new house, new AN filter, not sure how to use it

[filternewb]

Hi. I recently moved into my first home and it has an AN filter. The filter was unplugged when we moved in, and it still is. It says bruner GOULDS on it, and the model is "F10 AN". The AN appears to have been written in pen, so it might just be F10. The filter is maybe 20 years old or so. It has a bag of fine calcite next to it as well as a bag of AN mineral. The home was on the market for nearly 2 years, so I'd imagine it has been unplugged for about that long.

How do I use this thing?

I attached a photo as well. Due to the file size restriction, the quality is pretty low. I'll try to find an image host in a minute and post a link up.
Thanks!

[filternewb]

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4753/img2450q.jpg (image of the controls)
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4921/img2443rp.jpg (image of the unit)

[filternewb]

does anyone know a more appropriate forum where I should post this question?
thanks!

[NH Master]

Well, I'd fire it up and do a water test to see if it works. If not I imagine the calcite is there because someone intended to re-bed the filter, which would be your next step

[filternewb]

thanks for the reply.
i assumed the fine calcite and the AN mineral were there because i had to drain and refill the filter every now and then. as i mentioned before, i have no idea bout these things.

what does the backwash setting do?
should i do that first before i start it up?

thanks again.