Lifegard Aquatics Filter Modules

[Jade5051]

Years ago I worked in an aquarium store and we used Lifegard Aquatics Filter Modules to maintain a very large retail display. It seems that they are very practical and effective tools to provide mechanical and chemical filtration.

Are these more commonly used in commercial application or do some hobbyist also use these?

I'm also wondering why I haven't seen the application of these modules more frequently are these considered old dated technology or just not appealing to many because you can't see inside?

In case you have never heard of these I provided a link below is to a filter module on marinedepot.

http://www.marinedepot.com/Lifegard_Aquatics_Filter_Modules_Mechanical_Modular_Inline_Specialty_Filters-Lifegard_Aquatics-RB5111-FIFRISMFMF-vi.html#Reviews

 

[Jade5051]

Can anyone give me a really good reason as to why I wouldn't want to use this on a reef tank?

 

[Kearnel]

I was at one point using two of them up until I accidentally bumped one of them, snapping of a pvc pipe connecting them which in turn dumped a sizable amount of water onto my floor. Aside from my own blunder, I found them to restrictive, not allowing water to flow free enough to properly agitate the media and you can't see inside them to see if in fact water and media is interacting the way they should. I was using a pretty beefy pump on them but was not getting the flow I should have been getting. They are fairly dated but I doubt thats why they aren't popular. Most modern reactors push water up from the bottom to the top causing the media to become suspended but the lifeguard ones were talking about don't, its brought up and pushed through the entire center so your media just stays put having water forced through it. A little inefficient compared to what's available now.

 

[Jade5051]

...I found them to restrictive, not allowing water to flow free enough to properly agitate the media and you can't see inside them to see if in fact water and media is interacting the way they should. I was using a pretty beefy pump on them but was not getting the flow I should have been getting...

Were you using a mechanical filter and chemical filter?

It's my understanding that the mechanical filter restricts flow the most and can sometimes make the system inefficient. Do the chemical filters alone restrict flow a lot too?

Could I use two chemical filters (one phosphate remover and one carbon) and just rely on my filter sock and foam block, which is between the sump baffles, for mechanical filtration? (I'm using an Eshopps RS-75 provide a link below for a visual).

http://www.eshopps.com/media/products/big/rs75.jpg

 

[ca1ore]

I used to use these things on all my tanks, but I think they have been supplanted by more effective, purpose built technology. The mechanical filter pleats clogged up too fast (wouldn't really want those in a reef tank anyhow) as did the chemical modules. Plus in the case of the latter there was no good way to modify the flow. Heater and UV modules were prone to leaks. Plus, opaque sides makes observing condition of the media impossible.

Funny, though, to this day my most memorable conversation with a LFS employee revolved around these modules. He was arguing to me that one would need far less heating because 'the heater only needs to heat the small volume within the canister'. Sigh .... Where does one begin?

I think you are better off looking elsewhere.

 

[Jade5051]

I used to use these things on all my tanks, but I think they have been supplanted by more effective, purpose built technology. The mechanical filter pleats clogged up too fast (wouldn't really want those in a reef tank anyhow) as did the chemical modules. Plus in the case of the latter there was no good way to modify the flow. Heater and UV modules were prone to leaks. Plus, opaque sides makes observing condition of the media impossible.

I think you are better if looking elsewhere.

Thanks for the great feedback! I'm setting up a 75g tank. I would like to use small or mini reactors to save space but don't have to. Do you have any suggestions? My ideas for reactors were TLF 150, Bashsea small media reactor, or Nextreef Shorty reactor. Should I use two of each one for phosphate and another for carbon so I separate these media or could I run both medias in the same reactor?

http://www.twolittlefishies.com/dynimages/1221673976.gif

http://www.bashsea.com/images/media-chamber.jpg

http://www.nextreef.com/images/Shorty/Shorty.jpg

 

[ca1ore]

I have been using the TLF 150 and 550 reactors for some years now and find them to perform quite acceptably. I would always separate different media, as they may have different flow requirements and exhaust at different rates.

 

[Jade5051]

Anyone have experience with the Bashea pellet masters?

 

[Kearnel]

Were you using a mechanical filter and chemical filter?

It's my understanding that the mechanical filter restricts flow the most and can sometimes make the system inefficient. Do the chemical filters alone restrict flow a lot too?

Could I use two chemical filters (one phosphate remover and one carbon) and just rely on my filter sock and foam block, which is between the sump baffles, for mechanical filtration? (I'm using an Eshopps RS-75 provide a link below for a visual).

http://www.eshopps.com/media/products/big/rs75.jpg

I was using mine for chemical filtration, I couldn't imagine using those for mechanical filtration, be the equivalent of a canister filter.