Anybody use fluidized sand filters?

[hulley]

Just like the title says! They seem like a good idea. Any thoughts on these?

 

[mr pink floyd]

wha tare they

 

[StinkinTuna]

I was wondering why I don't hear of too many people using them either!?

I used one back in the day of bleached dead corals as decoration and tanks without live rocks, but the theory of their operation , to me, is still beneficial.

I currently use one on my main tank.

Perhaps fuges have taken it's place, but since I don't have those the Fluidized bed filter has been treating me well, no negative effects from it at least.

 

[hulley]

Basically a big clear tube (kinda like a skimmer) and water enters the tube from the bottom, as the water rises to the top, the water will pass through fine sand that colonizes the "good" bacteria and biologically filter the water (like live rock), then the clean water flows out the top. Very simple and effective looking idea. Supossedly with no nitrate problems like bioballs have. Marinedepot.com sells them if you want to see what they look like. According to my Marine fish encylopedia, they are very effective at biological filtration without taking up alot of space.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6888506#post6888506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hulley
Basically a big clear tube (kinda like a skimmer) and water enters the tube from the bottom, as the water rises to the top, the water will pass through fine sand that colonizes the "good" bacteria and biologically filter the water (like live rock), then the clean water flows out the top. Very simple and effective looking idea. Supossedly with no nitrate problems like bioballs have. Marinedepot.com sells them if you want to see what they look like. According to my Marine fish encylopedia, they are very effective at biological filtration without taking up alot of space.

How would you not have nitrate problems? They are basically a remote, high capacity biological filter, used for tanks with high/messy fish loads.

 

[Chihuahua6]

I had two running on my 150 aggressive tank about 7 years ago. They did a good job back then. I think live rock, fuges and sand beds are just better and took over the fluidized bed route of filtration.

 

[hulley]

Well, I'm going BB! I'm setting up a 30G (gettin it drilled now for sump use) and re-setting up my 90g as a BB as well! I dont want a nasty sandbed or fuge in my systems! (here come the flames) Besides, I think sand beds are not quite the same thing, sand beds are not suspended in water flow, they settle, and trap doody!

 

[hulley]

SD guy, I said "supposedly". I have no real experience with these things yet!

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6888785#post6888785 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hulley
SD guy, I said "supposedly". I have no real experience with these things yet!

Sorry, I wasn't implying that you should know.

Fluidized sand filtration units and DSB are separate, different things.

BTW, if you don't want to get flamed, why do you call them "nasty". Just curious.

 

[hulley]

My laziness ( yes I admit it) causes my sand to get nasty! I dont clean as well as I should, The 30g will be a trial in BB'ness until I decide to set up the 90g, I however think that sandbeds look much better! when they are clean (again, my laziness!).

 

[hulley]

BTW, I'm really not getting ****y! I take everything in a positve manner! no harm no foul! right?

 

[chrismunn]

:mad2: your nasty you bastard, how dare you say that about me! ..............oh wait, what are we talking about?

 

[hulley]

Now that, was funny!! Too good chrismunn!