Filtreau Excellent Combi Drum 30/50 – Gravity Fed

Filtreau Excellent Combi Drum 30/50 – Gravity Fed

A larger drum and biological sections in one gravity-fed system

The Excellent Combi 30/50 Gravity offers a step up in drum size and flow from the smaller Excellent combis. A 500 mm-diameter drum handles the mechanical cleaning, with biological chambers and 80W high-output UV-C following in the same filter body.

It can pass up to 50,000 litres/hour in a correctly designed gravity-fed system. Five 110 mm inlet branches give scope to connect bottom drains and skimmers individually, which is useful on a larger pond where balancing and isolating those lines matters.

What the larger drum contributes

The 120-micron screen intercepts suspended solid waste before it reaches the biological section. As the screen loads, the level-operated controller runs the motor and internal wash pump. The spray bar clears the mesh and directs debris into the waste channel.

A larger drum is useful when there is more water and waste to handle, but it cannot make a restricted pipe network pass unlimited flow. Keep an eye on draw-down between the pond and the clean side of the filter, particularly when several pumps or return circuits share the same supply.

Setting up the media without overfilling

Hel-X and Japanese matting are separate options. Moving media needs vigorous, even aeration; matting should remain in its designated fixed-media section. Avoid treating the total wet chamber volume as a media-fill target. Water space and movement are part of the biological design, not wasted capacity.

The model’s optional media arrangement lists 100 litres of Hel-X and 3 m² of matting. A different media quantity should be checked against the actual chamber and air supply rather than described as a universal upgrade. One or two of our high-quality Japanese matting sheets can be chosen as an uncut matting addition. Each is 1.2 × 1 m, so even two sheets provide 2.4 m² before cutting, less than the full 3 m² arrangement.

For a complete cartridge layout, use the exact 30/50 matting-and-Hel-X package when available. Do not order both the full package and equivalent loose media without allowing for what each supplies. The 30/50 trickle add-on is another option for a separately planned biological stage.

Choosing for a real koi pond

The maximum koi-pond rating is 50,000 litres; feeding level, stocking and mature biological media still determine suitability. Give a heavily stocked pond more headroom than a lightly stocked display pond. The pump-fed 30/50 has a different maximum flow, despite sharing the same general body size.

Dimensions and connections

Making the installation serviceable

The 1,510 × 1,117 mm footprint needs room around it for valves and access, not just a matching hole in the filter pit. Set the body at the correct pond operating level and provide a clear route for dirty rinse water. Keep the 80W lamp and quartz accessible for replacement and cleaning.

Automated rinsing reduces daily work, but inspect the screen, nozzles and waste channel routinely. Use the Excellent manual for safe procedures, and keep a record of lamp replacement and any change in flushing behaviour so a developing restriction is caught early.

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