Table Of Contents - Vortex DFF Instruction Manual

We want you to know...
Because the "Diatom" is an entirely new concept in aquarium filtration you will probably
have many questions, which we will attempt to answer for you on these pages:
We have tried to include enough hose and connections to fit the most popular aquariums.
For those of you who have exceptionally larger tanks or tanks of odd dimensions, some of the
parts may need adaptation. We have tried also to include everything necessary to get the unit
operating without having to buy anything extra. When you have the unit assembled and operating
for the first time the flow from the filter should be about 200 gallons per hour. If your aquarium
has been set up for some time, however, the flow will quickly diminish as the filter collects
microscopic particles, it would not be plugging.
At first glance it may appear that the filter bag has compressed against the plastic woven material
inside of it and restricted the flow. This, however, is not the case as this material has been tested
under many times the pressure involved without restriction. Therefore, any restriction is in the
"Diatom" Powder or the filter bag itself. Once you have filtered out the water to micron purity
the unit will run much longer without having to be back flushed.
Each grain of the Diatom powder, if viewed through a powerful microscope, looks very
much like one-half of a coconut shell with very tiny holes in it. Most of the holes in these tiny
particles are less than one micron (one millionth of a meter) in size. When the filter is running
properly with a full charge of powder, water is being forced through a layer of many thousands of
these Diatom skeletons. This is why the unit is so effective in filtering out microscopic parasites
and algae. As the flow dwindles to a trickle, you may notice that small bubbles of air start coming
from the unit, or a small amount of air may collect in the pump housing. This is partly due to the
speed of the impeller (3,000 revolutions per minute) and to the fact that the unit is drawing a
partial vacuum of about 13 inches of mercury on the water as it passes through the filter powder.
These conditions actually cause dissolved gases to be liberated from the water as it passes
through the high-speed impeller.
Important Safeguards------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Parts Identification For Diatom Freedom Filter------------------------------------------- 5
Assembling your Diatom Freedom Filter-------------------------------------------------- 5,6
How To Charge Your Diatom Freedom Filter-------------------------------------------- 6
How To Remove Hose Kinks--------------------------------------------------------------- 6
Starting and Restarting your Diatom Freedom Filter------------------------------------ 7
Back-Flushing Your Diatom Freedom Filter--------------------------------------------- 8
Switching Tanks and Recharging---------------------------------------------------------- 8
Filter Maintenance--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Troubleshooting Guide---------------------------------------------------------------------- 9,10
Replacing the Freedom Filter Jar Ring---------------------------------------------------- 10
Disassembling To Replace Castings and Worn Parts----------------------------------- 10,11
Exploded View of the Model--------------------------------------------------------------- 11
Specifications--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12
Warranty----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12
3
Index
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