Cartridge filters - are they dead?
- Thread starter MrMikeB
- Start date
matttaylor
Jeeper in my free time
Cartridge filters are great... as long as you clean them regularly and don't allow sludge to build up inside them. They work really good at polishing your water to remove suspended particles (kinda like a skimmer, which again means you need to clean them often).
MrMikeB
New member
How about a really large one?
Like this: http://www.pentairpool.com/featureditem8.htm
It apparently can do down to about 5 micron filtration with the Diatomaceous Earth filter/cartridge combo. Still looking into whether or not it would be suited for marine life.
All in all the principles are the same for the smaller units we see in the hobby and I am looking for a way to filter a lot of water with more creative methods that do not involve huge markups for simple ideas scaled down.
Like this: http://www.pentairpool.com/featureditem8.htm
It apparently can do down to about 5 micron filtration with the Diatomaceous Earth filter/cartridge combo. Still looking into whether or not it would be suited for marine life.
All in all the principles are the same for the smaller units we see in the hobby and I am looking for a way to filter a lot of water with more creative methods that do not involve huge markups for simple ideas scaled down.
matttaylor
Jeeper in my free time
For pure un-adulterated filter / water cleaning a canister is the best way to clear the water. While it still has a use, the only major (and most important) benefit of a canister filter is increased water clarity, especially at the 5 micron level. However it will remove a lot of the material needed to feed corals. There are many ways you can go about filtering a "large" quantity of water. Everyone here will have the correct way of doing things. Just experiment with different ideas, and find what works with your particular setup.
Useful in the case of a sandbed stir-up, which could take out your tank; useful if your nephew dumps cheerios into your tank; useful if you added new sand. I would never run one on the tank fulltime: I limit use to about an hour or so. It takes food from filterfeeders and corals, and will stripmine the water of particulates that may feed lps, sps, etc.
Hey Robert,
How often do you clean out those filters, and how long does it take to clean them? My pool filters have 4 filters (total 400 sq. ft. surface area). I clean out my pool filter about 3-4 times a year. I could spend three hours spraying them down, but I can never get them clean. The pleated surface are a PIA to clean. But then again - if I was using it for an aquarium, I would probably clean them more often and they wouldn't get as dirty.
Minh
How often do you clean out those filters, and how long does it take to clean them? My pool filters have 4 filters (total 400 sq. ft. surface area). I clean out my pool filter about 3-4 times a year. I could spend three hours spraying them down, but I can never get them clean. The pleated surface are a PIA to clean. But then again - if I was using it for an aquarium, I would probably clean them more often and they wouldn't get as dirty.
Minh
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9859929#post9859929 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RasBobre
2 x 25 Micron
2 x 100 Micron
650 Gallon Aquarium
125 Gallon Sump
RasBobre
Premium Member
Minh -
The 100 microns are pleated paper filters. I have a back up set. I replace once a month and bring them back to the shop where they are pressure washed,soaked in a trash can with a 15% bleach solution, followed up with de-chlor bath.
The 25 microns are nylon and clean very well with a pressure wash and are replaced immediately after washing.
Replacing the four cartridges, two at a time, takes about an hour to an hour and half. Cleaning out the cannisters themselves is very important too.
I DO NOT wholeheartedly agree with what people have said in this thread about cannister filters removing necessary particulates for filter feeders. The owner of this aquarium literally uses over a gallon a month of Reed Maricultures Phyto Feast Live and Roti Feast, both being target fed.
An overkill? Yes in my opinion. But the aquarium is always clear.
The 100 microns are pleated paper filters. I have a back up set. I replace once a month and bring them back to the shop where they are pressure washed,soaked in a trash can with a 15% bleach solution, followed up with de-chlor bath.
The 25 microns are nylon and clean very well with a pressure wash and are replaced immediately after washing.
Replacing the four cartridges, two at a time, takes about an hour to an hour and half. Cleaning out the cannisters themselves is very important too.
I DO NOT wholeheartedly agree with what people have said in this thread about cannister filters removing necessary particulates for filter feeders. The owner of this aquarium literally uses over a gallon a month of Reed Maricultures Phyto Feast Live and Roti Feast, both being target fed.
An overkill? Yes in my opinion. But the aquarium is always clear.
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