
Russell Professional Pond & Pondless Products
Hydro FilterSilk™ Biological Filter Media
High-Flow Biological Filtration + Fine Water Polishing
Hydro FilterSilk™ is a highly open biological filter media designed to provide both biological filtration and fine water polishing while remaining remarkably easy to clean.
Unlike dense filter pads or bags of loose biological media, FilterSilk™ expands to fill the filtration chamber with a three-dimensional network of HDPE mesh. Its more than 90% open structure allows water to move freely through the media while providing extensive surface area for beneficial bacteria.
Fine suspended particles can also become captured throughout the media, helping polish the water after larger debris has already been removed by a pond skimmer or pre-filter.

Designed to Stay in the Filter
Hydro FilterSilk™ was developed specifically for Hydro Vortex™ backwashable waterfall filters.
During routine backwashing, the FilterSilk™ stays inside the filter. Its highly open structure allows water and loosened material to move through the media and out the filter drain.
No filter pads to remove. No heavy media bags to lift. No routine media replacement.
FilterSilk™ can also be used as biological media in many other types of pond filtration systems.

Hydro FilterSilk™ Features
- 1.83 cubic feet per package
- Highly open HDPE mesh construction
- More than 90% open space for unrestricted water movement
- Large surface area for beneficial bacteria
- Provides biological filtration and fine water polishing
- Rinses clean with low-pressure water
- Designed for effective backwashing
- Does not deteriorate like conventional filter pads
- Suitable for ponds and pondless waterfalls
- Made for Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filters and adaptable to many other biological filters

One Media. Two Jobs.
Biological Filtration
Provides extensive surface area for beneficial bacteria that help process dissolved waste in recirculating water.
Fine Water Polishing
Captures smaller suspended particles that have already passed through the pond skimmer or pre-filter, helping produce cleaner, clearer water.
Install it once. Backwash it when needed.

Open by Design. Easy to Clean.
Hydro FilterSilk™ was developed to provide the surface area biological filtration needs without packing the filter chamber with dense media that is difficult to clean.
Its three-dimensional HDPE mesh is more than 90% open space, allowing water to move freely throughout the media while providing extensive surface area for beneficial bacteria.
That open structure also allows accumulated fine material to be released during rinsing and backwashing.
High Water Flow • Biological Filtration • Fine Water Polishing • Easy Backwashing

More Than 90% Open Space
Biological filtration depends on more than surface area. Water also needs to move through the media.
Hydro FilterSilk™ creates a large three-dimensional network of HDPE strands while leaving more than 90% of the media volume open for water movement.
This allows oxygenated water to circulate throughout the media rather than forcing it through dense layers of filter material.
Lots of surface area for beneficial bacteria. Lots of open space for water.

Designed for Low-Pressure Cleaning
Dense filter pads can hold fine material deep within their structure, often requiring more aggressive rinsing to clean thoroughly.
Hydro FilterSilk™ takes a different approach.
Its highly open mesh allows loosened material and water to move through the media, allowing it to be cleaned with low-pressure water.
For pond applications, gentler cleaning also helps preserve more of the established biological community living on the media.
Clean the media without aggressively blasting it clean.

Made for Backwashing
Hydro FilterSilk™ was developed specifically for Hydro Vortex™ backwashable waterfall filters.
Unlike filter pads that normally have to be removed for thorough cleaning, FilterSilk™ remains inside the Hydro Vortex™ during routine backwashing.
Water and loosened material can move through its open structure and exit through the filter's bottom drain.
With the optional HydroFlush™ Backwash System, the water feature's existing pump provides the backwashing flow.
No filter pads to pull out. No heavy media bags to lift. No routine media replacement.

One Media Provides Two Types of Filtration
Biological Filtration
The three-dimensional HDPE structure provides extensive surface area where beneficial bacteria can colonize and help process dissolved waste in recirculating pond water.
Fine Water Polishing
The same three-dimensional structure captures smaller suspended particles that have already passed through the pond skimmer or pre-filter.
Instead of using separate filter pads for fine filtration and separate media for biological filtration, Hydro FilterSilk™ performs both functions within the same media chamber.

Fills the Filter — Not Just Part of It
Hydro FilterSilk™ expands and conforms to the shape of the filter chamber.
Instead of several individual pads or bags occupying portions of the filter, the open mesh spreads throughout the available media chamber, creating a large three-dimensional filtration area.
Each package contains 1.83 cubic feet of Hydro FilterSilk™.

Built for Long-Term Use
Hydro FilterSilk™ is manufactured from durable HDPE (high-density polyethylene) mesh.
Unlike conventional filter pads that can deteriorate and require frequent replacement, Hydro FilterSilk™ is intended for routine backwashing and to remain in the filtration system long-term.
That means fewer consumable filter components and one less recurring maintenance expense.
Install it once. Backwash it when needed.

Hydro FilterSilk™ at a Glance
| Feature | Hydro FilterSilk™ |
|---|---|
| Material | HDPE thermoplastic mesh |
| Package Volume | 1.83 cu. ft. |
| Open Space | More than 90% |
| Primary Functions | Biological filtration + fine water polishing |
| Cleaning | Low-pressure rinsing / backwashing |
| Routine Media Removal | Not required in Hydro Vortex™ filters |
| Routine Replacement | Not required |
| Color | Black |
| Primary Application | Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filters |
| Other Applications | Adaptable to many biological filtration systems |




































