Do you have a BIOFALLS waterfall filter?

Here's how we clean them!

Below is a summary of key tips that are outlined in this video.  To watch this video in it's entirety, click on the video - and be sure to leave your comments

The transcript from the YouTube video titled "How to CLEAN an Aquascape Biofalls | Bonus PRO TIP Content!" by Columbia Water Gardens.

This video, by Carl from Columbia Water Gardens, demonstrates how to properly clean a Biofalls filter without disturbing the rock tray and discusses the bacteria that colonize the filter media.

Summary of Aquascape Biofalls Cleaning

1. When to Clean Your Biofalls

  • Visual Cues: It's time to clean when you see:
    • An accumulation of debris collecting in the stream bed [01:05:00].
    • Debris collecting on top of the biofalls unit [02:50:00].
    • Water in the pond starting to look green [01:34:00].

2. Cleaning Steps and Techniques

  • Step 1: Turn Off Pump: Always turn off the skimmer pump before starting [03:00:00].
  • Step 2: Remove Media: Gently remove any decorative rocks, then take out the bags of lava rock or bioballs, and finally, the filter pads [07:43:00]. The filter pads can be bent and flexed around the rock tray without having to remove the rock tray itself [08:50:00].
  • Step 3: Flush the Unit: Use a submersible pump to remove the murky sludge water from the biofalls unit. Then, turn the skimmer pump back on briefly to let clean pond water rinse out the bottom of the biofalls and stream bed [09:38:00].
  • Step 4: Clean the Pads: Clean the filter pads using the force of the pond water(e.g., from the discharge of a submersible pump) rather than a garden hose [12:04:00]. The goal is to get the pads from "thick and matted down with gunk" to mostly clean, not spotless [13:09:00].

3. Post-Cleaning and Bacteria Discussion

  • Recharge the Biofalls: After cleaning, it is recommended to "turbo charge" the reset of the biofalls by treating the pond with extra beneficial bacteria, specifically Aquascape Sludge and Filter Cleaner[01:43:00].
  • Water Treatment: If the water change volume is less than 25% of the pond's volume (which is typical during this process), you generally do not need to use pond detoxifier[05:22:00].
  • Lava Rock vs. Bioballs: Lava rock is porous, allowing for the growth of **anaerobic bacteria** (consumes nitrate) inside the rock. **Aerobic (beneficial) bacteria** colonize the outside surface [01:44:00].

Video Details: