The ERIC range

ERIC filter systems have been produced specifically for those enthusiasts wishing to provide their quality Nishikigoi with prime water conditions.

However, as they produce ‘koi water’ they are equally perfect for lower grades of koi and all other species of pond fish.
The principles of traditional pond filtration systems work on upward-flow water patterns either in single units or multiples. Some operate on downward-flow patterns or the DIY so-called ‘block-built’ rise and fall units.
ERIC units operate on natural horizontal-flow water patterns which simulate the flow of a river or stream. Water flow is coerced, by intense aeration at specific points, into moving forward as an entire ‘block’, rather than in normal ‘layers’.
The name ‘ERIC’ is an abbreviation of ‘Endless River In Concrete’. Originally it was suggested that the outer box was built in concrete and then waterproofed. However this proved to be very costly and so ready-made units are now available but the name ERIC remains.
There are three vital requirements of ERIC units:
1. A stock of live fish in the pond.
2. All ERIC units should be gravity-fed from a single 4” (110mm) pond bottom drain, and not ‘pump-fed’ from the pond base.
3. The principle of ‘One Drain to One Filter to One Pump’ is used.

Stand alone units
ERIC units require no mechanical pre-filtration units or extra pumps between the bottom drain and the unit itself, nor do they require any further ‘polishers’ after the unit. ERIC systems are stand-alone island units; all items needed are openly contained within the boxes and nothing needs accessing outside of the box. Landscaping / backfilling can be made directly to the outer box. In view of this, when the system is built ‘in-ground’, there is no need for costly and space-taking underground ‘bomb shelters’ with ample base area for turning valves, four walls, access steps and weighty covers.
All ERIC units are intentionally 20 inches (500mm) wide and 22 inches (550mm) deep internally. It is only the length of the box that varies. All units come complete with a built-in overflow and a total drain line purge facility comes as standard.
When the pond and filter system is at level (water pump ‘off’), the water level in the box should be one inch (20 to 25mm) below the top of the box. This determines the height of the three to four-inch thick simple support base for each installation. When the water pump at the end of the filter is switched on initially, the water level in the box will drop before stabilising at the normal running level. This varies as to the pumping rate (flow rate) applied. The ensuing slight rise in pond level will hardly be visible.
The flow rates relate to the optimum performance of the totally unique EricMat blocks in the biological stages of all models, although all units can handle a far greater flow rate with no possible danger of blockage.
The units are available to order with a four-inch or a 110mm connection to the discharge box, soak-away or sewer. Rapid daily discharge times are all based on this bore of waste tube, which plays a large part in the perfect backwashing of the brush box when total discharge takes place. If the bore of the discharge outlet is reduced, it will not only add significant time to these discharges, but it will also impair the efficiency of the total box clean out.
Recommended running and operating instructions for the entire ERIC range can be found at www.ericpondfilters.com.

Important information: discharge recommendations for all ERIC units
The filter box of any koi pond system is merely the lavatory of the system. All lavatories require flushing periodically and ERIC units are no exception to this rule. Although they can be left almost indefinitely without attention, this is not recommended if optimum conditions for the koi are to be maintained. In view of this it is recommended that all ERIC units are completely flushed to waste on a daily basis. As a result of this daily flushing the unit will continue to run as though it is brand new.
Fortunately this takes less time than it takes to feed your koi, and the cleaning of the box is completely thorough. When the full discharge has been completed and the pond immediately returned to normal running operation, the drop in pond water level is hardly detectable. Add to this the highly recommended ‘constant trickle’ of new mains water to the system, and the old chores of waiting for ‘topping-up’ with excessive amounts of mains water will never arise.
To give an idea of the time taken for a complete daily discharge of these units, these times have been recorded from switching off the pump to switching back on:
ERIC Four: 90 seconds
ERIC Three: 65 seconds
ERIC Two: 40 seconds
If you would like more information about the ERIC filtration system, go to www.ericpondfilters.com.