Bubble bead filters

[Energetix]

Hi, I'm wondering if any one here has tried using bubble bead filters for saltwater tanks.

About 8 years ago when I kept kois, I was using the conventional green mats then progressed to using brushes and the stiffer blue mats(and even UV sterilizers and skimmers hehe). Then finally I started using the bubble bead and it was pretty much a miracle come true. It was the only filter I was running on the pond other than a sediment tank.

I'm thinking of jumping into the saltwater foray but trying to use bubble beads instead of the normal skimmer/liverock combination that most people here use. I'm wondering if its usage can possibly elimate the need for skimmers or any other type of mechanical/biological filtration needed. Of course reactors and heaters/chillers cant be replaced but if the filtration process of saltwater tanks can be simplified to a single filter, then it pretty much saves a lot of headache, extra plumping etc.

The website: www.beadfilters.com cotains most of the white papers and some documentation. Although it says its saltwater resistant, according to http://www.koicarp.net/filtration/bubblebead/bubble_bead.html it can be adapted for saltwater with some modifications. But it does not state what.

They do have filters suitable for saltwater ie the propeller washed beads, but it doest sound as practical as the bubble bead filters.

So guys whats your take on this?

Sean

 

[Youngsilver]

The cheapest one is 280 bucks, that would buy a decent skimmer. You would have the same thing, minus the bio bead things, w/o the possibility of nitrate buildup. IMHO the bio beads seem too much like to o' too familiar bioballs.
http://www.macarthurwatergardens.com/Bead-filters/bubble-washed-bead-filters.shtml

but if the filtration process of saltwater tanks can be simplified to a single filter, then it pretty much saves a lot of headache, extra plumping etc.

The basic elements to a Berlin method aquarium include: strong light, live rock and sand, protein skimming, and calcium additions. A trickle filter is not used as the live rock and sand perform the biological filtration. It is also common to see automatic top-off systems in place to offset water evaporation due to the strong lightnd sand perform the biological filtration.

Quote from http://www.berlinmethod.com/overview.html

In the berlin method, only 1 "filter" is used, LR requires no maintance, so why rule it out?

If you dont want LR for some reason, maybe you want a fake decor fish only tank, I just started servicing a 300g predator tank, it uses bioballs and askimmer, and it isnt doing to hot, I think that when I replace the bioballs with a refugium next month, it will do a lot better.

New to the hobby, I assume you dont know what a fuge (refugium) is, so I will attempt to explain it:

A fuge is a place of refuge for sessile inverts and other delicate species usually preyed apon in the main tank, e.g. amphipods, copapods ect. This is a good place for these little guys to breed and then slowly trickle into your main tank for food to your fish.

Also though, many people use their fuges for filtering of the water. This is done through the use of macro algae (e.g. cheatomorpha, callerpa, mangroves) and a deep sand bed.

Macroalgaes- When provided with addequate light, these algaes grow, feeding on the nitrates in the system.

Deep sand bed- Having a deep sand bed, allows for a larger area for anaerobic(definiton: w/o oxygen)bacteria to grow. these bacterias feed on nitrogens as well.

When refering to wanting a single filter, I say why rule out a fuge, bc it requires little maintainence and does a great job cleaning your water.

just MHO

 

[Energetix]

Yeah but at 280 bucks and rated at 500G, and about 350ish for a 1000G. If it rivals the AP1002 or H&S skimmers then i guess we pretty much have a steal.

I understand where your coming from in terms of like using a fuge for nitrification. But assuming a 1000G tank and the filter has dimensions of 36" x 16" it packs quite a lot of punch for that size. A good bit of RC members seem to be going starboard in wake of a few DSB crashes and bombers BB thread. LR and skimming seems to be the main source of filtration for most of the tanks here.

The reason why I wanted to rule out a fuge is because the idea of a FOWLR with just a BB filter and maybe UV seems quite attractive to me in terms of simplicity. Thats of course if the filter is able replace the function of a skimmer(not sure if it can) and a bit more.

How does it sound like bioballs to you? I'm not very well versed in how the wet dry filters work but it doesnt seem very similar to the way bioballs work because in the beads are totally submerged and are always moving. But I'm not sure on this part though.

 

[Youngsilver]

So the beads are goign to be moving enought to prevent any buildup on them?

 

[Energetix]

I don't know how much movement is required to ensure there is no build up, but yes the beads are never stationary, and sometimes it is possible to hear the beads knocking on the plastic casing. The beads are cleaned when the pressure in the filter builds up by using backpressure to remove the build up on the beads.

 

[Youngsilver]

It might be good, then it might be comparable to a canister filter also, no?

 

[Energetix]

Its not really comparable to a canister filter as well. Mainly because as I know, most canister filters use a combination of filter floss, sand and maybe some form of cotton and if I remember sometimes porous ceramic beads. So in that sense the filter material is stationary but submerged in water, which I believe then leads up to the build of nitrates if it isnt cleaned on a regular basis.

But that being said, the canister filters I have used are mainly for small applications like feeder fish or goldfish and never for extended periods of time. So in this aspect I cannot really comment. But it does function differently from a canister or sand filter.

 

[Marinworld]

Energetix,

What makes you think a Bubble Bead Filter is going to replace a Protein Skimmer???? Where is the separation of the waste material from the system water. Your filter is nothing more than a fluidized bed filter. They have been around for some time. Nothing earthshaking.

I see so problem in using one, however, I certainly would not attempt to eliminate a Protein Skimmer from the system. If you are looking to simplify equipment, you can certainly not be any more simplified than using a Skimmer and a Sump for your filtration.

Always look at the priniciples behind the filtration device, before you commit to using the device.

Been using Protein Skimmers for over 40 years, and still like what I see.

Marinworld

 

[skeeter_ca]

Sorry to but% in but,

As i see it a bead filter is simply a fluidized filter but with added bubbles. A fluidized filter is more compact and alot cheaper but does remove some O2 during the process. However both would work it would not be ideal for reefs. Both are nitrate factories. It would not eliminate the need to remove desolved organic compounds which is what the skimmer does. Constant water changes would be needed to remove the nitratesand other compounds, which is even more work unless you have a auto water changer. But then your getting into more equipment. The best way to go is the educate yourself each method of filtration, what it does, and is it worth having the extra equipment. lots of people use just some minumum equipment however it seems more maintence is required.

Good luck, keep reading and you learn while have fun.

aquadw

 

[Youngsilver]

Sorry I lost the link, but i just rembereed reading a page that said that bead filters could raise silica levels do to the beads grinding together. I dont know anything about this though