish. like scamp I have the nexus 320 and drop in draco drum. best thing I have invested in. easy to fit. when I fitted mine . I did nt line my pond water up properly .
    unless it has changed. because my draco is nearly 3 years old now. you line the pond water up with the top of the waste tray. so the nexus water hight goes out the window. and your draco waste tray top. becomes new water hight.
    in the instructions I received it did nt have this information. great bit of kit. mine is gravity fed. and my water feed is just under 2 bar. and it cleans it great. so no need for a pump.
    I bought my draco here directly info@dracodrum.com through tony himself. all the best with what ever way you go.
    fred

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  28. #20
    Junior Member Rank = Fry JulianJH's Avatar
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    Many thanks Freddy, Yes it looks like the Draco will solve my issues. I just have to try and figure out a route for the water feed as the patio is down and I dont want it taken up. It's going to be a real challenge!

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