Filtreau Automatic Refill System for Gravity Drum Filters

Filtreau Automatic Refill System

Float-controlled water top-up for a gravity-fed drum-filter installation

The Filtreau Automatic Refill System provides a dedicated way to replenish water in a compatible gravity-fed drum-filter installation. Supplied under SKS reference PU300, the assembly brings together a float valve, a mounting bracket and a flexible braided connection hose. It is intended for water-level control, helping reduce the need to turn a supply on and off manually as the operating level changes.

Filtreau identifies its automatic water-level controller as WMC80WLC and specifies use with drum filters operating in gravity mode. Check that arrangement before ordering: a filter’s brand name alone does not establish suitability. The position of the pump, the filter’s normal running water level and the available mounting space all matter when adding a refill assembly to an existing pond system.

Specification and application

Product	Filtreau Automatic Refill System
Manufacturer controller reference	WMC80WLC
Application	Drum filters operating in gravity mode
Float-valve material	PP
Manufacturer operating pressure	10–150 psi at the controller
Indoor installation	Emergency overflow required by Filtreau

Understanding the gravity-fed requirement

In a gravity-fed arrangement, water reaches the filter from the pond before the return pump sends it onwards. Filtreau’s Excellent filter instructions distinguish this from a pump-fed installation, where the pond pump sits before the filter. The instructions also identify a maximum operating water level on the filter. That reference level is an installation setting to establish correctly, rather than something to raise simply because an automatic refill is being fitted.

A refill valve and the drum’s cleaning controls perform different jobs. Keep the existing filter controls installed and working as specified in its manual. Before choosing accessories, check the exact filter model and layout in our pond filter range. If your system is pump fed, this gravity-only refill specification is not an appropriate basis for assuming compatibility.

Dimensions and space around the assembly

Filtreau lists dimensions of 133 × 59 × 77mm for the water-level controller. Those figures should not be used as a confirmed overall installation envelope for the complete bracket-and-hose assembly shown in the product photograph. Leave additional room for mounting, the hose connection and access to the float; the full installed clearance depends on how the assembly is positioned.

Measure the intended location with the filter lid in its normal position. Check that the float can move freely and that adjacent pipework, cables or internal components will not obstruct it. Also allow space to reach the connection and mounting points for inspection. A position that accepts the valve physically can still be inconvenient if routine access requires dismantling other equipment.

Supply pressure and treated top-up water

The controller’s pressure rating applies to that component. It does not increase the permitted pressure of a hose, connector or water-treatment unit elsewhere in the supply. Check each part of the proposed installation and follow the lowest applicable limit. Have the supply arrangement assessed by a competent installer where pressure control or plumbing changes are needed.

Water-level control also needs to be planned alongside chlorine removal. Incoming mains water should receive suitable treatment before it reaches the fish. An automatic valve cannot measure chlorine, confirm that treatment media remains effective or compensate for an exhausted cartridge. Choose treatment equipment suitable for the proposed automatic top-up arrangement and follow its own instructions for flow, pressure and replacement intervals.

For example, Evolution Aqua’s current auto-top-up guidance specifies a recommended flow of four litres per minute and a maximum working pressure of four bar for its dechlorinator. Those are limits for that separate treatment product, not a flow specification for the Filtreau refill valve. Check the instructions supplied with the exact dechlorinator you own, particularly before placing a closing valve downstream of an older unit.

Commissioning and routine inspection

Establish the pond and filter’s correct operating level first, following the filter manual. Then commission the refill with someone present to observe its operation. Check the connections for leakage, confirm the float has unobstructed movement and observe that the supply closes at the intended level. Repeat the observation with the filtration running normally, rather than relying only on a static check with the pump stopped.

For an indoor installation, Filtreau expressly requires an emergency overflow. Plan where excess water would discharge before turning on an unattended supply. The refill should remain accessible for inspection, and any unusual increase in water consumption deserves investigation. Automatic replenishment can otherwise make water loss less obvious during a quick visual check of the pond.

Include the hose, mounting security and float movement in routine filter inspections. Look for debris or physical interference and use the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions when cleaning or adjusting the assembly. An automatic top-up reduces a repetitive task; it does not remove the need to inspect the pond or maintain its filtration.

Choosing the correct accessory

This listing is for the refill assembly shown, rather than a complete drum filter or a replacement drum-control float sensor. For other replacement components, browse our filter spares and compare the precise model reference before ordering. Keep the existing filter manual available when planning the installation, as its water-level and connection instructions remain essential alongside the refill controller’s specification.