Manufacturers:
Advantage Bead Filters are manufactured by Sacramento Koi, located in Rocklin, California. Sacramento Koi president, Steve Walker is also the developer of the Advantage bead filtration system. AlphaONE Filters are produced by Grand Champion Technologies based in Oklahoma, known as GCTek. In addition to developing the AlphaONE filter line, Gary Curie, president of GCTek, also developed the best-selling AquaBead line of filters.
Maximum pond size:
AlphaONE filters are available in a wide variety of sizes and are designed for Koi ponds up to 35,000 gallons. Advantage Bead Filters are available in three sizes and provide complete biological and mechanical filtration for Koi ponds up to 15,000 gallons. For pools over 15,000 gallons, many Advantage owners prefer to install Multiple Advantage Bead Filters.
Recommendations for pre-filtering:
Since the Advantage Bead Filters do such an amazing job in both mechanical and biological filtration, the manufacturer does not think that a prefilter is necessary for most ponds. If you want to add a pre-filter to your Advantage filter, Sacramento Coy recommends the Advantage House of Settlements. AlphaONE filters also function perfectly as stand-alone filters and usually do not require a pre-filter. If a pre-filter is required; however, GCTek recommends Vortek SS Delux.
Bio Media:
Advantage Bead Filters use Advantage's patented bioavailability, which is not offered with any other filter on the market. This media is not sold separately and is included with any Advantage razor filter. Thanks to its unique design, Advantage's biocompatibility provides exceptional mechanical filtration and removal of small particles, as well as providing maximum surface area for favorable bacterial growth. Advantage filter media also resists sewers. AlphaONE filters use AlphaONE's proprietary bi-media. This unique filter provides exceptional mechanical filtration and also provides a high surface area for favorable bacterial growth. Due to its unique shape, AlphaONE environments offer less collision resistance than comparable types of filter media on the market, which ensures a high flow rate.
Clean the dome cover:
Both the Advantage Bead Filters and AlphaONE Filters filters have a transparent dome lid, which allows the pond owner to visually see when it is time to backwash the filter.
Media Mixer:
AlphaONE Filters include a powerful 1.5HP media blender that assists in backwashing. The agitator, part of Advantage Filters, is actually 2 hp, making it the most powerful media agitator offered with any commercial bead filter system on the market today.
Head Pressure:
Advantage Bead Filters and AlphaONE Filters provide comparable levels of total dynamic head and can be used with today's energy efficient pumps. For maximum performance, both respective manufacturers recommend using their filters with PerformancePro Artesian2 pumps.
Service:
To ensure optimum water quality, it is recommended that both Advantage Bead Filters and AlphaONE Filters be rewashed. In general, it is recommended to have regular maintenance on a weekly basis. The actual maintenance process for both filter systems takes less than 5 minutes.
Available updates:
AlphaONE filters are available in small-head versions, allowing high flow rates to be achieved using a much smaller, more energy-efficient pump. The low head version of the Advantage Filters, commonly known as the Advantage Pro Series, was discontinued by the manufacturer and is no longer available - which makes AlphaONE LH Filters the only low beam filter systems sold in the United States.
Available all-in-one systems:
Available as part of Advantage Plug and Play, these comprehensive all-in-one filter systems include the Advantage Bead Filter, PerformancePro Artesian2, and the Emperor Aquatics SMART high-performance Ultraviolet sterilizer. AlphaONE filters are available in both AlphaONE Plus Systems and Mashimizu systems. AlphaONE Systems includes AlphaONE Filter, Pentair Pump, and Zapp Pure UV Sterilizer, one of the best UV brighteners on the market today. The word Mashimizu means "clean water" in Japan. Mashimizu filters are always popular with experienced koi keepers and include AlphaONE Filter, WunderFlo Pump, Vortek SS Delux Pre-Filter and Zapp Pure UV Clarifier, all of which are pre-set to weather resistant.
Guarantee:
Both Biose Bi-Filter and AlphaONE filters are controlled by limited protection against defects. Sacramento Koi also offers an unconditional guarantee that all Advantage bead filters are satisfied. This means that you can purchase an Advantage filter, install it on your pond and use it for up to one year. If you are not 100% satisfied, you can return your Advantage filter for a full refund, and the manufacturer will even absorb shipping costs! No filter maker offers this guarantee of quality iron.
Cost of delivery:
Because of their size and weight, most Advantage and AlphaONE systems are shipped exclusively through shared media. Shipping costs for AlphaONE Filters are usually absorbed by dealers for AlphaONE units for orders in the adjacent US. Due to manufacturer restrictions; however, it is generally not possible to avoid shipping costs on Advantage systems.
Call Challenge:
California ponds and water gardens, based in Victorville, CA, are the only Advantage Beat Filters iron filter dealers in North America. Cal Ponds also keeps an inventory of AlphaONE filtration systems for local customers. Calls for calls to Advantage filters can also be arranged from the manufacturer in Rocklin, California.
If you are doing pressure ball filter tests for your Koi pond, you most likely realized that the two on-board filters on the market are above the rest. Advantage Bead Filter, manufactured by Sacramento Koi and AlphaONE Filter by GCTek, is often referred to as the “Lamborghini and Ferrari Pond Filtration Industry” by experienced pond producers around the world. These premium pond filtration systems are renamed to provide superior performance, requiring significantly less maintenance time than filters for competitors' ponds. This article aims to provide pond owners with a high-level comparison of some of the key features that distinguish these filters to help them make an informed purchasing decision.
