Filtreau Excellent Drum Filters
Filtreau Excellent Bio Drum Filters
Automatic 120-micron drum filtration for koi ponds, selected by feed arrangement, real flow and the biological stage that follows
Filtreau Excellent Bio Drum filters are professional mechanical pre-filters for ponds where manual screen cleaning is no longer practical. The stainless screen captures fine suspended waste and the controller starts an automatic rinse when the water-level sensor detects increasing resistance.
The current Bio Drum 25, 35, 60 and 100 models are available in gravity-fed and pump-fed versions. Although the product name includes “Bio Drum”, these archive products are primarily the drum stage intended to feed a separate moving-bed, shower or other biological filter. They should not be confused with the larger Excellent Combi Drum category, where mechanical and biological chambers are combined in one body.
This is expensive equipment and deserves a proper drawing before it is ordered. We check bottom drains, skimmers, incoming pipework, required turnover, waste route, clean-water supply, UV arrangement, biological capacity and the physical access needed to remove the drum.
Choose Gravity Fed or Pump Fed First
Gravity-fed installation
In a gravity system, bottom drains and skimmers feed the drum by gravity. A circulation pump draws from the clean side and returns water to the pond. The operating water level, inlet capacity and pump draw have to balance; installing the body too high or too low causes problems even when the drum itself is large enough.
Pump-fed installation
A pump-fed drum receives dirty water under pump flow and returns by gravity. It can be useful where existing drains cannot be converted, but the outlet route must pass the full flow without backing up. The pump also macerates some waste before it reaches the screen.
Gravity and pump-fed versions are not interchangeable labels. Order the hydraulic arrangement that matches the pond design.
Bio Drum 25, 35, 60 and 100
The Bio Drum 25 gravity-fed and Bio Drum 25 pump-fed are the compact starting models. The Bio Drum 35 gravity-fed and Bio Drum 35 pump-fed step up the screen and hydraulic capacity. Larger installations move to the Bio Drum 60 gravity-fed, Bio Drum 60 pump-fed, Bio Drum 100 gravity-fed or Bio Drum 100 pump-fed.
Filtreau uses 120-micron stainless screen panels across this Excellent range and an industrial 130 Nm, 60 W drive motor. Relevant models include high-output amalgam UV equipment, but the number and wattage must be confirmed on the exact current specification.
Published Flow Is Not the Whole Design
A drum’s headline flow is achievable only when the number and bore of live inlets, outlet water level, screen condition, pump duty and system head support it. Long four-inch drain runs, partially closed valves, undersized returns or a low operating level can limit the installation before the drum reaches its published capacity.
Allow margin for a dirty screen immediately before a rinse and for seasonal fish load. We also size the biological stage separately; removing solids very efficiently does not convert ammonia or nitrite.
Rinse Water, Waste and Service Access
The automatic wash cycle needs a reliable clean-water supply at the pressure stated for the exact model. Its waste chute needs a trapped or correctly ventilated route that will not flood the filter house. Hard water, scale, blocked spray nozzles or falling supply pressure can increase rinse frequency.
Leave room to lift the lid, remove screen panels, inspect the spray bar, withdraw UV components and service the drive. A filter squeezed into a chamber with no working clearance becomes expensive to maintain.
Our advice: before ordering, send us a simple plan with pond volume, drains, skimmers, pipe lengths, expected flow, biological filter and waste route. We will challenge weak points before they are built in concrete.
Related Categories and Useful Next Steps
Filtreau Excellent Combi Drum Filters · All drum filters · Pond filter pumps · Pressure pipe and fittings · UV clarifiers · Filter spares
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Bio Drum 25, 35, 60 or 100 a complete biological filter?
Treat this category as the automatic mechanical drum stage and size the following biological filter for the fish load.
What does the 120-micron screen remove?
It removes fine suspended solid waste larger than the screen aperture before that material reaches the biological stage.
Does a drum remove ammonia?
No. Ammonia and nitrite conversion depend on a mature, correctly sized biological filter.
What is the difference between gravity and pump fed?
Gravity-fed units receive water from bottom drains or skimmers before the pump; pump-fed units receive water after a pond pump and discharge by gravity.
Can I convert one version into the other?
Do not assume so. The inlet, outlet and operating-level arrangements differ; order the correct version.
Does the model number equal guaranteed flow?
No. Real flow depends on pipework, water level, pump duty, screen loading and the complete installation.
Why is the drum rinsing too often?
High solids, biofilm or scale, blocked nozzles, low rinse pressure, incorrect sensor position or excessive flow can all contribute.
What rinse-water supply is needed?
Use the pressure and quality stated for the exact model and confirm whether its stainless flush pump is included or required.
Where does the dirty rinse water go?
To a correctly sized waste route that can accept the short high-volume cleaning discharge without backing up.
Is an amalgam UV included?
Some Excellent models include one or more 80W HO units. Confirm the exact current build and product specification before ordering.
How much installation space should I allow?
Enough for the lid, drum or screen-panel removal, spray-bar and UV service, valves and safe access around the body.
Can the drum sit above the pond water level in gravity mode?
Its operating height is critical and must follow the gravity-fed installation drawing.
Will a larger drum fix undersized bottom drains?
No. The inlet pipework still has to deliver the required flow at an acceptable draw-down.
What happens during a power cut?
Circulation and automatic cleaning stop. The system should be designed so it fails without draining or flooding the pond.
Do I still need regular maintenance?
Yes. Inspect the screen, spray nozzles, sensors, seals, waste chute, motor and UV components.
Can you check my installation design?
Yes. Send the pond volume, fish load, drains, skimmers, pumps, pipework, returns, biological stage and waste route.
