Modified Filter System

Minor Modifications

  • Backcheck Valves
    There are two backcheck valves on the input from the pond. If you have an old system they may not be transparent. Order transparent backchecks. They are easy to install since there is a union at each end. Transparent backchecks will make your life a lot easier when trying to understand what is happening with your system.
  • Fresh Water Input
    Mount a fresh water intake on the top of the Turbovortex Filter. Install a quick disconnect as shown in the photos.
  • Pressure Gauges
    The maximum pressure I have ever observed in the system is 6 psi. This makes the 60 psi gage shipped with the system fairly useless. I ordered two 15 psi gages from Grainger and installed one on the top of the Challenger and one on the output of the pump as shown.
  • Multiport Valve Leak
    I found that Challenger Multiport Valve was leaking water out the waste line. This is not the fault of Fluid Art Technology. They are purchasing the best Multiport Valve that money can buy, but it just isn't good enough. I solved this problem by installing a ball valve on the waste output line. Note the red handle as shown.
  • Clear Waste Line
    The system ships with a 3" long clear plastic viewing port for the waste line. It will make for easier viewing if you replace this with a viewing port 6" to 12" long.

Major Modifications

  • ReplaceThe Multiport Valve
    If you purchased a system prior to July 2001 you probably have the old turbo vortex multiport valve. The problem with that valve is that it has a vacuum leak which allows air into the system. The maximum pressure at the output of the pump using the old multiport valve was 6 psi at high pump speed and 2 psi at low pump speed. The maximum pressures using the new multiport valve is 17 psi at high pump speed and 4 psi at low pump speed. Replacing this valve will provide more of an improvement to your system than all of the other changes combined.
  • Pump Intake Air Bypass
    The pump is sucking water from the pond into the bottom of the Turbo Vortex Filter and out the top of the filter into the pump. The problem is that if there is a vacuum leak, anywhere along the previously described path, air will be trapped at the top of the Turbo Vortex and air will fill the horizontal 2" pipe coming out of the top of the Turbo Vortex. This air will block the inlet water flow and starve the pump when running at low speeds. I solved this problem by installing a "T" as shown. Note, the "T" is installed at the output of the Turbo Vortex. A 3/8" flexable plastic line (like the line used to run water to your refrigerator) is run from the top of the "T" to the elbow just prior to the input of the pump strainer basket. This line is drawing air from the top of the "T" into the pump. This small amount of air flowing into the pump isn't a problem. What was a problem was a large amount of accumulated air in the two inch line.
  • Air Vent
    Another problem I have had with my system was output air. When air gets in the output lines it restricts the water flow. I solved this by putting a "T" on the output as shown. A clear plastic pipe is mounted to the "T" and a steam trap is mounted on the top. The steam trap which vents the air was purchased from Grainger. The steam trap is way over engineered for this application and far too expensive. You can probably solve this problem with a ping pong ball and some pvc pipe.
  • Bouncing The Beads
    The beads will tend to stick together over time and you will need to break them up. To do this we use the air blower to bounce the beads. Blowing air into the Challenger puts an air pocket at the top and causes the beads to move lower in the chamber and break up.

    As it is shipped from the factory, the air goes in through the hydraswirl solids separator port and out the top port. The problem with this is that the beads can only fall a few inches before air exits the top port and the bounce stops.

    As I modified the system, air goes in through the side and exits the bottom port (the hydraswirl solids separator port). This gives a much larger bounce and should break up more of the beads.

    This modification requires all new drawings and cleaning instructions which are listed below:

New Pond Cleaning Instructions
New TurboVortex

Challenger

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All Pages and Images Copyright © September 3, 2001 Caseys' Page Mill, Ltd