Rotary Drum Filter or RDF
What is a Rotary Drum Filter?
A Rotary drum filter (RDF) is a fully automatic self-cleaning filter system, used in aquaculture, (koi) ponds, (large) aquariums, natural swimming pools and wastewater treatment. Water flows through a drum with a fine mesh filter screen. This screen captures particles, debris, and waste, cleaning the water as it passes through. These small and large particles are filtered from the water in a quick mechanical way and automatically discharged into the sewer. During the rinse process, the drum filter continues the filter process without any interruption, which makes it a very efficient pre-filter system with little to no maintenance!



How does a rotary drum filter work?
1. Water Flow:
- Water from the pond/system is directed to the RDF where it flows through the inlets into the first chamber of the filter. Depending on your installation, you can use one or more inlets. From here the water flows to the second chamber where it enters the drum.
2. Filtration Process:
- As water passes through the mesh of the filter panel which is installed around the drum, solid particles larger than the mesh's pore size are trapped on the inner surface of the drum. Our drum filters are supplied as standard with a 70 micron filter panel, capable of filtering out fine particulates such as fish waste, uneaten food, algae, and other organic matter.
3. Cleaning Process:
- As soon as the filter panel is saturated, a sensor will register this and the automatic system will start the cleaning/rinse process. The drum will start rotating and the stainless steel nozzles rinse the solids off the filter panel into the drain gutter. The nozzles are fed by an high-pressure rinse pump that is connected to the filter with 2 reinforced EPDM hoses.
- Frequency of Cleaning: This cycle repeats as often as necessary and fully automatically! The filtration continues on the clean filter panel during the rinse process, this allowing a continuous filtration process.
4. Waste Removal:
- The dirt flows out through the drain gutter and can be collected in a tray for manual removal or automatically flushed away to a drain. This design minimizes the need for manual intervention, making the system almost maintenance free.
5. Control System:
- The drum filter comes with a special control box. All parts (rinse pump, drum motor, sensor) have neoprene cables with waterproof gold-plated connectors that ensure an optimal connection without the risk of short circuit.
In the video below we explain how a rotary drum filter functions and the best way to install.
Benefits of Using a Rotary Drum Filter:
- Improved Water Clarity: By removing particles, the water becomes clearer, which is not only aesthetically pleasing but also healthier for aquatic life.
- Reduced Biological Load: Less organic material in the water reduces the load on biological filtration systems, leading to more stable water conditions.
- Energy Efficiency: Since the cleaning cycles are automated and need-based, energy usage is optimized, and the system operates only when necessary.
- Ease of Maintenance: Automation means less hands-on work for the user. When maintenance is required, it's generally simpler, like replacing the mesh or cleaning the waste tray.
- Scalability: RDFs can be scaled to match the size of the pond or system, from small garden ponds to large commercial aquaculture setups.
- Durability: High-quality materials such as 316L stainless steel and polypropylene from Germany ensure that these units will last for years.
- Energy Efficient. Our drum filters are designed in such a way that water can flow through the filter without back pressure, unlike the well-known old bead filters.


Why do many people choose a rotary drum filter (RDF)?
Investing in a Rotary Drum Filter means embracing a technology that simplifies water management, enhances the health of aquatic life, and ensures that your pond or system remains a vibrant, clear, and ecologically balanced environment. Whether you're a hobbyist with a Koi pond or managing a commercial aquaculture operation, an RDF is a game-changer in water quality maintenance.
Why Choose a Rotary Drum Filter for Various Applications:
- Regulatory Compliance: Many regions have stringent water quality and waste discharge regulations for aquaculture. Our filters help meet these standards by effectively treating water, potentially simplifying compliance efforts.
- Supports Intensive Farming: For intensive aquaculture systems where fish are kept at higher densities, maintaining water quality is paramount. Our drum filter supports these conditions by providing high-capacity, continuous filtration.
- Ease of Integration: Our drum filters can be integrated into existing systems or designed into new setups, offering flexibility in terms of installation and adaptation to various farm layouts.
- Consistent Water Quality: Our filter provides consistent filtration performance, ensuring stable water conditions across different parts of your farm, which is essential for uniform fish growth and health.
- Water Conservation: By filtering and recycling water efficiently, our drum filter helps in conserving water, a valuable resource in aquaculture. This not only reduces operational costs but also supports sustainable farming practices, especially important in regions where water is scarce.
By incorporating our rotary drum filters into your aquaculture setup, you're not only enhancing the health and growth of your aquatic stock but also improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and promoting environmentally friendly practices.
- Automation and Reduced Labor: The self-cleaning feature of the drum filter drastically reduces the need for manual cleaning. This automation is particularly beneficial in large-scale fish farms where labor costs can be significant. Staff can focus on other aspects of farm management rather than on constant filter maintenance.
- High Filtration Efficiency: Our drum filter efficiently removes solid waste from the water, including fish feces, uneaten feed, and other particles. This leads to cleaner water with lower levels of ammonia, nitrite, and other harmful substances, which is critical for the health and growth of fish in aquaculture settings.
- Fish Health and Growth: Cleaner water conditions promote healthier fish, leading to faster growth rates, higher survival rates, and better overall fish quality. This directly impacts the productivity and profitability of your farm.
- Energy Efficiency: Designed to be energy-efficient, our drum filters minimize energy consumption, which is crucial for reducing ongoing operational costs, especially when dealing with large volumes of water.
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Durability: Made from high quality polypropylene from Germany and stainless steel 316L, these filters withstand the harsh aquatic environment, offering longevity and reliability.
By choosing our drum filter for your fish farm, you're investing in a system that not only enhances the health and productivity of your fish but also streamlines operations, reduces costs, and supports environmentally responsible aquaculture practices.
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Crystal Clear Water: Our drum filter efficiently removes particles such as waste, leaves, and other debris, ensuring that your Koi pond remains clear. This clarity not only enhances the visual appeal of your Koi but also makes them more vibrant and visible, which is particularly important for showcasing these prized fish.
- Healthier Koi: Cleaner water means lower levels of harmful substances like ammonia and nitrite. Koi thrive in clean environments, and by maintaining high water quality, you reduce stress on the fish, promote better health, and prevent diseases, which can lead to fewer health issues and longer lifespans for your Koi.
- Reduced Maintenance: The self-cleaning mechanism of our drum filter significantly cuts down on the manual labor required for pond maintenance. Instead of regularly cleaning or changing mechanical filters, the drum filter does this automatically, allowing you more time to enjoy your pond rather than maintain it.
- Energy Efficiency: Designed to operate with low energy consumption, our drum filters help keep your operational costs down. This is beneficial for long-term pond management, especially when considering the continuous operation of pond equipment.
- Supports Biological Filtration: While primarily mechanical, our filter works in concert with biological filtration systems by providing clean water that doesn't overwhelm the biofilter, promoting a healthier environment for beneficial bacteria to thrive.
- Enhances Koi Coloration: Clear water allows sunlight to penetrate better, which can enhance the natural colors of Koi, making them more striking and healthy-looking.
Incorporating our drum filter into your Koi pond setup ensures that you're providing the best environment for your fish to thrive, with less effort on your part, and with an eye towards both aesthetic and ecological benefits.
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High Filtration Capacity: Large aquariums require filtration systems that can handle substantial water volumes. Our rotary drum filter is designed to manage high flow rates, ensuring that even the largest tanks maintain pristine water conditions.
- Efficient Particle Removal: It excels at removing both large and fine particulates from the water, including fish waste, uneaten food, and other debris. This efficiency leads to clearer water and a healthier environment for aquatic life.
- Automated Cleaning: The self-cleaning mechanism reduces the need for manual intervention. In large aquariums, where maintenance can be labor-intensive, this feature is invaluable, saving both time and labor costs.
- Energy Efficiency: Given the scale of large aquariums, energy consumption can be significant. Our filters are designed to operate efficiently, reducing the overall energy cost of maintaining water quality.
- Enhanced Aesthetics: For public aquariums, where visual appeal is part of the experience, our filter contributes to maintaining water clarity, which enhances the viewing pleasure for visitors, potentially boosting visitor satisfaction and return rates.
By selecting our rotary drum filter for your large aquarium, you're investing in a system that not only ensures the health and beauty of your aquatic environment but also simplifies maintenance, reduces operational costs, and enhances the visitor experience.
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Superior Water Clarity: Our rotary drum filter excels at removing particulate matter, ensuring that the water in your fish tanks remains crystal clear. This clarity enhances the visual appeal of your fish, making them more attractive to potential buyers.
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Healthier Fish Environment: By efficiently filtering out waste, uneaten food, and other debris, the filter maintains optimal water quality, reducing ammonia and nitrite levels. This leads to healthier fish, which can translate into fewer health issues, less disease, and ultimately, more robust stock for sale.
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Reduced Disease Spread: Cleaner water means a lower risk of disease transmission between tanks. Since fish stores often house multiple species in close proximity, keeping water conditions pristine is crucial for preventing outbreaks that could affect your entire inventory.
- Low Maintenance: The self-cleaning feature of the rotary drum filter significantly reduces the time and labor required for tank maintenance. This allows staff to focus more on customer service or other critical tasks rather than on extensive cleaning.
- Professional Appearance: A clean, well-maintained store not only looks professional but also builds customer trust. The clarity and health of your tanks can significantly impact a customer's perception of your store's expertise and care standards.
By integrating our rotary drum filter into your fish store, you not only enhance the health and beauty of your aquatic inventory but also streamline operations, reduce costs, and create a more engaging and professional retail environment.
- Maintaining the ecological balance: Our rotary drum filter works in harmony with the natural processes of a swimming pool that mimics a pond or lake. It removes larger debris while allowing beneficial microorganisms to flourish, maintaining the ecological balance essential for a natural swimming pool.
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The self-cleaning feature of our rotary drum filter means you spend less time maintaining your pool. This automated process removes the hassle of frequent manual cleaning, allowing you to enjoy your pool more.
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Clear Water Without Sacrificing Ecology: The filter helps maintain water clarity, which is appealing for swimmers, without compromising the biodiversity within the pool. This balance is key to the appeal of natural swimming pools.
- Healthier Swimming Environment: Cleaner water with fewer contaminants means a reduced risk of skin irritations or infections for swimmers. The filtration system helps maintain water quality that supports both the health of the swimmers and the pool's ecosystem.
- Promotes Healthier Ecosystem: By filtering out only the larger, harmful particles, the system supports a diverse ecosystem, including plants and microorganisms, which naturally purify the water. This promotes a living, breathing environment in your pool.
Using our rotary drum filter ensures that your natural swimming pool remains a beautiful, functional, and sustainable part of your landscape, where you can swim safely and enjoy the benefits of being in a natural aquatic environment.
Aquaponics:
- Efficient Waste Removal: The filter removes solid waste from the water before it can clog or harm the delicate plant roots or biofilters. This includes fish waste, uneaten food, and other debris, ensuring that only nutrient-rich water reaches the plants.
- Energy Efficiency: These filters are designed to operate with minimal energy consumption, which is vital for maintaining cost-effectiveness in aquaponics where energy costs can be significant.
- Scalability: Whether you run a small home setup or a commercial aquaponics farm, you can easily expand your system with additional drum filters to suit the specific needs of your system, making it an excellent choice as your business grows.
- Minimizes Pathogen Spread: By removing organic matter that could harbor pathogens, the filter helps in maintaining a disease-free environment, which is critical for the health of both fish and plants.
- Optimizes System Performance: With cleaner, more stable water conditions, the entire aquaponics system can operate at peak efficiency, leading to higher productivity and potentially better quality produce.
Incorporating our rotary drum filter into your aquaponics setup ensures that you're not only maintaining but enhancing the symbiotic relationship between fish and plants, leading to a more productive, sustainable, and manageable aquaponics system.
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Prevents Clogging: The primary function of our rotary drum filter is to remove solid particles from the nutrient solution before they can clog the system's emitters, drip lines, or root zones. This prevents blockages that could otherwise disrupt nutrient delivery to plants.
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Reduces Root Rot and Disease: Cleaner water means less likelihood of root diseases caused by pathogens that thrive in dirty, clogged systems. Healthy roots are essential for the uptake of nutrients and water, directly affecting plant health and yield.
- Automation and Reduced Maintenance: The self-cleaning feature of the rotary drum filter significantly reduces the need for manual cleaning and maintenance. This is particularly valuable in hydroponics where system stability is crucial, and labor can be a significant cost.
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Water Clarity: Maintains clear water, which is essential for monitoring plant health and system performance.
- Energy Efficiency: Our filters are designed to operate with low energy consumption, helping to keep operational costs down, which is critical in large-scale or long-term hydroponic setups.
By integrating our rotary drum filter into your hydroponics installation, you ensure that your plants have the best environment to thrive, with cleaner, more stable nutrient solutions, leading to healthier plants, increased yields, and reduced maintenance headaches.
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Superior Water Clarity: Horses produce a significant amount of hair, dirt, and other debris when swimming. Our rotary drum filter removes these particulates efficiently, ensuring the pool water remains clear and clean, which is essential for visibility and safety.
- Health and Safety of Horses: Cleaner water reduces the risk of infections or skin conditions for horses, making swimming a safer and healthier activity. The filter helps maintain water quality that supports muscle recovery and conditioning without the risks associated with dirty water.
- Reduced Maintenance: The self-cleaning mechanism of our filter decreases the frequency and intensity of manual cleaning required. This is particularly beneficial in managing the upkeep of large horse swimming pools where maintenance can be labor-intensive.
- Efficient Waste Removal: Horses can leave behind a lot of organic matter in the water. Our filter captures this waste before it can decompose, which could otherwise lead to poor water quality and an increase in harmful bacteria.
- Energy Efficiency: Our rotary drum filters are designed to operate with minimal energy consumption, which helps in managing the operational costs of maintaining a horse swimming pool, especially when considering the continuous filtration needed.
- Compliance with Equine Health Standards: For facilities that must adhere to certain health and welfare standards for horses, our filter ensures the water quality meets or exceeds these requirements, promoting an environment conducive to equine health.
Using our professional rotary drum filter in your Equine Horse Swimming Pool ensures that you provide the best conditions for your horses to swim, recover, and train, while also making pool management more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious.
Biological Load
Biological Load in the context of aquatic systems like ponds, aquariums, or aquaculture setups, refers to the amount of organic waste, primarily from decomposing fish waste, uneaten food, dead plants, and other biological materials that accumulate in the water.
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Fish Waste: Includes solid feces and urine, which are rich in nitrogenous compounds like ammonia.
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Uneaten Food: Food particles that settle at the bottom or float in the water decompose, contributing to the organic load.
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Decaying Plant Matter: Dead leaves, stems, or algae that rot away add to the biological load.
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Microorganisms: Bacteria, algae, and other microbes that grow on organic waste, consuming oxygen and potentially creating toxins.
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Water Quality Degradation:
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Ammonia and Nitrate Increase: As waste decomposes, it releases ammonia, which converts to nitrite and then nitrate through the nitrogen cycle. High levels of these can be toxic to aquatic life.
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Reduced Oxygen Levels: Decomposition is an oxygen-consuming process, which can lead to low oxygen levels, stressing or even killing aquatic organisms.
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Algal Blooms:
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Excess nutrients from the biological waste can fuel the growth of algae, leading to unsightly blooms, which can further reduce oxygen levels at night when photosynthesis stops.
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Increased Disease Risk:
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High organic content can lead to an increase in pathogenic bacteria or parasites, posing health risks to fish and other aquatic life.
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Water Clarity:
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The water can become cloudy or murky, reducing visibility and aesthetic appeal.
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Filtration Systems: Effective mechanical filters (like the RDF discussed earlier) remove particulates, while biological filters host beneficial bacteria that convert toxic ammonia and nitrite into less harmful nitrate.
What makes Aqua Exclusive™ special:
- Own production facility in the Netherlands.
- Production, development and designing is done in-house.
- Handmade with the utmost care and precision
- Our products meet the highest standard, professional quality.
- Unique customer service, 24/7 available!

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