“TO BUMP, OR NOT TO BUMP"

As an RMF Professional, I often get asked when it is appropriate to “bump” a Regenerative Filter; here’s my take on the subject:

Bumping can typically take place automatically using pressure differential as a gauge. Allowing the pressure to build up on the filter tubes before bumping allows the media to cake on to the tubes, making it harder to remove from the filter when it’s time to replace the media. When you perform a media change, you will notice that globs of media tend to stay on the tubes, caked on by the higher pressures exerted against the media. This leads to the need to open the filter, and manually wash down the filter tubes, or the need for a chemical wash.

You can also bump frequently, allowing your media to stay “loose” – meaning you will get better media cycles from your filter, as well as less tendencies to require a chemical clean or even washing down of your filter tubes. Pressure still builds up over time, but with less caking of the media. I also recommend 4-5 drain and rinses instead of the standard of 2 during media changes, or until the water remains clear after the filling and bumping process; this ensures that your tubes are as clean as possible and will accept the new media charge as if the tubes were brand new.

With that said, I prefer the latter, and I think a minimum requirement of once-a-day bumping will suffice. Watch your equipment warranties, as items such as UV systems, for example, offer warranties on their bulbs based on hours of use, and the number of lamp strikes in the given period (One manufacturer mandates no more than 1 lamp strike per day, meaning you can’t bump more than once a day, or you risk voiding your bulb warranty if you have this UV system).

In conclusion - daily bumping offers improved filter media cycles, and less caking of the media over time, which means less need to open the filter to manually clean your tubes.