Diatom filter

rbanks13

New member
Is it true that diatom filters are no good for marine tanks / the salt coagulates the medium or something... anyone ???
 
When I put my 300 up I used one to clear it up and had no problem. I just let it run until it wouldn't pump any longer then cleaned the pad and added more powder. At first it would only run for about an hour and with each cleaning it ran a little longer. I ran it for three days and you want to talk about crystal clear water, I had some. HTH
 
I would not even consider having a tank without one. I have two - a System 1 Diatom filter, and a Vortex XL. I use the System1 on my freshly mixed waterchange water - you will be amazed at the crud in a bag of salt! I also use it on a as needed basis about monthly when i'm cleaning the tanks. The Vortex XL gets used maybe twice a year for the major cleanups.

You should not run either more than a few hours on any tank that is established because it does remove good things as well, but they cannot be beaten for how well they do on the big jobs

both can be found online for ~ $150 - money well spent, IMO
 
billdogg I checked Marine Depot and Dr Foster and I could not find the filter can you point me to a store that sells them. Thanks in advance
 
I have used the system one filter with all my tanks dating back to 1987. I would not have any aquarium, marine or fresh, without a diatom filter.
The other night my tank looked a little cloudy, I ran all the water tests, no water change needed. Ran the system one for an hour and tank was crystal clear again.
 
Funny yesterday I went up in the attic and I found a box with two Vortex diatom filters, one with a Kerr glass jar with the plastic base it is a D1 unit, the bag looks brand new and the other unit is only the head and the bag, funny for the life of me I cannot remember ever buying this, so either I got them 25 years ago when I bought a guy's whole setup or my friend gave it to me 5 years ago. I found Vortex site and thanks for the link for the Aquarium Guy's so I can order all of the missing parts.
 
I had a bad experience with a diatom filter. I definitely had a diatom bloom on my sand after using the diatom filter. Won't do it again. Skimming, carbon and ozone keep my water crystal clear now.
 
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