Who uses a diatom filter?

[mfinn]

Wow, blast from the past.
I had several of these. Both the regular sized ( quart jar size), and the XL size ( gallon jar ).
Kind of wished I had hung on to them.

 

[moondoggy4]

Wow

Wow

Wow...do you have a video of that?

Before or after I got mad :mad2: and wanted to throw it:lolspin: I just think I was suppose to get it primed and then turn the whole thing upside down, of course I would lose suction at that time. So once again I over thought it.

I am not sure where I even got mine I have two and one is really old.

 

[moondoggy4]

http://www.diatomfilter.com/starting.htm the first paragraph states to turn it upside down. So I guess I did not make it up.

 

[Paul B]

I don't use any of those methods. I mix water with the powder and using a funnel pour it into the intake of the thing. Then I fill it all the way to the top and stick one hose into the other and turn it on. When the glass clears, I hold both hoses underwater in my tank and seperate the hoses. Using them that way since the 70s. If you follow the directions, you will never get it running.

 

[billdogg]

Great idea Paul! I'll give that a try next time for mine. I have used a Vortex XL for about 30 years for those couple times a year major cleanings. I also had a System I Diatom filter that has very easy to use. It finally seized up and died. I would love to have another but they seem to be discontinued. Heck - if I could I'd buy 4 or 5 just to have them. I ran the System I on my salt mix barrel - you'd be amazed at the gunk it would pull from new, unused water!

 

[Paul B]

I don't even know how many of them I have. Most are just for parts. I think they still sell them. I want to build a completely new unit if I ever get the time because the existing ones are a maintenance nightmare as they were not designed for salt water. If you use my method, you need some clips to hold the hoses in the water as you can see in the picture. Otherwise, you can't let go of the hoses.

 

[MrineLfRlz]

Im almost sold myself and if i purchase one it will be just for occasional maintenance at least once a month when i stir up the sand and blow off my live rock i would also use it to clean up my grow out tank and frag tank attached to my system just all of this and im ready to take the $150+ leap! I cant spend the dough for a Uv just yet but can flip the bill without the better half caughting me on one of these filters.
But has anyone had any experience with the filter combating cyano bacteria?

 

[MrineLfRlz]

found some here
http://www.pet-discount-supply.com/fish/vortex_diatom_canister_filters-vor00010.htm

 

[hart24601]

I fill mine by giving the return a quick suck (haha), creates siphon and the filter fills up with water (filter on floor of course). I have a pitcher that handles goes over the edge of the tank and put the intake and retun in there, turn it on and fill with powder. Then just remove the pitcher without the intake sucking air. Very easy and quick once do it a few times.

 

[moondoggy4]

if memory serves me correctly

if memory serves me correctly

Great idea Paul! I'll give that a try next time for mine. I have used a Vortex XL for about 30 years for those couple times a year major cleanings. I also had a System I Diatom filter that has very easy to use. It finally seized up and died. I would love to have another but they seem to be discontinued. Heck - if I could I'd buy 4 or 5 just to have them. I ran the System I on my salt mix barrel - you'd be amazed at the gunk it would pull from new, unused water!

I believe that there is a LFS store in San diego that still carries these, they seem to have lots of different models on the shelf, not sure if you would want to pursue it or not but let me know if you still want another one. If I remember correctly they were on sale last time I saw them.

 

[moondoggy4]

Paul B a video would be nice of your technique.

 

[Paul B]

Paul B a video would be nice of your technique.

I will call Stephen Speilburg and see if he will come over to film it. :beer:

 

[rossi]

filter

filter

I still have one use it every outher month very good filter even gets the free
swimming ick water very clean after using it The quality is not very good now.
Had to change the bottle to glass so it would not leak

 

[vitodog]

Can anyone tell me if it will remove diatoms from the sand bed?

 

[Paul B]

It will remove everything but water

 

[MrineLfRlz]

can you make your own diatom filter?

 

[Paul B]

I can

 

[spamreefnew]

I used to hang a pitcher on the side of the tank with both hoses in it,turn the filter up side down, turn it back up rite,then the water would flow,then I would add the powder to the pitcher, then I would remove the pitcher from the tank leaving the hoses inside the tank,it was a pain but the results wear amazing! I have gone through three diatom filters,my first two lasted a long time in fresh water tanks but the third only lasted about a year with salt water flowing through it. The salt water realy does a number on the motor and more importantly the o rings inside the pump housing , when the o rings go bad that's when it gets hard to prime,leaks water,and creates microbubbles, and ticks you off! Lol. With all that said I still miss my diatom filter and would buy another.

 

[MrineLfRlz]

So even if i can get one while they last as there selling out they wont last long because of rust? If these things work so great some company must be going to make a knock off in the near future surely.

 

[hart24601]

So even if i can get one while they last as there selling out they wont last long because of rust? If these things work so great some company must be going to make a knock off in the near future surely.

I would like for a modern design diatom filter to come out. I have not been using mine more than a year on my reef so I can't say how long they will last, but I am keeping it very well oiled with a nice quality oil so I hope it lasts a few years. Of course Paul defines "a long time" quite a bit longer than I do!