BLUE ECO Titanium RDF User manual

Manual of RDF-Rotatory Drum Filter
Congratulations with your new drum filter!
Please read this manual before installation and use.
Thank you for purchasing our Rotating Drum Filter, the first rotating drum
filter that’s powered by water pressure.
The RDF drum filter is not only a whole new design but also a total new
concept in drum filtration.
The RDF drum filter has a list of advantages you will not find in any other
drum filter.
Some of these fine features are the total noiseless operation.
No electricity is needed for operation. So safe and secure.
The most high capacity of the RDF in the most small stainless steel housing,
thanks to the waste basket who can operate totally under water. This
creates a high water level difference between pond and filter.
Also the blanket weed cannot stuck inside, because the drum is totally
smooth and all weed is collected on the easy place to remove. The cleaning
device of the drum itself is unique and cleaning the drum is not needed
anymore forever. So no dangerous acids or whatsoever.
Going down to 10 microns is a very fine feature and can even replace a
standard sand filter for swimming pools.
This filter is made of high quality 316L stainless steel. This filter has broad
applications: from koi ponds, salt water aquarium, swimming pools,
aquaculture and aquaponics. From its low water consumption and energy
savings this filter provides an environment friendly solution to water filtration.
We wish you a very successful use of the original RDF.
If you still have questions after reading this manual do not hesitate to ask
your dealer.
He will be happy to help you out.
Bert Schuldink
President
Estrad BV

Chapters
Content and unpacking page 2
Installation page 3
The lid page 3
Piping page 4
Overflow pipe page 5
Tap water supply page 5
Waste basket page 6
Blanket weed page 7
Waste line page 7
UV lamp page 8
Installing UV page 8
Cleaning before start page 9
Opening and closing the drum page 9
Adjusting the drum page 10
Swimming pools page 10
BLUE-ECO Family page 12
1

Content and unpacking
After taking off the lid of the wooden crate by removing the screws please
take care to have read this manual. Remove the side walls of the crate as
this will allow full access to the Drum filter. (The crate is made high grade
plywood that you may choose to save for future use in other applications
that you may desire.)
After the box walls are taken down, remove the tape from the lid all around
and open the RDF drum. Remove all of the packing materials from the filter
and the float tube. The float tube should then be inserted onto the float tube
pin very carefully. The raising and lowering of the float tube triggers the
wash cycle.
Check to see that the float tube can move up and down the pin in a
smoothly fashion.
Also check to see that the drum can rotate by pushing it forwards by hand.
Take care that you only move the drum in the direction of the arrow located
on the filter beside the drum. When rotating the drum by hand a clicking
sound will be emitted.
This direction ONLY.
Floating Unit
2

Installation
Install the filter on a flat area of concrete or other solid surface. Locating the
filter closer to the water source is preferred simply because better water
flow is achieved by virtue of there being less resistance from the use of less
piping. The unit should be installed so that it is horizontal. A level should be
used to ensure that the unit and is fully horizontal. If the mounting surface
is not level, leveling of the filter can be accomplished by adjusting the feet
beneath the filter as they are may be raised and lowered by rotating them.
The filter should be installed so that the top of the DRUM within the filter is
level with standing water line within the pond, pool, tank or other body of
water that’s being filtered. In other words, the standing water level inside
the filter should be between the top of the filter drum and the horizontal
plate that holds the float tube. (When your water pump is a turned on and
filtration begins there will be a drawing down of the water inside the filter so
that the top of the drum will no longer be fully submerged beneath the
water.)
The lid
The lid can be opened from left or right side by interchanging the hinges.
Top of the Drum
Floating Unit Holder
adjust here
by spaner
3

The lid can be opened from either side to suit your installation
requirements. Reversing the lid’s configuration can be accomplished by
taking the lid off the hinges and remounting them on the pre-drilled openings
on the opposite side for the filter. It is important to operate the filter with the
lid. The lid has been designed to strengthen the filter and to minimize any
noise emanating from the spray nozzles during a wash cycle.
A chain connects the lid to the filter to keep the lid within easy reach when the
lid is open. In windy areas you have to secure it cannot fall down during
maintenance.
There is a locking mechanism at the side of the lid. Simply pull the black ball
away from the lid when open and closing the lid. The lid locking mechanism is
a child safety feature.
Piping
After the drum has been set to the correct height and leveled by the
adjusters below, it’s time for connecting the water pipes. Begin with the 4
inch water pipe inlets. It’s preferable to make the connections as short as
Safe pin
4

possible and use sweeps as opposed to 90 degree elbows. If a short run is
not possible, please consider using a wider diameter pipe and reduce the
diameter shortly before the RDF. There are 4 water inlets and using more
of them will increase water flow through the filter. Connecting pipes to the
RDF may be accomplished with Fernco fittings. Any water inlet not being
used should be capped with rubber Fernco fitting. The total capacity of the
RDF depends on these water inlets.
There are two water outlets. It is preferable to utilize the water outlet that is
on the same side as the UV light as this will create better exposure of the
water to the light.
Both outlets can be used, but it’s not necessary to do so. If an outlet is not
to be used it should similarly be capped with a Fernco type fitting.
It is also recommended that valves, whether it be a knife or ball type, be
utilized on the piping going in and out of the RDF. Take care the inner
diameter is the same as the inner of the piping
Overflow pipe
Inside the drum there is a vertical open ended pipe, which functions as an
overflow pipe. In the event of a rain storm or some other occurrence
causes changes to the outside water level, the overflow pipe will assist in
keeping water levels within tolerances. The vertical pipe is not glued so you
can adjust very fine or cut into the desired length you wish.
Also when working on the drum and a lot of dirt swims out you can remove
that pipe easy for cleaning inside before it goes to your bio filtration unit.
Tap water supply
A tap water coupling is already provided with the system. Do not replace
this connector because it transitions with piping inside the filter.
The max pressure the drum is designed to handle is 60 psi. The ideal
water pressure to operate the drum is 45 psi, with a capacity of 2 gallons
Overflow
Outlet 1
Outlet 2
5

per minute.
Approximately 1 quart of tap water is consumed during a cleaning cycle.
There must be adequate water pressure for the drum filter to properly
operate. Narrow and/or long tube or piping may result in a reduction of
water pressure from the water source during action.
Waste basket.
A big advance is that the waste basket is also fully operational under water
level (patented).
This will result that we can make it work with a much higher percentage of
the mesh surface than anybody else.
This will result in a higher flow
At starting it can be even almost 100 percent.
2
Tap water
Release part 2 then connect
to your water supply
Waste Basket
1
1
6

This results in a much smaller filter with the capacity of a bigger one.
As soon as the washing of the mesh is starting we have a popup cylinder
who is opening the waste outlet in 70 mm diameter.
Normally only the spray water is used to remove the dirt but actually that is
very few. At the sides of the waste basket you find a lot of 6 mm holes who
will help removing the dirt more quick. In the beginning it starts exploding.
Those 6 mm holes can easy be opened or closed. So in this way we can
also adjust the refreshing rate of the pond water.
Blanket weed.
For many the biggest problem
The waste basket is provided at one side to pick up the blanket weed
leaves etc.
After a period of time and even in wintertime you will see the water is clear
but still we are collecting algae.
This algae when not washed out automatically will feel like butter so fine it
is but also smelling like hell.
This always has to be removed by hand
Depending the circumstances maybe once per month in wintertime and
with exploding blanket weed in summer every day.
But now we really can collect it at this place and not all around the whole
drum inside.
Waste line
Take care the waste outlet has to be aerated so the main waste valve
cannot stick by suction pressure under it.
Depending on the length of your waste line, it may be necessary an
opening in the waste line to permit air to enter the waste line. The reason
Waste pipe
Aeration Pipe
7

for installing an aeration opening is that the waste drain within the filter is
covered and opens during the cleaning cycle using a valve. A closed waste
line may create a vacuum that prevents the valve from opening the waste
drain cover. A 6mm or 1/8th tube installed into the waste line in proximity to
the filter will prevent a vacuum from developing.
UV lamp
The 75 watt UV lamp provides two important functions.
Function 1 is the eradication of algae.
The UV penetration inside the RDF is more effective than inside traditional
tubes.
The 75 watt UV lamp is capable of servicing a 20000 gallon pond and has a
two year use life.
Function 2 is the eradication and prevention of bacterial growth on the drum
screen. Bacterial growth on an RDF screen can interfere with its normal
operation. Utilizing the UV does away with the need to clean the screen
with chemicals, like acid.
You’ll notice the UV lamp is mounted very close to the screen which helps
ensure that screen remains clean from the outside as well the inside
You can purchase UV lamp directly from your dealers.
Installing UV lamp
UV lamp can be installed very easy. Actually the drum filter becomes the
UV housing now.
At the side of the drum filter you already find the connecting device.
Take out the plug and you can install the quartz glass tube from that side.
After inserting the quartz glass tube, take out the plastic gloves for handling
the UV bulb. Never touch the bulb with your fingers because dirt and oil
may be transferred to the bulb causing the bulb to prematurely fail. Insert
the bulb into the pin openings of the socket. Screw the base into socket on
the RDF and ready you are.
NEVER operate the UV light outside the RDF. Radiation emitted from the
bulb is dangerous to your eyes and should not be directly viewed.
Please take the end of the glass tube will not touch the drum after filled
water
8

Cleaning before start
It’s important to ensure that no dirt in the water line enters the cleaning
nozzles as it could potential clog them. Therefore, remove the spray bar by
unscrewing it.
Turn on the water and install the float tube. Let water run through the water
pipe inside in the filter. Reinstall the spray bar.
Opening and closing the drum
There is a removable panel for the drum that permits access to the inside of
the drum and waste tray. By lifting the two handles at the sides of the drum
from under the locking pins, the panel can be taken out. To close the drum,
insert the top of portion of the panel into the groove and then lower the
locking arms onto the pins. Push both handles beneath the pins to secure.
Nozzle Bar
Drum Lid
Handle
9

Adjusting the drum.
The drum is equipped with a valve that permits you to control the rotation
speed of the drum. The valve is controlled by a small blue lever that’s
located on the water piston. A slow rotation speed is to be needed.
For optimum results as it also permits more time for the screen to be
washed while maximizing filter cake filtration on the drum screen. This
permits the removal of finer particles from the water column. A cleaning
cycle only takes approx. a quarter of the drum and no more.
The rest of the inner drum will clog some more as we need for finer
filtrating the smaller parts.
So standard it starts at 60 micron and stops at the end about 10 microns.
If you speed up the drum this will raise but never make more than half a
drum for security reasons.
At the end it is so fine that 10 micron dirt even will not pass anymore and
when you swipe you only see clouds and no debris so in this way the RDF
filter can go down to even ten microns without any extra pump resistance.
This makes the RDF filter unique (patented) and also it can be used in
swimming pools
Swimming pools
In a 30.000 gallon swimming pool we can make it work with a regulated rpm
BLUE-ECO pump of max 240 watt. In praxis already 150 watt max will do.
So less noise, less power, less money, more green.
In the wintertime we even go down to 20 watt or lower to have a constant
flow of the water. Also by night in the high season. Never switch it of but let
it run on 30 percent of your power. This will upraise your quality of the water.
Speed Adjusting Knob
10

Design
This drum filter is designed and developed by Estrad Company in
Holland
E-mail address is: [e-mail]
Production
The whole production is done by the Aquscience Company
Sales
For USA our exclusive Distributor is Paul Hayt
E-mail:[email protected]m
www.blueecofiltration.com
For Europe it is Estrad BV
E-mail:[e-mail]
www.blueeco.nl
For Africa, Asia, it is Aquscience Co.,
E-mail:[e-mail]
www.aquscience.com
The RDF filtration unit has a worldwide patent pending on all her
design and features.
If you want more information mail the address belonging to your area
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