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

[karimwassef]

I have the same problem. I can't sell my frags fast enough and have accepted that some will die due to inter-coral aggression.

I'm creating a table of combat outcomes.

The particles in the water are constabtly being captured by the extended polyp tentacles.

 

[shifty51008]

shifty, it's just fresh water running through the valve, not salt water. And all that water (except for a tiny amount caught in the sand) is drained from the system. The amount of copper picked up in the tanks would be absolutely miniscule! Now it wouldn't be a big deal to swap it out, but I wouldn't worry about it for a second. I had salt water running through 2 small brass elbows at the siphon breaks in my return from the sump for years. A) I never had any issues in the tank B) the brass never showed any signs of corrosion. I've since changed them out for plastic John Guest fittings.

ahhh that makes better sence, thanks for clairifying that. I also wouldn't be to worried about it either then.

 

[stage3-s4]

So after googling alternatives to filter socks, I found this:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/automatic-roller-mat-theiling.html


While it is pretty spendy, this may just be what im looking for. Its got automation built in....and it removes the garbage before it has a chance to break down. While this is going to have an on going, more expensive cost, it may just be the ticket for those of you like me looking for a way to ditch the socks!

That thing is sick. Check out the BRS 160 videos where they installed it. They actually give very good unbiased reviews. The only issue I have is it takes up a ton of room and only comes in metric pipe sizes.

 

[Horace]

Yeah they sell a conversion kit...I bought that too. Because I have a fish room, space is simply not an issue, so this was a no brainer

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Ron Reefman]

CM, is everything still working to your expectations?

 

[McPuff]

This is a very cool idea and gives me some ideas on how to filter the future FOWLR. The choice of pool sand makes me a little worried due to silica... but that is easily changed out. And you could always pump RO/DI water from a reservoir instead of tap water and that eliminates the problems Horace brought up. I think that may actually be easier to set up that way to be honest. Very cool, once again. And sweet tank!

 

[Isayso]

It looks very cool indeed

 

[karimwassef]

Did you post the particle size? I may have missed it?

 

[Horace]

i would bet that using some reefflakes would work just fine...they are fairly large in size, and obviously reef safe and not silica based.

 

[McPuff]

i would bet that using some reefflakes would work just fine...they are fairly large in size, and obviously reef safe and not silica based.

To me, this seems like the appropriate size of particle. If you go too small, then you'll suspend and remove too much sand during backflush. If you use too large, you'll reduce the efficacy of the media itself. The miniflake or similar will give you a heavy enough particle for backflush and it will trap nearly everything, especially if you make the layer relatively thick. The OP only seems to have 6-7" of media and it appears to trap just about everything.

 

[karimwassef]

I guess I was really asking the OP.

cabinetman?

 

[Horace]

And this is a message board so don't ask a question and not expect people to jump in....that is the entire purpose if a forum... community input

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[karimwassef]

I'm good with that. I just want the feedback from the OP too... more is always better.

 

[cabinetman123]

CM, is everything still working to your expectations?

This video shows how it's working
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKHcJK8Dycs&feature=youtu.beP

 

[cabinetman123]

I guess I was really asking the OP.

cabinetman?

I did a vid showing it a page or 2 back

 

[karimwassef]

Showed the size measurement? (1mm? 2mm?)

 

[cabinetman123]

I'm going to guess 1 mm

 

[GMSR]

Why not throw some high pressure air stones in the bottom of the sand bed and have your drain collect the skimmate when you do your dump? 2-in-1.


Maybe the bubbles would be popped by the sand, or maybe it would help deposit materials in the sand even? Perhaps you could have a higher water column and have air stones above the sand and have your drain pipe higher up.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Why not throw some high pressure air stones in the bottom of the sand bed and have your drain collect the skimmate when you do your dump? 2-in-1.

My best guess is that even with a number of air stones the sand bed won't flush nearly as well as it does with the wand. The air from air stones will create a 'path' through the sand and just bubble there rather than create a better random air flow that might do a better job. A back flush of fresh water through a large diffuser plate that covers the entire bottom of the sand bed might work well enough, but I'm not sure.

 

[GMSR]

My best guess is that even with a number of air stones the sand bed won't flush nearly as well as it does with the wand. The air from air stones will create a 'path' through the sand and just bubble there rather than create a better random air flow that might do a better job. A back flush of fresh water through a large diffuser plate that covers the entire bottom of the sand bed might work well enough, but I'm not sure.

I'm saying to get a protein skimmer effect going on as well. Lets say you have a taller column of half sand half water. Ok, the idea is basically a protein skimmer half filled with sand, but run on gravity.