Little Giant PBF2000 Instructions page 3

5. Use a submersible pump or wet/dry vacuum (with a strainer on the nozzle)
to remove the water from the filter (Figure 12). DO NOT remove the filter
media.
Strainer
Crépine
Filtro
6. Replace the valve.
7. Press the valve handle and rotate the pointer to the WINTERIZE position
(Figure 13). This will drain any remaining water from the valve. Leave the
handle in this position during the winter.
SETTING
FILTER Filters pond normally.
WASTE Lowers pond level or drains pond.
CLOSED Shuts off flow from pump.
BACKWASH Reverses water flow for cleaning filter. Operates jets.
RECIRC. Bypasses filter, but continues to circulate water in pond.
RINSE Cleans and resets filter bed after backwashing.
WINTERIZE Drains valve for winterizing. Leave on this setting throughout
winter if not in use.
Filter Settings
Figure 12
Figure 13
DESCRIPTION
Table 2
RETURNING FILTER TO SERVICE
1. Replace the drain cap.
2. Lift the filter valve from the body. It may be necessary to loosen the valve by
moving it back and forth.
3. Stir the media.
4. Replace the valve.
5. Backwash and rinse the filter as described in the BACKWASHING section.
NOTE: Pond cleanliness is a result of many factors, including adequate
filtration and sufficient water flow. The higher the flow through the filter, the
cleaner the water.
BACKWASHING
NOTE: During the initial pond cleaning, it may be necessary to backwash the
filter frequently due to excessively dirty water.
How often the filter requires backwashing depends on how often the pond's fish
are fed and the time of the year.
Check the pressure gauge reading before backwashing.
Backwash the filter once a week on light loads and twice a week or more on
heavy loads.
Use a pre-filter or vortex for heavy waste (pine needles, large leaves, etc.)
1. Turn off the pump.
2. Press the valve handle and rotate the pointer to the BACKWASH position.
3. Turn on the pump to begin backwashing.
Rotate to WINTERIZE position
4. Backwash until the sight glass is clear (about 30 to 60 seconds).
5. Turn off the pump.
6. Press the valve handle and rotate the pointer to the RINSE position.
7. Turn on the pump.
8. Rinse until sight glass is clear.
9. Repeat steps 1 through 8 twice more (for a total of 3 times).
10. Turn off the pump.
11. Press the valve handle and rotate the pointer to the FILTER position.
12. Turn on the pump and return to normal usage.
fReQUentLY aSKeD QUeStionS
Q: Do I need to add additional bacteria to my pond or filter?
A: No. The filter comes pre-seeded with natural bacteria to help the filter
establish itself.
Q: Do I need to add additional biological or mechanical filtration to my pond?
A: Not unless the pond has a lot of large debris (leaves, pine needles, string
algae, etc.) If the pond has large debris, a leaf basket or other pre-filtration
system is recommended.
Q: Can I bury my filter?
A: Yes, you can bury the filter up to the valve head. However, if you need to
drain the filter, the drain cap will be buried and another drainage method will
be necessary.
Q: How often do I have to backwash?
A: You should backwash the filter once a week. However, depending on your
fish load and feed rate it may be necessary to backwash more often or less
often.
Q: How often do I have to replace the media?
A: Never.
Q: How often do I need to drain out the sludge?
A: Never. Backwashing expels all the waste through the waste line and
thoroughly cleans the filter, eliminating the need for a sludge valve.
Q: Can I medicate my pond while the filter is running?
A: No. Any medication designed to eliminate harmful bacteria in your pond
would also destroy any beneficial bacteria inside your filter. If you need to
medicate for any reason, you may set the valve to RECIRCULATE, which will
bypass the filter and run through the valve only.
Q: What size pump should I use?
A: Use an external, direct-drive pump that can circulate the volume of your
pond within 1-1/2 hours at ten feet of head.
Q: What's the flow loss through the filter?
A: The filter flow loss ranges from 3-8 feet of head, depending on how dirty the
filter is.
Q: Do I need to oversize my filter?
A: No. The filter will handle heavy fish loads and feed rates.
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