ERIC POND FILTERS – the facelift models 20/11/11.

This new website launches the second-generation Eric Pond Filter Systems exactly two years after the initial launch of the originals.

This is to announce that all Eric units produced from now have had their very first series of ‘facelifts’. In order to produce and install these changes properly there has had to be a slight price increase on all models simply because of the extra labour time now required in the assembly of the units.

I have not incorporated these facelifts to overcome any hidden problems in the running operation of the originals as such because I can honestly report there have been no problems to date.

However, unless I’m much mistaken, there is always some room for improvement?

In the facelift models there are some minor adjustments that will produce extra performance; a few nice cosmetic touches here and there plus some ‘tweaks’ to some internal parts that will make the units even easier to operate and maintain.
Thanks must go to some existing Eric owners who have suggested several of these ‘facelifts’.

1. THE ERICMAT BLOCKS

a. The most noticeable change to all units are the EricMat blocks themselves which are now only half the length of the originals – however there are now twice as many blocks as before!

b. The actual material is now even 15% denser than the earlier material in order to produce even more surface area.

There are several very good reasons for this – ease of handling the new lightweight blocks is an important one.

ERIC Mat cartridge lightweight and more dense for biomass

However, the most important point to bear in mind is that there is exactly the same amount of material surface as before, but by reducing the length of each block I can now inject air turbulence into more points along the river.

The ERIC Four unit now has seven aeration points instead of four.

The ERIC Three unit now has five aeration points instead of three.

The ERIC Two unit now has three aeration points instead of two.

c. No longer will the large black plastic side sheets be seen on these blocks. Instead the sheets have been replaced with small and slim – but very strong end strips that allow the block to locate easily into exact position in the small sidetracks welded to the inside of the box walls.

Lifting ERIC Mat cartridge from the ERIC Filter

d. As to the assembly of the EricMat blocks themselves, I have dispensed with the narrow strips of EricMat material to separate the sheets and instead am using individual nylon spacers, which obviously leaves more surface area available for the biomass to form. The sheets of EricMat are spaced exactly to allow 25mm channels of open water to pass by them.

ERIC Mat and the thin strips of Matting with spacers

e. Another very important ‘tweak’ to all units is the fact that none of the blocks will now actually ‘touch’ the base of the boxes because there is now a 0.5” deep channel of water below them.

2. THE TRANSFER BAFFLE

This only partially separates the brush box from the biological stage but has much more importance in giving a good backwash to the brush box when the filter is discharged. The baffle has been adjusted to allow any bottom debris actually formed inside the biological stage to pass through the entire width of the box during discharge.

New ERIC Transfer baffle for ERIC Filter

3. THE BRUSH BOX

This is now locked firmly into position to prevent it moving forward slightly when the filter is discharged. This now increases the power and efficiency of the backwash.

The layout of the brushes inside the box has been modified in order to make the barrier even more impenetrable for any debris to pass through.

However, the brush box will still touch the base as usual in normal running in order to prevent any debris from the pond passing below it and into the biological stage.

The top and bottom of the brush box now has finger holes, which should be used when the drain to waste is opened to discharge the unit. By raising the brush box slightly whilst discharge is taking place, ALL debris will be allowed to exit the box and pass freely to waste.

Lifting the new brush box out of the ERIC Filter

4. THE AIR BARS

The rubber membrane air diffusers have also been replaced with the new air bars and performance has been improved significantly.

(It is very important to understand that it is ‘water turbulence’ in order to ‘disturb’ the horizontal flow rather than ‘aeration’ that is the key here.)

Furthermore the entry points for the aeration system are no longer through the top steel frame which is now secured by waterproof bolts, instead it enters through the side of the units via 3/8” tank connectors in order to get maximum performance from the air pump by reducing the length of the pipelines.

New water tight bolts for ERIC Pond Filter

For those wishing to install air pumps outside of the unit but below pond water level there is now a one-way brass 3/8” flap valve available as an option.

Water tight aeration pipe coming out of the side of the ERIC

Unlike the spring-loaded non-return valves on the market this presents no restrictions on the output of the air pump yet ensures no flooding of the motor can occur should there be a power cut.

5. THE STANDPIPE

The original ‘O’ ring standpipes have been discarded and replaced with a far simpler device, which is completely seep-free and so much easier to handle.

PHOTO – NEW vs OLD

6. THE METAL FRAMES

All metal frames have been powder coated for some time now.

Powder Coated Frame for the ERIC pond filter

7. THE FILTER LIDS

The optional lids (highly advised) are now 9mm thick instead of 5mm thick and are FAR more substantial for use in outdoor installations.

8. As always, all Eric models are still bespoke units made to order and when orders are placed there are still the no cost options of either a 1.5” or a 2.0” water pump suction inlet and the 4” waste line can be specified as required to the left or the right of the central 4” inlet.

9. The ERIC Two P (pump-fed) unit is now supplied with an adjustable exit tube. This now enables the owner to increase or decrease flow rate through the box should this ever be necessary.

10. ALL models can now be made to order as pump-fed units with an additional £35.00 charge over the prices of standard gravity-fed units.

To sum all this up in one single sentence – The BEST pond filter money can buy has just got BETTER!

To repeat myself yet again, Eric filters are true stand-alone units – they require no other ‘gizmos’ either before them or after them.

The mechanical waste produced in outdoor pond water contains much more than merely the waste produced by the Koi, there are also leaves, twigs, dust and insect life to contend with.

Recently I witnessed one unit with most of the sidewalls infested with small water snails. The unit was discharged to waste as normal, the brush box and cartridge blocks were lifted out and the snails were removed to waste by a hosepipe with a jet nozzle before replacing the brush box and the cartridge blocks back into the perfectly clean box.

The entire operation took just under five minutes to complete with a minimal loss of water – but this is only possible with Eric units!