Back in 1999 there wasn’t a great deal of filter options for our pond customers to choose from, you could have either a black box with or without a UVC unit. This was changed by Hozelock. They re-shaped how filtration for the ornamental pond owner would be forever, by bringing us the Hozelock Cyprio Combio Pro 1000. They used the canister design from Aquarium tanks and worked around that to come up with their Bioforce.

Up until now the design of this filter had only been tweaked a little by Hozelock - they added new media and better clips. This meant however that they were falling behind other manufacturers models and losing a major share in the market, so Hozelock got to work!

After years of testing Hozelock came up with their new Bioforce Revolution Pressurised Pond Filter. On their testing ponds in Birmingham Hozelock were running prototypes (some even used parts from a washing machine) of the filter you see today, and the results were remarkable.

The key ideas for the Hozelock Bioforce Revolution:

Easy Cleaning: By their own admission Hozelock fell way behind their competitors in regard to an easy cleaning pressurised filter, so they began by testing other key pressurised filter models on the market. Using this combined with customer feedback, it came to light that some models were not actually that easy to use and that they also didn’t clean the media out very well either.

The table below shows Hozelock’s Research into the ease of cleaning of some pressurised filters on the market.

High powered UV’s: Another key area that Hozelock wanted to improve with their pressurised filters was the UV capacity, this has been significantly improved to provide your pond with much better clarity. The reason you need a UV on an ornamental fish pond is due to a higher ratio of fish to natural vegetation. Natural pond plants and vegetation would normally compete with the algae (which turns your pond green) for any nutrients that are available to them through uneaten fish food and fish waste etc. This means that combined with sunlight the algae has optimum conditions to be able to grow.

So this is where the UV comes into play, as your pond water passes through your UV in your Bioforce Revolution, the Algae cells become damaged which allows them to flocculate (stick together) and be filtered out by the Brand New Cypricube media.

New Media: The reason a pond needs a filter is to help its natural eco system which is home to millions of live bacteria. These friendly bacteria cling to plants and also the side of the pond, however these areas sometimes do not provide sufficient surface area for these friendly bacteria to thrive. The Hozelock Bioforce Revolution pond filter media effectively increase the available surface area and so enable more friendly bacteria to thrive. This gives biological filtration which is essential for fish keepers.

This type of media is called Kaldness k3 media, which has been scientifically manufactured, and was first used in water purification units to provide a huge surface area for bacteria to cultivate. This development was a revolution to the pond market and was first introduced to us by Evolution Aqua – and there is basically no comparison to old style biological filtration. The design of the Kaldness media allows the media to move within your filter, this means that weak or dead bacteria are shaken off and replaced by new bacteria.

A pond needs a nitrification (changing ammonia which is produced by fish waste into nitrate - which plants use as food) process. If this was not happening within your pond, the water would become poisonous and uninhabitable for the wildlife living in the pond. The bigger the surface area provided by the biological media within your filter the more friendly bacteria can be produced, therefore enabling a higher stocking rate and a quicker nitrification process - meaning healthier conditions for your fish and wildlife.

In a 'normal' pressurised filter the foams are segregated thick layers, these are great for removing solids from the water, however they get clogged quickly and can be difficult to clean as the dirt pushes deep into the middle of them. This is why the rotation cleaning of the small cubes in the Bioforce revolution works much better, as they still carry a large surface area for the removal of solids, but the dirt doesn’t go in as deep so it can spin out easily when the cleaning handle is turned. Due to their experience with winding hose reels this is a very sturdy, easy to operate handle that gives you the minimal amount of fuss when cleaning your filter.

How to set up your Hozelock Bioforce Revolution:

1.1 Regardless of whether you have purchased a kit with the Hozelock Aquaforce filter pump or just the Hozelock Bioforce Revolution on its own to go with your existing filter pump, the set up will be exactly the same. You will need to connect the biggest size hose available to your filter pump, in the case of the Aquaforce this is 40mm.

1.2 As shown in the above diagram you will need hose to connect your pump in the pond to the filter (make sure you cut your hosetail down so that there is no restriction in the flow) attach this and tighten with an Easy Clip 40mm. Repeat this process with 40mm hose which attaches from the outlet of your filter marked ‘pond’ and feed this to your waterfall or directly back to the pond.

1.3 Now you can connect the filter and the pumps power supply to a junction box or RCD adapter, the manufacturer’s instructions will always have a (safety and electrical connections section). This will switch both items on, you might not in the daylight be able to see the UV light working, on a night however you will see a clear blue glow from the translucent hosetails, or the UV indicator on the top.

1.4 We recommend that you keep your filter running through the feeding season at least and if possible all year round. Keeping your filter and pump running throughout the winter will stop your pond from freezing over and will help to keep a basic level of useful bacteria alive. If you do stop running your pump and filter it is important that you pack it away in your shed. If you leave water in your filter through the winter it may freeze and expand which could result in cracking or breaking of the housing of your filter.

Hozelock Bioforce Revolution Maintenance

How to clean your Hozelock Bioforce Revolution:

1.1 The first thing you need to do when cleaning your Bioforce Revolution Filter is to switch your filter pump off at the mains.

1.2 Connect enough hosing to the waste outlet so that it can go to your flower bed (pond sludge makes an excellent fertilizer) or if you like down your drain.

1.3 You can now wind the handle several times, it’s best if you go both anti-clockwise and clockwise, which will turn the internal yellow cleaning blades (like a washing machine would work). This will start to break apart all the solids which are on the foams and will also squeeze them together releasing all the debris.

1.4 Next turn the silver diverter on the top of your Bioforce Revolution to the waste position, you will hear a click when this is done.

1.5 You can now switch your pump back on which will circulate water to your drain or your plants (this removes all the dirt and sludge from your foams).

1.6 While the pump is still running continue to wind the handle in both directions which again will aid the cleaning of the Cypricubes. The water at first will come out a thick brown or green colour, this will start to fade after a short while (nearly clean). Leave it running for another couple of minutes and then you can change the valve so your water is going back to your pond. Warning: If you forget to turn your valve back to the pond setting the filter pump will empty your pond!

1.7 We get asked quite a lot here at Bradshaws how long the process of cleaning your pond filter should take and how often you should do it, but to be honest there is no general rule. This really does depend on many factors i.e. sunlight, stocking, feeding and the amount of plants. So if you notice any reduction in flow we suggest giving your filter a clean.

How to replace your UV bulb in the Bioforce Revolution:

1.1 First you need to switch off the mains power supply to both the pump and filter.

1.2 Now you will need to turn the diverter to waste (the same as when you go to clean your Bioforce Revolution) this will help to reduce the pressure in your Bioforce, which will allow the lid to lift off much easier (this is all to do with atmospheric pressures inside the filter).

1.3 Next you will need to wind the cleaning handle so that it is out of the way, this is shown in the diagram to the right. If this is not done you’ll never be able to change your bulb as the handle will catch!

1.4 Now with a Phillips head screwdriver remove the 5 screws which secure the electrical housing to the lid as shown in the diagram. Hozelock have also cleverly added a place to store the screws (shown in iii), this stops you losing them which happens all the time to us and our customers.

1.5 By placing your hand underneath the recess in the UV electrical housing you can get a grip on the lid and then pull it gently upwards. This will give you access to the electrical housing which should be placed on a dry level surface to protect it.

You will now be able to see the quartz sleeve. If this is green, carefully clean it with a damp cloth or the bulb will not be able to transmit. To remove this you need to unscrew the quartz locking tube (i) this will twist gently off by turning it anti clockwise. Now gently lift up the quartz sleeve and the 2 O-rings and place this safely to one side. You will now be able to safely remove the old lamp by gently pulling it from its holder, make sure you also remove the black protection cap and the reflector plate marked (iv and v) as these will need to be placed on your replacement UV bulb. Once you have removed the two items place them on your new bulb (remembering not to hold your UV bulb directly as it will leave an oil film on it, which can heat up and burn through the bulb), then slot it back into place.

1.6 You can now fit your quartz sleeve back into your electrical housing by sliding it back over the bulb, you need to check that the two O-rings are clean and correctly put in place otherwise water can leak in to the electrics.

1.7 Now replace the locking collar down over the quartz sleeve, this should be tightened just until it stops and then no more.

1.8 You will now be able to refit the electrical housing, it can only be fitted in one position so don’t try and force it into place as it will be an easy fit. Once the housing is in position replace the 5 screws and fully tighten them to activate the interlocking switch.

1.9 Now turn the diverter back to the pond position and place the cleaning handle back to its stowage position.

1.10 You can now restart your filter pump and then check your unit carefully for any leaks. Once you’re sure that the unit is safe you can now switch on the UV. Check for a blue glow from the UV light to make sure it is working.

How to look after your quartz tube:

It is important to check your quartz sleeve whenever you change your bulb as briefly mentioned in 1.5 previously. In hard water areas you may need to check it every 3 months as a build up of limescale can often occur on your quartz tube which will affect the efficiency of your Bioforce Revolution Unit. To clean the quartz use a damp cloth and gently remove all the debris that you can. Make sure to be careful as quartz is a very brittle material.

How to replace the Cypricube foams in your Bioforce

It is important like with any other filter to check your foams annually, this does not mean they will need replacing every year, this depends on the ponds set up and stocking density.

If you find that your foams do need to be replaced it is advised to change them in the winter, at this time of year the beneficial bacteria is not as important as feeding is kept to a very minimal. If you really think that the foams need to be changed in the feeding season only change half of them to allow bacteria to colonise on the new foams.

To change the foams:

1.1 First of all you need to switch off the power supply to your pump and filter.

1.2 Now turn the diverter valve to waste, this as previously mentioned allows the pressure in the filter to equalise allowing a much easier removal of the lid.

1.3 To be able to get into the main body of the Bioforce Revolution Filter you will need to unlatch the lid clamp, this can be done by pulling the clamp lever towards yourself and sliding the clamp down the body of the filter. Gently release and remove the lid by using the two levers (supplied) in the opposite slots (it may help to remove the hosing on your filter).

1.4 Lift away lid of your unit and put it safely to one side to be reattached later. Scoop out as much of the foam as you need to change, then lift the unit and empty all of the water from the base unit. Do this over a net to catch all of the biomedia and place this into a bucket of pond water so that it does not die.

1.5 You will find the bottom of your filter will have a layer of sludge, rinse this clean with your hose pipe and empty this onto your plants (remember pond sludge makes an excellent fertilizer).

1.6 Now empty your media into your pond over the top of your pond so the water goes back into your pond. Replace your media back into your filter making sure it goes around the bio-trumpet as shown in the picture below.

1.7 Now place the foam bucket back into the filter, then rotate this so that the small triangles at the top of the foam bucket align with one of the vertical lines on the inside of the filter vessel as shown in the below diagram. If these do not line up the lid will not fit back onto the unit properly.

1.8 You will now be able to refit the electrical housing, it can only be fitted in one position so don’t try and force it into place as it will be an easy fit. Once the housing is in position replace the 5 screws and fully tighten them to activate the interlocking switch.

1.9 Now turn the diverter back to the pond position and place the cleaning handle back to its stowage position.

1.10 You can now restart your filter pump and then check your unit carefully for any leaks. Once you’re sure that the unit is safe you can now switch on the UV. Check for a blue glow from the UV light to make sure it is working.

How to look after your quartz tube

1.1 It is important to check your quartz sleeve whenever you change your bulb as briefly mentioned in 1.5 previously. In hard water areas you may need to check it every 3 months as a build up of limescale can often occur on your quartz tube which will affect the efficiency of your Bioforce Revolution Unit. To clean the quartz use a damp cloth and gently remove all the debris that you can. Make sure to be careful as quartz is a very brittle material.