Super Jet Filter is sturdy and stable just as it appears. We can count on it being reliable enough to not have to worry about filtration. As some of you may know, this product is produced one at a time by hand. Although its function and appearance is very simple, extra attention is given to every detail. In this article, we are going to bring you the story behind the development of the Super Jet Filter.
Aqua Journal: A stainless steel, external filter is rather unusual, isn't it?
Amano: We are the first one in the world to use stainless steel for an external filter.
Aqua Journal: First one in the world? Awesome! But why did you decide to use stainless steel?
Amano: All other manufacturers were using plastics. However, I decided to use stainless steel not only because of its durability, but also because it looks attractive as peripheral equipment for Nature Aquarium.
Aqua Journal: What are the characteristics of stainless steel?
Amano: It is basically rust proof, sturdy, and resistant to scratching. It dissipates heat well so that it helps against high temperatures in the summer time. Plastics look unattractive when scratched.
Aqua Journal: It’s important that an external filter is watertight. I suppose that it is difficult to get stainless steel parts to fit perfectly. What did you have to do to prevent a water leak?
Amano: The most difficult thing to come up with was the means to fasten the canister and the top plate together securely. Buckles are used to secure the parts together on a Super Jet Filter. When a filter is turned on, water pressurizes the filter from inside. Mechanically, holding the parts securely together under pressure is quite difficult. Any slack will cause a water leak. The strength of the fastener is important.
Aqua Journal: A rather unlikely part was quite important, wasn’t it? I understand that the development of the buckle took a long time.
Amano: That’s right. I did not know how to fasten the top plate initially. I left it up to a development engineer, but he could not come up with one. In the end, I came up with the buckle myself. I got a hint from the buckle on a camera’s housing that is used to take a picture underwater. So it’s more like it took time to find the right part rather than developing one. Since underwater camera housing is also used in the deep sea and the buckle can withstand that kind of water pressure, it matched the specification perfectly.
Aqua Journal: I see that the part of the filter where the buckles are attached is a bit larger than the other part.
Amano: This section where the top plate is secured is the most critical part in order to prevent a water leak. It’s because this section has to withstand significant pressure from below. People may think that it is rather simple mechanically, but shaping this part accurately with stainless steel is quite difficult as compared to a plastic piece. A water leak can result from the tiniest gap. Considering that, I believe that it’s quite a job for a craftsman.
Aqua Journal: These clips look rather innovative as well.
Amano: Yes. If you look closely, you’ll notice a number of innovative design features such as a slight angle on the clip. Those are the features developed to hold down the top plate securely with the buckles.
Aqua Journal: By the way, an external filter is considered to be the best filter for an aquatic plant layout. Why is that?
Amano: That’s a generally accepted belief, but I am not so sure about it lately.
Aqua Journal: Really? You aren’t sure about it?
Amano: When the oxygen content of water is low, the microorganisms inside a closed system become quite unstable. When the CO2 level is high inside a filter, the number of microorganisms decreases. On the other hand, when the oxygen level is high, the number increases. Algae seem to come and go along with this fluctuation. I am afraid that this is a short coming of an external filter. It has an advantage of retaining CO2 in water, though.
Aqua Journal: I see. Being completely sealed so that outside air and the filter media do not come into contact is both an advantage and disadvantage. Incidentally, another characteristic of the Super Jet Filter is that it has a much larger canister capacity than competitors’ filters, isn't it?
Amano: Since a canister filter has a simple structure, it can hold a lot of media inside. Being able to hold a lot of media inside a canister is important. It is as important as having stable water flow through it. The pump on it has a high head capacity as well as a good flow rate. Although there are similar pumps on the market, our pump is designed to pull water upward with strong force.
Aqua Journal: The pump is made by Iwaki, isn't it?
Amano: Yes, but it is produced to our original specifications.
Aqua Journal: What part of it is ADA’s original design?
Amano: Iwaki’s magnet pump on our filter has an especially high head capacity. It prevents a decrease in the flow rate due to clogged filter media so that the filter can operate stably for a long period of time. Working jointly with Iwaki, we developed a pump with strong lift based on our original specification so that it can produce an even flow across the media when used with a fine media such as anthracite.
Aqua Journal: The color of the pump is sharp, too.
Amano: Since the canister is made of stainless steel, the similar silver color looks good on the pump. An expensive hammer tone finish is used for the paint finish. As you know, silver is our corporate image color.
Aqua Journal: The rubber tubing that connects the pump to the canister is very sturdy, too.
Amano: A strong, expensive, special material is used for the rubber tubing.
Aqua Journal: Is that right? Different from ordinary rubber tubing?
Amano: Completely different. This was initially made of pure natural rubber with a good tack and texture. Nowadays, it is made of a material to which fluorine is added to improve its durability. It is a special kind of tubing that is used for airplanes.
Aqua Journal: I see that a great deal of attention is given to every detail since it is an important product to be used by customers.