GCTek AlphaOne 4.25 Pond Filter

AlphaONE Filters utilize the AquaSwirl internal Vortex spinning design that spins heavier solids to the center of the bottom of the vessel. AlphaONE filters also feature the AlphaONE Life Support System, known as "ALISS", which keeps beneficial bacteria alive indefinitely during times of medical shutdowns, pumps failures, etc. The 2" Clear Union Spring Check Valve located right under the blower provides maximum flow and has built-in unions. If you should ever have to replace the spring check valve, it is no big deal. Just unscrew the top and bottom of the valve, remove the valve body, replace with a new body and re-hand tighten the two unions. Total repair time is under 2 minutes! The AlphaONE Bead Agitator is a dynamo powerhouse of air output. What does it do? During normal running of the filter the beneficial bacteria causes the beads to be sticky (that's good). In the normal running of the filter algae and other solids combine with the sticky beads to try and form a "glue" that glues the beads together. At the same time the algae and other solids combine and grow larger as time goes by. To properly get them out of the filter when it is backwashed, we need to break this bead "pac" apart and pulverize the solids to a small size again so we can backwash them out of the filter. That's the job of the AlphaONE Bead Agitator. When you kick this 1 horsepower powerhouse into action, humongous amounts of air are injected at the bottom of the filter where the air then rises and as it does "breaks apart the bead pac", thus allowing for a good back wash to be engaged at this point. What goes on inside is a violent rushing of air into the vessel breaking apart the bead pack, but not so hard as to disrupt the beneficial bacteria growing on the beads. The AlphaONE filters were designed to be the most energy efficient filters on the market. Inside is more than double the lateral surface area, where the upper beads gather around the slots in the lateral arms, than that used on any other filter. Couple this with the highest flow multiport valve on the market and you have a filter that was designed to be energy efficient. By implementing these design characteristics the filter can save the end user hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs. A smaller more energy efficient pump can be used to handle ponds that would normally have to have larger energy "hog" pumps to turn the pond over at the suggested rates. Why do we care, we're not paying the electric bill? We are committed to doing our part to conserve our natural resources. In our operation we recycle everything we can to hold down costs and do our part for the environment. AlphaONE filters also come with a special wrench that fits over the top cap and allows you to unscrew the cap and gain access. Did you notice I did not say to "unhook your plumbing"? With some bead filters who use top mount valves it is necessary to unhook the plumbing to get inside. Not fun. GCTek, makers of the AlphaONE Filters, knew you wouldn't like this, so they didn't use a top mount design. Unlike lesser quality filters made of plastic, AlphaONE filters is made of fiberglass. This costs a bit more than plastic, but it is also of better quality. GCTek only wanted to use the best and the fiberglass is rated at 50 psi. AlphaONE Filters are also sensibly priced when compared to similar filters on the market.