Filtreau Excellent Combi Drum 60/80 XL – Pump Fed

Filtreau Excellent Combi Drum 60/80 XL – Pump Fed

XL drum and biological filtration supplied by pond circulation pumps

The Excellent Combi 60/80 XL Pump Fed brings the larger XL layout to a pond that sends water into its filter under pump pressure. A 650 mm-diameter drum removes solids, while the biological chambers and 80W high-output UV-C provide the next treatment stages.

The maximum water flow for this pump-fed model is 55,000 litres/hour. Its 60/80 name identifies the range, not the output you should assume for every installation. A reliable gravity return is as important as the pump that feeds it.

What automatic rinsing changes

The 120-micron screen catches suspended dirt before it can build up around the biological media. As restriction increases, the control system runs the drum motor and built-in wash pump. The rotating screen is rinsed through the spray bar, and dirty water is directed to waste.

This replaces much of the routine hand-cleaning associated with a static mechanical filter. You still need to inspect the screen and clear the waste path. A long run of restricted return pipe or a blocked drain is a plumbing problem, not something the controller can resolve on its own.

Media, aeration and room to work

The optional biological arrangement comprises 200 litres of Hel-X and 4.5 m² of Japanese matting. Media is chosen separately, with moving media kept free to circulate and matting arranged in the fixed-media section. The fitted air bars need a separate air pump with sufficient delivered output at the chamber depth.

Our one- and two-sheet matting options use our high-quality Japanese matting material. Each uncut sheet is 1.2 × 1 m. Two sheets provide 2.4 m² before cutting, so they are an addition rather than the complete 4.5 m² arrangement. For a full fit-out, work out the actual panel sizes and access route before deciding the quantity.

Maintain access to remove the matting without disturbing the moving bed or UV equipment. The ability to clean one part of the filter sensibly is worth considering alongside its headline pond rating.

Choosing a circulation pump

Measure the height from pond level to the filter inlet and account for friction through the supply line. Check the pump’s flow at that duty point, then check that the clean-water return can carry it. Restricting the return to control flow is not a substitute for setting the feed pump correctly.

For a gravity-fed new build, compare the 60/80 XL Gravity. Where the project requires still more pump-fed capacity, the 80/100 XXL Pump Fed is the next larger layout to examine.

Technical specification

Commissioning and routine checks

The 2,100 × 1,117 × 1,005 mm body needs a stable, fully supported base and plenty of lid clearance. During commissioning, inspect the operating levels and waste discharge through several cleaning cycles before increasing the pump output.

Mature the biological media gradually and keep checking ammonia and nitrite as feeding grows. Consider the matched trickle add-on only with its own flow and support requirements accounted for. The Excellent manual explains safe isolation and maintenance of the drum and UV components.

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