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i really want to get this thing going but the instructions manuel makes NO SENSE! the pictures are REALLY unclear and i don't understand a single word the instructions manuel is saying.

are there better pictures and better instructions anywhere online?

i'm usually pretty good with this kind of stuff, so if someone would be kind enough to post a picture of a fully assembled VORTEX: diatom filter D-1, i'll kind of get the picture of how it should look like and i might be able to put it together without the help of the instruction manuel

thanks!

Hi,
Actually once you do it you won't have a bit of trouble
the next.
1. Assemble the intake and output screens. These are two
black squares of plastic the front has a grid on it for the
water to flow through, and the other is a solid back. Press
the two halves together and then slide the 8 inch clear
(relatively hard) plastic tubes over the tops. The pieces
snap together and the tube holds them together.
2. Take the two long hoses and connect one to the input
and the other to the output of the filter pump assembly.
3. Set the glass jar into the plastic dish. (looks like a
dog food bowl). This holds the jar upright and catches any
leaking water.
4. Pour the diatomaceous earth into the jar. DONT BREATH
the powder. It WILL CAUSE cancer of the lunges (Silicosis).
5. Fill the jar with water to within two inches of the top.
6. Take the bag assembly (bag over a plastic mesh) and
press the round top of the bag into the base of the
pump. You can push it in too far and it will press against
the impeller. Press it in until the bag is even with the
plastic housing.
7. Insert the bag and pump assembly into the jar. Seat
the bottom of the pump onto the top of the jar and
tighten the collar.
8. Hold the input hose and output hose up in the air
and fill them with water. This will drain into the jar
and complete filling it. Fill the hoses with water as well.
9. Take a piece of rigid tubing (not supplied) and connect
the input hose to the output hose forming a loop.
10. Shake the assembly to mix up the powder and water.
11. Plug in the pump. The water and powder will circulate
and coat the bag. In a minute or two the output water
will clear up as the bag is coated with the earth on the
input side. When the output hose is clear, unplug the
pump.
12. Separate the hoses, and push the intake and output
assemblies (assembled in step one) into the hoses.
13. Set the intake at one end of the tank and the output
at the other end facing the intake.
14. Plug in the pump and the tank will start to clear up
before your eyes.

Step 9 is something I came up with to keep from flushing
some of the earth into the tank I was trying to clean.
It works, and saves alot of fretting and earth.

If this is too confusing, I'll take a picture of the whole
thing and add it to this information.

Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 26-May-2005 12:36

Last edited by FRANK at 26-May-2005 12:39

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

THANK YOU SO MUCH, FRANK!!

you've been SUCH a big help and i cannot thank you enough!! with your instructions, i WAS able to put it together and make it work! i really appreciate it and again, THANK YOU!!

FRANK - After step 11, before you do step 12, I assume you turn off the pump.. won't that result in the diatom powder falling off the bag?

---

Back in the saddle!

Hi,
Yes, you are probably right, I edited step 11 to reflect
that the pump should be turned off before separating the
hoses as outlined in step 12. As far as the powder falling
off the bag, some will but not that much, and as the pump
restarts and effluent comes in the input side it seems to
stir up what little has fallen and slams it back onto the
bag.
Thanks...
Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 26-May-2005 12:42

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks for the directions, FRANK. I was wondering if there was a way to start the thing up without the powder spilling into the tank. Not that it seems to harm the fish or anything, but it is unsightly and leaves a bit of a residue on my broad leaved plants.

There is another way of getting the powder into the filter, though, but it requires a pitcher or some other kind of container to hang on the side of the tank. Rather than putting the powder into the jar, you just assemble everything as per your instructions (fill jar with water, etc) and leave the input/ output tubes unconnected to eachother (but connected to the pump). Take the pitcher and fill it almost all of the way up with tank water, and hang it on the side of the tank so that most of the pitcher is underwater, but the lip is above water. Put both of the tubes into the pitcher and and pour the diatom powder into the pitcher. Then start the pump - and stir the contents of the pitcher so that all of the powder gets sucked up. When the water in the pitcher is clear (no longer filled with powder), pull the pitcher out from under the tubes and let them hang directly in the tank. Then watch things clear up I think the benefit of this method is that it coats the bag from the inside, so that if you want to back-flush the filter, it'll remove everything easier. To me, though, it's kind of bulky with the pitcher involved.

I like your method better

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Back in the saddle!