MATALA Biosteps10 Instruction Manual

Operation Guidelines for
BioSteps Pond Filter
Dear Customer,
Congratulations on your selection of BioSteps10 as your pond filter! In the
following instructions and guidelines we provide you with important information for
installation, start-up and maintenance of your BioSteps10.
Scope of supply:
Please check your package for the following items:
INSTALLATION
!! Three BioSteps are connected in
parallel.
!! Two BioSteps are connected in
parallel.
!! Single BioSteps.
*The items in the above parts list are subject to replacement in function of improved filter characteristics.
Section 1
Contents:
Filter container
Filter cover
Inlet:universal hose adapter
1", 1 1/4", 1 1/2"
Sludge drain:Univeral hose tail + stopper
1 1/4", 1 1/2", + stopper 1"
QTY
1
1
1
1
Article no.
40001102
40002102
30819244
30819453
46191281
46191381
46191461
46191461
40003106
40004103
Matala filter mat Green
Matala filter mat Blue
Matala filter mat Grey
Matala filter mat Grey
Partioning screen
Outlet :Bulkhead fitting,
Compression/Push-Fit type,
2-steps:
50mm European fit is first inner diameter
followed by1 1/2” Sch40 PVC in deeper. This
section is a compression fit and requires firm
pressure to insert fully.
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
2
2
2
2
1
1
1

Plug and play recommendations:
complete lter systems for different pond sizes
Pond volume
Up to:
Liters
3000
6000
10000
15000
22500
30000
Gallons
800
1600
2660
4000
6000
8000
KOI CARP
Pond volume
Liters
1500
3000
5000
8000
12000
16000
Gallons
400
800
1330
2100
3200
4230
Liters/H
750-1200
1500 - 2500
2500 - 4000
4000 - 6000
6000 - 10000
10000 - 13500
Gallons/H
200-320
400 - 660
660 -1060
1060 – 1590
1590 – 2640
2640 - 3570
Recommend
hose diameter
for pump to filter
mm
25
32
40
40
40
40
inch
1”
1¼”
1½”
1½”
1½”
1½”
UVC capacity
range
Wa tt
9 to 13
9 to 18
18
2 x 18
3 x 18
4 x 18
Recommend
Number of
EzBio 11
Recommend
Number of
EzBio 20
Recommend
Number of
Waterfall
1
1
2
2
1
1
Number of
BioSteps
1
1
1
2
3
4
1
1
1
2
3
4
OPTIONAL
Wa
te
rf
al
l
Pump capacity
(MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED FLOW RATE)
The choice of pump and UVC capacity should be made depending on the following variables:
- Height of Biosteps above water level → Pump should be able to give desired ow rate at lter position.
- Water garden pond with few sh → Try to achieve 500 to 900 gph pump ow rate.
- Koi sh pond → Try to achieve 900 to Max.1080 gph pump ow rate.
- Pond in direct sunlight or long hours of sun → Larger UVC
- Higher capacity sh stocking: more sh → Larger UVC
Our Biosteps design is GRAVITY FLOW back to the pond.
-
The outlet tting needs to be higher than the point of return at the waterfall or pond otherwise lter may overow.
- Also the distance from outlet tting to the pond should be kept as close as possible. Maximum distance for outlet pipe
should be less than 10 feet otherwise lter may overow.
Assembling and Start-up of the lter:
Attaching Inlet and Outlet Fittings to BioSteps
Outlet Fitting Installation:
▪Insert outow socket through upper hole.
▪Place O-ring on inside of lter and over the threads.
▪Hand tighten nut. Do not over tighten.
*note-A Sch 40 1.5” outlet pipe may be inserted
deeply into outlet bulkhead to extend water outow.
Three options for outlet connection to pond:
Option 1)
▪Use 1.5” schedule 40 PVC or ABS pipe from your local hardware store.
▪Slide the pipe into the outlet tting until it comes to a stop.
▪At this point push really hard and twist. Alternatively, tap the pipe with a
rubber mallet until secure. THE OUTLET FITTING HAS A
COMPRESSION FIT and no glue is required. The t is so tight you will
probably not be able to remove the pipe once inserted.
▪Tip: Lightly sand the very edge of the pipe to help get it started.
Option 2)
▪Install 2 inch rubber
coupler (from hardware
store) over the outlet
tting.
▪Insert 2 inch PVC pipe
into rubber coupler and
tighten screws.
2

Waste Drain-Out Fitting Installation:
▪Insert drain socket through lower hole in section 1.
▪Place one O-ring on inside AND one O-ring outside of the lter over the
threads.
▪Hand tighten nut. Do not over tighten.
Inlet Fitting Installation:
(Photo shows installation with optional UVC.)
▪Align and insert UVC upper male thread into female thread of clear hose
socket. Twist clear hose socket fully onto the male threads of the UVC.
▪The O-ring is installed first over the clear hose socket and then the
clear hose socket is installed through the hole in the section 1.
▪Hand tighten nut 3/4 tight. Do not over tighten.
Option 3)
Biosteps10 with Waterfall Spillway option.
▪Check alignment of spillway with upper outlet hole in section 6 of body.
▪The top of spillway should t ush against the body.
▪Align spillway with upper hole in lter body and insert outlet tting through
hole.
▪Install one O-ring on inside of lter body over the male threads.
▪Hand tighten nut.
▪Install one O-ring over threads of outlet tting.
▪Insert outlet tting through inside of spillway.
▪Finished
3

▪Finish tightening nut to make a water proof seal against the O-ring.
▪You may need to twist clear hose socket until completely tight and ush
with UVC.
▪Insert Green Matala section 2, Blue Matala Sec. 3, Gray Matala Sec. 4 &
Sec.5. Slide partition screen after Gray Matala.
▪Attach UVC bulb into electric socket.
Caution: UVC bulb is delicate.
▪Cover cap has safety switch. Lamp will only light when tted fully into
body.
▪Insert partitioning screen after the Gray Matala in section 5.
▪This prevents media from blocking the outlet pipe.
▪Place lid over the UVC and snap onto lter.
▪Carefully insert UVC bulb into UVC body.
Caution: UVC bulb is delicate.
▪Tighten hand nut cap into UVC body.
▪Hand nut must be rm and snug to prevent water leakage into UV light.
▪Connect pump to BioSteps.
▪Do not turn UV on until you have leak tested all ttings.
▪If any leaks check O-rings and nuts.
4

Safety
For your own safety, we recommend:
- To always unplug the UVC whenever the pump is not functioning: this will prevent overheating of
the UVC unit and extend the lamps lifetime.
- To strictly avoid to directly looking into the UV light: avoiding direct contact with UVC radiation,
which can result into harm to eyes and skin!
- Before initial start-up of the lter or after any maintenance whatsoever, to check carefully that
there are no leaks between the pump, the UVC water inlet, the UVC cover cap and UVC housing.
If any leaks are noticed, disconnect the UVC’s power plug and immediately repair the leaks. Any
defect or damaged UVC units need to be replaced or turned in to your dealer for repair.
BioSteps ltration technology:
The BioSteps cross flow filter enhances a “Steps” -wise transition from mechanical-prefiltration to high
efciency bio-ltration:
Filter sections Contents Function
Section 1 No filter media
Optional: + UVC
Water inlet and sedimentation of biggest particles.
Prevent blooms of unicellular algae, bacteria, parasites
Section 2 Flex-Matala:
2 Medium Density filtermat
Section 3 Flex-Matala:
2 High Density filter mats
Flex-Matala:
2 Super High Density filter mat
Flex-Matala:
2 Super High Density filter mat
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6 Polishing section:
(OPTIONAL)
This is a good area to place a
bag of filter CARBON or
ZEOLITE or Matala BIO-ACTIVE
STONE to help regulate pH.
Capture of big particles, conglomeration, and sedimentation.
Further degradation of organic matter by heterotrophic bacteria
and plankton
Biofiltration: Nitrification
Nutrient balancing by plankton
Biofiltration: Nitrification
Nutrient balancing by plankton
Biofiltration: Nitrification / Denitrification
Nutrient balancing by plankton
Water polishing:
Substrate helps for
water conditioning:
Buffering of pH and
mineral content of
water.
5

Filter start-up:
- Your BioSteps lter is now assembled and can be put close to your water garden in a shaded
spot chosen in function of convenience, easy maintenance and landscape esthetics.
Position the lter in horizontal way on a non compactable surface and make sure that the outlet
drain valve can function properly.
- Connect the inlet of the lter to the hose that is already connected to the water pump. Connect
the clean water outlet to the water pipe that returns the clean water to the water garden. Connect
the sludge outlet to the hose or water pipe that leads away the dirty water.
Switch on the pump only, not the UVC! Check that there are no leaks! If any leaks please make
sure that these are sealed:
▪position the O-rings correctly,
▪use some Teon tape on the threads of the ttings
▪Check that the nuts are correctly secured
▪Use proper PVC glue to connect the piping
▪Use a hose clamp to secure the position of the hose on the hose socket.
- Once conrmed that there are no leaks you can switch on the UVC. To control proper function
you can see the blue light through the transparent UVC water inlet socket. Never look direct into
the UV light as it can harm your eyes.
- For proper function of a biolter it is imperative to let the water ow through the lter 24h/24h
continuously. If the water pump is not functioning for more than 2 hours, the oxygen level of the
water in the lter will drop quickly which might kill the nitrifying bacteria and plankton that purify
the water.
Filter Maintenance:
Frequency of maintenance will depend on many factors such as:
- Fish load and feeding rate, season and water temperature, etc...
- new- or old water garden and level of existing sediment or algal blooms
In principle, maintenance of the lter is needed when the lter mats are clogged up with dirt, silt or bacterial
ock and consequently the water starts to ow over the lter mats.
For maintenance please take following steps:
- First switch of the UVC and then switch of the pump.
- Unscrew the cap of the UVC and take off the lter cover. Then put the UVC cap back in place and
tighten it.
- Lower the water level of the lter by opening the drain valve and simultaneously rinse the lter
mats. Normally, this can be done without removing the Matala from the lter. Only in cases of
heavy silting or clogging of the lter mats or substrate it will be necessary to remove these from
the lter, clean and put back into position.
- For rinsing, we advise to use pond water. Prepare pond water in a bucket on the side and pour
over the Matala mats with sufcient volume to dislocate dirt. Alterably, you can pump water from
the pond and hose off the lter mats.
Do not use high pressure and avoid cleaning the Matala overzealously because you will remove too many
bacteria and drastically lower the lter’s bio-ltration capacity!
For countries with distinct winters it is advisable in case of shallow ponds to switch off the lter system when
water temperature reaches below 8 degrees C ( 46 degrees F) and sh are no longer feeding. In such case
clean out the lter properly and store until next spring.
When cleaning the lter, simultaneously clean the pump’s lter housing or prelter in order to keep a normal
ow capacity to the lter.
6

DISTRIBUTED BY
Modular extension of the BioSteps lter:
If you wish to extend the BioSteps lter’s capacity or you wish to combine 2 or multiple lters, please consider
that combined lters should be installed in parallel position and the ow of water needs to be spread out
evenly into each lter.
Guarantee:
The BioSteps lter is offered with a 2 year guarantee for material or manufacturing defects. Supplementary,
we offer a one year “Clear Water Guarantee” on condition that no verifiable success was obtained on
reduction of suspended solids and suspended unicellular algae, within 6 weeks of the filter’s start-up.
Obviously, such guarantee will only be valid if the customer has followed our guidelines for installation, start-
up and maintenance of the lter.
The warranty doesn’t cover any problems resulting from inappropriate installation or operation, overloading,
frost, use of force, third-party faults, mechanical damage or vandalism, or any defects caused by improper
functioning or installation of pump, hoses or piping.
▪Turn off pump to
BioSteps.
▪Detach UVC hand
cap + bulb.
▪Turn off pump.
Close pump valve-
optional.
▪Shake Matala pads
gently up and down
in lter to loosen dirt
particles.
▪Remove lid.
▪Reinsert blub for
safety.
▪Unplug bottom drain
plug
▪A 1.5” drain hose
& valve may be
attached to bottom
drain to carry waste
water away.
▪This 1 inch drain
valve can be
attached to a drain
pipe and plumbed
to a remote area to
carry waste away for
an easier cleaning
process.
Optional Bottom
Drain Valve
▪The drain outlet
tting has a 1 inch
internal female pipe
thread. You can
install a 1 inch male
pipe thread tting
and attach to a 1
inch gate valve to
simplify the cleaning
of lter.
Cleaning the BioSteps
Every 4 to 6 weeks depending on sh load.
MATALA WATER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
www.matala.com.tw