Evolution Aqua NExus 300 Manual

Manufactured by Evolution Aqua Ltd.
Evolution House
Kellett Close
Wigan WN5 0LP
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web: www.evolutionaqua.com
E-mail: [email protected]
ANSWER
BASE OF INLET
Installation & Operating
Instructions
Note: Do not attempt to operate this unit
before reading the manual thoroughly
300
PUMP FED

On opening your Nexus you will nd the
following;
1. Nexus main body (g. 1).
2. 100 litres Kaldnes K1 bio media (g. 2).
3. Two rubber connecting adapters already installed
on both the inlet and outlet of the Nexus main
body.
4. A 1.5” pressure ball valve and a 0.75"
pressure ball valve are pre-tted on
the Nexus 300 and can be connected
to the waste connection points.
5. One adjustable stand pipe (g. 3).
6. One foam block comes tted into
the outlet behind the stainless steel
grill. (g. 4 & 4a).
7. One cylindrical foam block comes tted to the
central cone in the inner chamber (A) (g. 5).
8. One air ring already installed with connection
pipe for the air pump.
The following optional items may be in your
Nexus 300 box if purchased separately;
1. Orice plate for ‘the Answer’ (g. 6).
2. The Answer.
3. Single piece lid.
4. Additional Kaldnes K1 bio media is available in
50 litre bags.
Nexus 300 Filtration System Flow Rates &
Pond Sizes
One of the factors that can have a signicant
inuence on the general parameters of our ponds,
is turn over rate. This is the time that it takes for the
total volume of the pond to pass through the lter
system once. On bigger ponds a turn over of every
2 to 3 hours is found to be best.
Thank you for purchasing the ‘Nexus 300’
Filtration System; we are sure you will be very
pleased with its results.
You should have already decided whether yor
lter system will be pump or gravity fed. THIS
INSTRUCTION MANUAL IS ONLY FOR PUMP FED
SYSTEMS. If you decide to install it as a gravity fed
system, please contact Evolution Aqua to request a
gravity fed manual and any additional conversion
kits.
It is important to read this installation manual
thoroughly before attempting to position & install
your Nexus 300 lter.
The 'Nexus 300' ltration unit has been designed
on the principles of minimum maintenance, high
performance and a compact footprint. This design
delivers optimum water quality by using the Kaldnes
Moving Bed™ process.
Basic Operation:
This section briey explains the basic operation of
the Nexus 300 Filtration System. Water is delivered
to the inlet of the lter and enters chamber A (g.
12). This chamber is the main mechanical stage
of the lter. A standard Nexus 300 contains a large
cylindrical foam block (g. 5) or it can be tted with
an ‘Answer’. The majority of solids and debris are
stopped in chamber A (g. 12) and are sumped to
waste via the 1.5” ball valve provided. The water
then passes to chamber B containing the Kaldnes
K1 media where the biological ltration takes place.
The air ring at the base of chamber B constantly
agitates the media. the water passes from chamber
B into chamber C, through the foam block which
removes nal small particles before the water nally
returns to the pond. This acts as a very efcient ne
particle lter, which is simple to maintain.
Follow these instructions carefully to ensure
your lter perform correctly providing a
perfect environment for your Koi.
Nexus 300 Manual Pump Rev. 2.0 page 2
Fig. 6
Fig. 5
Fig 7.
Ball valves
Fig. 4
Fig. 1
Fig. 4a
Fig. 3
Fig. 2

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 



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



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Fig. 8 - Nexus 300 Overview
Nexus 300 Specication
Nexus 300 - Standard:
Maximum ow rate:13,000 litres per hour (2,859 UK
GPH or 57.240 US GPM).
Nexus 300 - Answer 325:
Maximum ow rate:10,000 litres per hour (2,200 UK
GPH or 44 US GPM).
Nexus 300 - Answer 410:
Maximum ow rate:13,000 litres per hour (2,859 UK
GPH or 57.240 US GPM).
Dimensions
Figures 8 and 9 show useful dimensions to assist
with you with our installation. We suggest that you
carefully consider your pipe work, accessibility of
the waste valves etc..
before deciding on the
nal location of the
Nexus unit.
Pump Fed Systems
The Nexus ltration system can be used in two ways,
pump or gravity fed (g 10 - Pump Fed).
IMPORTANT: You must raise your pump off
the pond oor. It is incorrect practice to
place a pond pump on the base of any
pond as any failure in the ltration system,
pipe work or connectors could lead to
complete drainage of the pond. Therefore
leave a sufcient gap (min. 12”) for your
Koi.
Nexus 300 Manual Pump Rev. 2.0 page 3
Pond
Reducer
Return to
Pond Reduce
r
(If Required)
(If Required)
Pump
Raised off
Bottom
Min 12”
Fig. 10 - A Typical Pump Fed System
Fig. 9 - Nexus 300 Cross Section

8. A PVC reducer to connect your circulating pump
or pipe to the rubber connector supplied with your
Nexus 300 (the size of which will depend on your
choice of pipe work to and from the pond itself).
9. Care must be taken when connecting the waste
valves (g. 11 for the suggest-
ed method) to your chosen
point of discharge that the in-
ner chamber of the Nexus will
drain completely. An option
is to t a small solid handling
pump on the waste water
pipe work after the
discharge valve.
Pump Fed Installation Section
Important: Essential First Action
In any pump fed installation the rst step is to install
the adjustable standpipe (see g. 12a) into the out-
let spigot on the Nexus 300 unit. THIS MUST BE DONE
BEFORE ANY ADDITIONAL INSTALLATION WORK IS
CARRIED OUT, OR KALDNES K1 MEDIA IS LOADED
INTO CHAMBER C.
Step 1. Carefully remove the top two bolts and
locknuts from the stainless outlet plate. Gently pull
the plate forward and rmly push the standpipe in
place. Replace the two nuts and bolts being careful
not to drop the locknuts into the biological cham-
ber. The adjustable standpipe supplied (Fig 3 &
12a) must be tted into the inside of the Nexus 300
INSTALLATION SECTION
We recommend that you read all the following
sections, then select the appropriate installation
section.
• Preparation
• Installation Equipment
• Pump Fed Installation Section
Preparation
A base of level solid ground is required. It should be
a minimum of 1.2 m x 1.0 m, to allow easy access to
valves and for maintenance purposes.
Important
The Nexus lter needs to be equally supported on
the three pairs of feet which are located under the
vessel. This is to prevent possible distortion when it is
full of water.
The best option for this would be a level 100 mm thick
concrete plinth. Although decking, paving slabs or
gravel would be sufcient as long as the Nexus 300
sits level and is not allowed to deect under the
weight of the water.
The unit can be any height above the surface
water level (subject to the maximum. performance
of your chosen pump being able to deliver enough
ow), allowing adequate gravity return to the pond.
However, care needs to be taken that the top of the
Nexus is at least 500 mm higher than the discharge
point of the gravity return pipe into the pond or wa-
terfall etc....
Installation Equipment required or
recommended:-
1. Pond Pump, with a maximum actual ow rate of
13,000 litres per hour / 2,859 UK gallons per hour. The
actual ow rate is dependent on the length and the
amount of bends within the pipe work.
2. Air pump to power the Kaldnes K1 Moving Bed,
see specications for size of pump required
on page 5.
3. Length of hose or braided pipe (10 mm inner
diameter) to connect the air pump to the already
positioned / supplied air ring. The length of this de-
pends on the distance between the air pump and
the Nexus.
4. Ensure that the air pump is sited well above water
level to prevent water siphoning back from the lter
into the air pump due to power cuts or maintenance
shut downs.
5. Pipe work from the unit's waste valves to the
intended discharge point. This can be rigid pipe
work or a simple exible hose.
Nexus 300 Manual Pump Rev. 2.0 page 4
Fig. 11
ANSWER
max water level
adjustable standpipe
(pumpfeed)
safety overflow
exit plate
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 
 
 
exit foamblock
Fig. 12
Fig. 12b Overow grill
Fig. 12a Adjustable
Standpipe

Air Pump Installation
The size of air pump required will depend on the
amount of K1 media used.
Air Pump Size Capacity of K1 media
40 litres per min 100 litres of K1 media.
80 litres per min 100-150 litres of K1 media.
120 litres per min 150-200 litres of K1 media.
The air pump is connected using a pipe (10 mm inner
diameter) to the air ring inlet which is
positioned on the outside of the Nexus).
It is recommended to position the air
pump higher than the surface water
level in the Nexus to prevent water ow-
ing back into the air pump when it is
switched off (see g. 15).
'Answer' Installation
When installing ‘the Answer’, the rubber boot tted to
‘the Answer’ has to be removed (see g. 16).
Remove the Answer’s rubber boot with a screw driver
(g. 16) and carefully place ‘the Answer’ in the Nexus
300 with the pump located in the recess provided
(g. 17). The Answer will then push t onto the black
centre adapter (see g. 16).
outlet chamber behind the stainless steel grill. The
pipe rmly pushes into the Nexus 300 outlet spigot.
The adjustable sliding collar at the top of this pipe is
used to ensure a good level of water is maintained
within the biological chamber. (The optimum height
when running is 75 mm / 100 mm below the top of
the central chamber). If this outlet pipe is not tted
the water level within the biological chamber will be
insufcient to allow full use of the bio media.
Figure 12 illustrates a typical pump fed installation.
When selecting the position of your Nexus 300 lter
pump fed installation, carefully consider the
following factors:
The unit can be any height above the surface wa-
ter level, allowing adequate gravity return to the
pond (subject to the maximum performance of your
chosen pump). However, care needs to be taken
that the top of the Nexus is at least 500 mm higher
than the discharge point of the gravity return pipe
into the pond (assuming that the gravity return pipe
discharges above the surface of the pond. If the
gravity return pipe discharges below the surface of
the pond, please allow 500 mm from the exit of the
Nexus to the surface of the pond).
The gravity return pipe work from the exit point of
the Nexus to the pond needs to be a minimum of
75 mm (internal diameter) and should have no re-
strictions. Great care should also be taken to ensure
that no air locks are created within the gravity re-
turn pipe work. The pipe work from the pond pump
to the inlet of the Nexus will need to be connected
to the rubber 110 mm connecting adapter that is
tted to the inlet of the Nexus. A PVC reducer is re-
quired, the size of which depends on the size of the
pipe you have chosen to connect the pump to the
Nexus. The 75 mm gravity
return pipe work will need
to be connected to the
rubber adapter on the
exit point of the Nexus. This
pipe is then extended/
returned to the pond or
waterfall as required.
Care must be taken to
provide the gravity return pipe work with sufcient
fall and no air locks as
explained above.
Foam Installation:
Place the cylindrical foam block on the centre pipe,
as shown in g.14. Then push the foam down until it
can go no further.
Nexus 300 Manual Pump Rev. 2.0 page 5
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Orice Plate Installation
In order to install an Answer within the Nexus 300 you
must use a Nexus 300 orice plate. Fitting the orice
plate greatly enhances ‘the Answer's’ performance
by allowing settlement of debris to occur much
more efciently. Place the orice plate into the in-
side of chamber A (g. 18) until it sits on the rim.
Getting Started.
When all the connections have been made the Nex-
us lter may be lled from the pond and the air pump
switched on. The K1 media will not attain neutral
buoyancy completely to begin with. Most of the
media oats, which is normal. In existing mature pond
water the media may start to circulate fully in as
little as 2 - 3 hours. In a newly lled and stocked pond
this full movement may take up to a week to occur.
Either way a constant and even circulation should be
achieved throughout the chamber. (For more
information about this please read the Kaldnes K1
media section).
NEXUS 300 MAINTENANCE - PUMP FED
Daily Maintenance
In high feeding situations, the large waste valve (g.
11) may be opened daily for 15 seconds. This will
remove the bulk of the waste from the centre cham-
ber easily. This does not require switching off of the air
pump or circulating pump etc.
NB: This does not replace the need for weekly
maintenance below.
Weekly Maintenance
On the following pages are the recommended main-
tenance procedures for the Nexus 300 ltration sys-
tem. Follow the maintenance procedure appropriate
to your system. We suggest that these are carried out
weekly. The main benet of using the Nexus means
less maintenance is required, However this mainte-
nance routine will vary from pond to pond, depend-
ing on stocking levels, blanket weed etc..
IMPORTANT:
PLEASE TURN OFF THE AIR PUMP BEFORE ANY
WEEKLY MAINTENANCE IS UNDERTAKEN.
PUMP FED WEEKLY MAINTENANCE
Nexus 300, Pump Fed with Foam
1. Turn off the air pump.
2. Turn off the pond pump, UV’s, heaters etc..
3. Open large waste valve g. 11 to allow the inner
chamber A to empty completely. This will have had
the effect of partially emptying chambers B, C & D
back through the foam block into chamber A. This
process will begin cleaning the foam from the inside
out.
4. With the foam block still in position use a hose
pipe or power washer to wash the block from
above. This may take up to 5 minutes or until the
water runs clear from the bottom of the foam block.
Alternatively the foam maybe removed for cleaning
if preferred and then replaced when clean. Allow
the inner chamber to empty of all washing water.
5. Close the large centre chamber A waste valve.
6. Close the 3/4” drain valve (chamber B drain
valve).
7. Switch on the air pump.
8. Switch on the pond pump, UV’s, heaters etc..
9. Top up the pond as required to the correct pond
level.
Nexus 300, Pump Fed with ‘the Answer’
1. Turn off the air pump.
2. Turn off the pond pump, UV’s, heaters etc..
3. Switch off ‘the Answer’ pump.
4. Open the large waste valve g. 11 to allow the
inner chamber A to empty completely. This will have
had the effect of partially emptying chambers B, C
& D back through ‘the Answer’ into chamber A.
5. If required clean ‘the Answer’ (see the Answer
manual).
6. If necessary remove the foam block from the out-
let chamber, wash thoroughly and replace.
7. Close the large centre chamber A waste valve.
8. Close the 3/4” drain valve (chamber B drain
valve).
9. Switch on the air pump.
10. Bleed ‘the Answer’ (as per ‘the Answer’ manual)
and switch on ‘the Answer’ pump.
11. Top up pond as required to correct pond level.
Kaldnes Moving Bed™ Process
Kaldnes Moving Bed™ process, has been
scientically tried and tested in sh farming and
waste treatment for over 10 years.
Developed by Professor Halvard Ødergard at
Trondheim University of Science and Technology the
Kaldnes Moving Bed™ bio lm process has been
designed specically to create the most effective
Nexus 300 Manua Pump Rev. 2.0 page 6
Fig. 18

to establish a colony. The liquid waste is called am-
monia and is the food for the bacteria. Solid waste is
broken down to ammonia, but a Koi keeper is better
off removing the solid waste through settlement. The
tting of an Answer lter into your Nexus 300 lter will
improve this dramatically.
The ammonia reducing bacteria, nitroso-monas, pro-
duce an end product called nitrite, which is again
potentially toxic to sh. This is controlled through
establishing a large nitrobacter population to con-
vert nitrite to the end product, nitrate. The effect of
nitrate is less harmful than both ammonia and nitrite.
However if nitrate levels are allowed to rise above 50
mg/L pond keepers may start to experience green
water and blanket weed. The Kaldnes Moving Bed
Process™ is very useful in controlling these levels as it
has the highest removal rate of any submerged me-
dia on the market.
Nexus Guarantee
This product comes with a 2 year warranty, which is
valid from date of purchase. Proof of purchase will
be required.
Any unauthorised repairs, modications or
alterations to this unit will invalidate the warranty.
Evolution Aqua accepts no responsibility or liability
due to accident, improper installation or misuse.
Liability is limited to replacement of the defective
parts. This guarantee is not transferable. It does not
affect your statuary rights.
If there is a warranty issue please contact Evolution
Aqua’s Technical Service department.
Claims for transport damage shall only be
recognized if the damage is reported within 24
hours after delivery and conrmed by the carrier.
Evolution Aqua reserve the right to change this
product specication without prior notice.
All products designed to ISO 9001 and manufac-
tured to ISO 9000.
environment for the nitrication process to take
place. The media is engineered in a wheel shape
and is slightly positively buoyant, allowing a small
amount of water ow (created by adding air to the
process) to circulate the media throughout the
vessel.
Oxygen and food (ammonia and nitrite) gives the
bacteria the means to grow, whilst the Kaldnes
media provides maximum surface area for the
bacteria to colonise and produce bio lm. It is this
process, which removes harmful ammonia and nitrite
from the water. As the Kaldnes media chaotically
circulates within the bio tank, it causes old dead
bacteria/bio lm on the outside, to be removed
making space for new younger heavier feeding
bacteria/bio lm to colonise. Within the wheel, is a
protected surface, which enables colonies of bac-
teria to naturally follow their life cycle, maturing and
dying, in turn fuelling the latter stages of nitrication
conversion process. It also assists in the breakdown
of any small particles passing through from the
mechanical stage. Therefore, the Kaldnes media
maintains both a young biolm and a maturing bio
lm providing a more consistent lter performance,
whilst improving water quality, encouraging healthier
Koi and aiding in reducing green water and blanket
weed. Due to chaotic movement of Kaldnes K1 me-
dia, the process is self-cleaning and requires no
maintenance. This allows the lter to reach optimum
effectiveness without the disturbance of periodic
maintenance, avoiding unnecessary loss of bacteria
within the lter preventing high levels of ammonia
and nitrite within the water. The other major benet
of Kaldnes K1 media is the huge active' surface area
available for the bacteria to grow on compared to
other types of media. This feature allows for smaller l-
ter design, e.g. the Nexus, whilst providing increased
biological efciency.
How it all works
Maturing the Kaldnes bio-media is important. The
maturing process needs monitoring closely to ensure
that levels of pH, ammonia and nitrite are within
acceptable parameters for your sh. Usually, within 2
- 10 weeks the lter will be effective and the
parameters should be within acceptable levels,
depending on temperature and stocking levels.
Bacteria grows faster in warm water. E.g. a pond at
5 Celsius will have a very low bacteria count and a
slow growth rate. Therefore temperature is important
in reducing the time for a bacteria colony to
develop.
Bacteria require food to live otherwise it will starve.
The food for bacteria is liquid and solid waste
produced by sh. Therefore higher stocking levels will
provide more nutrients for the bacteria and help it
Nexus 300 Manual Pump Rev. 2.0 page 7
Illustrated above are the different stages of maturity
that will be experience during the rst few months.

Nexus 300 Manual Pump Rev. 2.0 page 8
Distributed by:
Evolution Aqua Ltd
Evolution House, Kellett Close, Wigan, WN5 0LP
United Kingdom.
UK
Sales: [phone]
Technical: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]
Europe
Sales: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]
USA & Canada
Sales: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]
Asia
Sales: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]
www.evolutionaqua.com
All products designed to ISO 9001 and manufactured to ISO 9000
Patent Information: GB2.293333B; WO/00 61258; PCT/GB01/05533;
PCT/GB01/05549; 0750591;
0575314; 5,543,039; 5,458,779; 6126829; 689246; 2119893; 3183406
Evolution Aqua reserves the right to change specifications with-
out notice