1 Micron and alage filtration

[Finding_Nemo]

Here is my invention; it's cheap and very reliable. Fully tested 1 month in my aquarium. I must mention that only by posting this invention on living reefs, some smart *** advanced users and VIp's there explained me (off topic) how futile and how low level I am using this in my tank. I was banned from that forum without even saying a bad word or something against their actions.
Anyway i am not advocating a sump use or anything else and i would not say that using this device will exempt you by using a sump, UV cleaner or your canister filter or any sort of filtration.

1) What is does?

It cleans the tank, filtering debris, sediments, parasites, and all algae spectrum

Because of the cheap exchangeable cartridge you can use; activated carbon cartridge, 1 , 5, 10, 20, 30 micron filtration cartridge.

As an example of how fine the level of filtration is; (remember the finest cartridge is 1 micron)

"These unicelluar green algae are 5-10 microns in diameter, not
including the flagella (add an extra 10-30 microns for the flagella).
Volvox can get huge--up to 500 microns (half a millimeter--visible to
the naked eye).

A diatom filter claims to be able to filter out particles as small as
one micron, which explains why a diatom filter can clear up green
water in just a few hours."

The size of saltwater parasite invisible to naked eye varies between 5 and 200 micron.

Using the activated carbon it can remove odors, organic wastes, harmful metals, etc...

However 1 micron can hold the beneficial bacteria from the water. This bacteria has roughly about 2 microns. But however a Ultra Violet Sterilizer does the same thing so if you are Ok with them you should be with this one or you can use 5, 10, 20 microns filtration. I am currently using 20 microns and it holds the brown algae only.


2) What is is?

Nothing else than a simple 24$ Reverse Osmosis device from Home Depot attached to a suction submersible pump.

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/...Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

Here are the replacing cartridges you can use;

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/...Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/...Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/...Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

However Big Al is selling them with only 6.99 and 7.99$ Please see my
first photo

3) Filtration
When most of canisters can filter only between 100-400 gallons of water / hour, using this device attached to a suction pump will do 1100/ 1200 gallons / hour. Depending of the pump performance.

4) Noise

You can't hear anything. You don't even know if it's plugged or not. The suction pump must be quiet. The flow debit it's not dependable of water level in the tank. The return flow it also creating a nice and needful water flow movement in the tank.

Cartridge Replacement

Every week, once. The cost is about 6-7$ when the price of a cartridge to any other dedicated filters is over 10$.

Changing Time

You can clean and change the cartridge in only 3 minutes.



I hope i could help some of you willing to have a powerful alternative solution to any expensive not so per formant canisters.

Pictures;

 

[Finding_Nemo]

Here is a video from the beginning. The return flow it's reversing in the tank just for demonstrative purposes. Otherwise now the return tube has been added to a pipe that goes deep on the back bottom of the tank creating a flow in the back of the rocks.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XApbkjVcbBE

 

[dynastykid]

seems pretty interesting to me and looks like it is working well for you

 

[bhammer]

Neat idea. At 1 micron, are you filtering out other nutriants / minerals that should be in there? Also, do you have to change out the filters often? I have seen pool filters on larger systems, not too different than what you have here. I use a BRS canister reactor and stuff it with filter floss and cleans it up real nice.

 

[coolfish5]

I am curious what type of pump you have been using? I have a BRS media reactor and it works well with a maxijet 1200, but I would suspect that you would need a bit larger pump when using those 1 micron cartridges.

 

[Finding_Nemo]

I am curious what type of pump you have been using? I have a BRS media reactor and it works well with a maxijet 1200, but I would suspect that you would need a bit larger pump when using those 1 micron cartridges.

I am using a cheap 1100 gallons/hour Chinese pump from a protein skimmer. Isn't large nor small.
By my surprise the 1 micron is not clogging fast. When is new you can blow on one opening and by keeping the other end you will see the air how easy it is release through the material. After 1 week use i did the same thing and i haven't noticed any resistance of my air i blow. I am assuming it can be keep more than one week but isn't advisable since the organic waste can rotten there producing nitrates and phosphates.


However as i've mentioned before, i am not a marine expert and i am not sure what kind of things exist in this water. So i ave stopped using 1 micron filtration and i am now using 20 microns, which holds the brown algae (not green ones). For a fast and more efficient algae removal i would advise cleaning washing the cartridge every two days.

 

[Finding_Nemo]

Neat idea. At 1 micron, are you filtering out other nutriants / minerals that should be in there? Also, do you have to change out the filters often? I have seen pool filters on larger systems, not too different than what you have here. I use a BRS canister reactor and stuff it with filter floss and cleans it up real nice.

I am not sure about this. I think minerals and nutrients are smaller than one micron, are probably the size of molecules and atoms.
I am changing the filters every week to prevent the organic waste deteriorating insight. In one week there is no noticeable flow change or potential clogging.
However as i've said, since i am not an expert not knowing the size of good stuff in the tank i'd prefer using 20 microns filtration or 10 (the best one)

 

[Finding_Nemo]

Observation

Since algae is traveling and had a tendency to stick on objects, glass, rocks, etc, you will still have algae in your tank if the nutrients are high.
This device will only filter whatever it travels in the water and that can be caught by the absorption head.

 

[justshoe]

I had thought about this quite a few times to use with freshwater and still may try it. At the LFS i work at we use giant pool filter size pleat cartridges and they work very well. Only thing i can think that i would, as we do at the store because pleats get expensive, is to keep about 5 in a rotation. Rinse them out very well and then do a bleach soak overnight, rinse, then air dry for a day or so. Works very well for us and i may look back into this eventually. I feel it would definitely give you that extra edge of water clarity.

 

[five O]

Great Idea, I went and bought one. My plans are to use the filter when I stur things up in the tank. (aquascaping & big cleaning). It looks like it would clear the water a lot faster than my old Fluval. Thanks for the idea