My Diy Sand Filter. I'm sick of filter socks!!!

Well so far so good. I upped my dosing to 15ml ever 3 hours 8 times thruout the day. So far I have added about 250 mill total. No ill effects that I can see. The only change is a bit of bubbling in the sand filter. I have a thread going on a local forum about this and one of the guys was talking about using bio pellets which really got me thinking. If I understand how bio pallets work then what happens is the bacteria is fed and grows on the pellets. Then to be most effective you have the effluent water going directly into your skimmer. Then the skimmer skims out The bacteria that comes off the pallets. I wonder what percentage the skimmer collects on the first pass through? So now I'll get to my point. What I plan to do if the vinegar dosing goes well over the next few weeks I think I may add a bio pellet reactor just before the sand filter which I'm thinking will collect everything coming off the pallets and intern could actually proved to be more effective than a skimmer after the bio pallet reactor. Just brainstorming guys. I'll keep updating this thread as the days go by
 
Interesting concept. It looks like a lot is going on, but it may be simpler than it looks. Good work. I hope it works as expected.
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It's actually quite simple. Just a bit of plumbing.
 
That is one awesome setup! I might have to do something like that with my tank. I just set up a 150 DT and would love to not have to worry about filter socks.
 
That is one awesome setup! I might have to do something like that with my tank. I just set up a 150 DT and would love to not have to worry about filter socks.

I don't Mind doing most anything when it comes to my tank but cleaning and changing filter socks was the worst job ever. I hated them. It's so nice to be clear of them. Plus I have clearer water now.
 
Great thread, I have to put the brain into how improve the freshwater injection in a world mode that won't require any manual work besides closing the valves
 
Great thread, I have to put the brain into how improve the freshwater injection in a world mode that won't require any manual work besides closing the valves

That's why I like this setup so much. All I have to do is open and close a few valves every 4-5 days and I'm done. No dragging dirty stinky filter socks and no cleaning or running a stinky skimmer.
 
I have a question about where the water drains from the sand filter... You mentioned that there was fittings that don't allow the sand to pass. What do these look like? Or what are they called? I'm curious.
 
I increased the dose to 20 ml 8 times a day 3 hours apart last night. The coral does look like it's doing slightly better. I checked nitrates last night and they are still about the same... Around 30-40 using Red Sea test. I'm seeing a bit of some sort of brown algae growing in my highest flow area in my sump where the water drains into a small tank. Lots of air bubbles in there. Not a stitch of algae anywhere else in my system other thsn the back wall of my tank. So.. So far so good. I might start dosing right into the sand filter to see what happens.
 
just curious why a filter sock would work any differently. it is after all the same mechanical filtration.
 
Thread title.... "I'm sick of filter socks"

not sure how it answers my question.

I know it was mentioned water is clearer with sand filter.
could it be because the sand is still clean and brand new?
was this comparing to brand new sock?
is there enough socks to handle the filtering capacity given the bio load?
like is the size of the sand filter comparable to the sock filter before?

just curious.
 
not sure how it answers my question.

I know it was mentioned water is clearer with sand filter.
could it be because the sand is still clean and brand new?
was this comparing to brand new sock?
is there enough socks to handle the filtering capacity given the bio load?
like is the size of the sand filter comparable to the sock filter before?

just curious.
Sorry you mean that way....
Don't know what to say buddy...
But he has a 500 + gallons and is saying
The water Is very clean and clear
I don't have any idea what what don't have one to study/ compare yet,
 
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