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Thread: Combi drum filter
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01-02-2020, 05:07 PM #1
Combi drum filter
Hi all,I’m looking to purchase a combi drum filter .Probably ProfiDrum 50. Is there a better alternative or is this the possibility the best one on the market for build quality.Thanks for any advice.
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01-02-2020, 06:00 PM #2
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01-02-2020, 09:52 PM #3
Profi are up there with the best.
In all honesty, you probably won’t go wrong with items from Aqua Drum or Aquasource either. The QK range is very well regarded also.
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01-02-2020, 10:03 PM #4
Last edited by Tom Koi; 02-02-2020 at 12:18 PM.
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02-02-2020, 06:38 AM #5
I had the synergy .Faultless in 2 years. Superior Siemens control panel. Ive bought and just fitted a profi combi and the build quality is superb...The profi looks unbreakable
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02-02-2020, 09:04 PM #6
Is there a better alternative?
In terms of quality and technical proficiency, Inazuma can stand toe to toe with Profidrum, but they're no cheaper than Profidrum and Brexit is likely to increase prices.
Returning to your question: "Is there a better alternative?", that is a matter of perspective.
I would argue that yes there is a better alternative - a standard RDF plumbed in the conventional manner (4" pipework) to a home-made moving bed filter.
There is nothing particularly 'wrong' with combi filters, but they are (in my opinion) outrageously overpriced, just to have the perceived convenience of having the moving bed neatly integrated with the RDF chassis. The moving bed of most combi filters also has somewhat limited volume - 'adequate', perhaps, but hardly what one would consider 'generous'.
Compare the price of a combi versus the price of its direct equivalent RDF, and ask yourself if building yourself a seperate moving bed filter would cost anything like as much as the price difference you've calculated. Large containers that can be adapted for use as a moving bed filter are readily available from agricultural suppliers and IBC suppliers.
I'm not saying combi filters aren't good filters. Im just saying (and some won't like me saying this, and will strongly disagree) that combi filters are nearly always poor value for money, by comparison with a standard RDF + home-built moving bed filter.
You pays yer money and you takes yer pick. If you have money to burn and just want the neatest possible solution, with no DIY effort required, then by all means get a combi and enjoy it. If you can afford it, Profidrum are very good quality.
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02-02-2020, 11:22 PM #7
The profidrum 55/40 is £3,000 the Combi 30 is £3,750 I think you'd struggle to get a bio tank fully set up for £750 and if you used blue drums you still got the problem of the water levels if you used 2 then you taking up more room, my intentions are to go with a combi 30 ans a 4 tier 1.5mtr shower filled with BHM if I need more bio in future I guess I'd go for adding another shower.
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03-02-2020, 06:44 AM #8
Adding a bio unit to a drum is cheaper than buying a combi,but dont underestimate how much room you need. Ive done it ..Just the connecting pipework alone adds length to the installation.I used to think combis were expensive.Ive changed my mind on that after having one.
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Tom Koi Thanked / Liked this Post
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03-02-2020, 09:59 AM #9
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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03-02-2020, 03:29 PM #10
Hi Tom.i had a tank custom made .It had a small section first for the UV,then 3 bio sections and at the end a small pumping section.I put large diffusers in all 3 bio sections,all on a 8mm manifold so i could alter the air individually..I had 180L of k1 and micro k1 in .2 x 4 inch inlets to match the Synergy,2 x 4 inch outlets .2 x 1.5 inch outlets.One for the Uv and one that i could use to feed the drum flushing pump if i wanted.
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08-02-2020, 03:18 AM #11
I remembered, yesterday morning, that the topic of combi drums (actually, a Profidrum combi drum, by coincidence) and potential shortcomings of the biological capacity of said combi, were discussed at the beginning of Kevin Ellis' 'Koi Nerding - My Koi Keeping Year 2017 Part 1', but, since the Nerding video archive was removed from Vimeo, last year, I don't think Kevin has, at the time of this writing, yet re-uploaded that particular episode (I'm not referring to the 2017 Japan trip videos).
Koi Nerding Kevin Ellis - YouTube
However, I'm sure quite a few koi hobbyists around the country probably have many of the missing episodes saved to hard drive, so, if anyone is interested in checking out said discussion, there's a good chance someone local to you may be able to furnish you with a copy of the episode, next time you meet them at the pub. Either that or try to contact Kevin (maybe via Facebook, but I think his group may be private) to ask him to re-upload it.
To be fair, I don't recall whether the type and quantity of bio media were mentioned during the discussion, but I do recall it being a moderately-sized pond (3 or 4 thousand gallons), with sensible stocking density of fish, and I remember the pond-owner saying he felt it necessary to keep his bakki shower running during the winter, to ensure sufficient nitrification capacity, rather than relying only upon the combi moving bed.
Nowt wrong with running more than one type of bio filter (in fact, I think it's very wise), but worth being aware that the moving bed of a combi might not be adequate on its own, for some ponds. Everyone's situation will be unique.Last edited by MustBeSomethingInTheWater; 08-02-2020 at 03:34 AM.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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08-02-2020, 08:29 AM #12
I think we all have to have reasonable expectations of what any model filter will do.We also have to remember that drums are fantastic mechanical filters so the media is always clean and works so much better than it ever did.. !00 litres of K1 /micro k1/hel x is still a lot of media .People ran Nexus 300.s with 100l of k1 in the bio side succesfully even though the mechanical side of a nexus has its shortcomings .Im certainly not a fan of one type of media Cheers
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10-02-2020, 07:21 PM #13
Funnily enough, I took delivery of a 4 tier 1500 long Evolve Shower this morning, putting 50kg's of BHM in that, hoping that with a the Proficombi 30 will be enough to run my 4,1/2 thousand gals, for a year or two until Im fully stocked, I'll probably add another shower then.
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10-02-2020, 07:35 PM #14Freddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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10-02-2020, 07:41 PM #15
Its all in the garage Pond is someway off being finished, been in Dublin since Friday came home last night and I've been battening down the hatches off and on all day, filterhouse built got to be boarded and kitted out, gonna get on with the pond roof next though ana try and secure everything in. Ain't had much luck with the weather since ponds been built. weathers been shocking since beginning of September.
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11-02-2020, 03:51 PM #16
Thanks for advice so far,Looking like ProfiDrum combi 50 it is then.Main issue I see is the cost unless absolute koi have some sort of sale. Just for the record the pond is 8000 gallons with 4x 3” bottom drains.I will run 1 pump from drum side & another pump from k1 side as advised by Darren. This will allow less pull through k1 but still allow over 40000 litres of water an hr turn through bottom drains.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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29-04-2020, 08:26 PM #17
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30-04-2020, 11:08 AM #18
Hi , yes I got the combi 50 . Well happy with it . 80watt uv built in as well. 100l of k1 . I have fitted 20 000l pump running 60% on bio side & 30 000l pump running 70% on clean drum side on separate take off . I will post some pictures at some point .
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30-04-2020, 12:09 PM #19
My pond is just under 5000 gals, I've got a 4 tier 1500 shower and was thinking of either the Proficombie 50 or the 30 with a built on shower, but notsure what'll be more beneficial, the latter would give me more floor space, but what'll give me the most bio I don't know
Opinions very welcome and appreciated regarding the aboveLast edited by Tom Koi; 30-04-2020 at 02:30 PM.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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30-04-2020, 01:21 PM #20
with regards the combi, im guessing that to be safe go larger and that gives you more Bio than needed, the Combi TC looks good too, i assume that omits the need for a shower ?
If anyone has any pictures of film of the Combi it would be great, not alot of info online.
Running heater at low temp?
Covering the pond with polycarb should be enough to stop water temps dipping below 6C for the most...