modified 14" swimming pool filter.

[markstrimaran]

It's been around a few times here, I found a post on using a swimming pool filter on an aquarium.
I got one for free, and a 500 gph mag drive pump to replace the 2500 gph .75 hp it came with.
If I remember right, a larger grain sand works better.
It will be set up in my basement 10' below the tank, 55 gallon drum to back flush with.
It will be set up in a closed loop. Coming out of my algae scrubber baffling.
Worst case I will just use it as K1 bio only. And filter after for fines.

 

[monkeybike]

I don't think 500 gph is going to do it.

 

[markstrimaran]

I know it won't back flush it. I will hook the .75 hp pump, up to one of my 55 gallon drum for one minute of 2500 gph flow to flush.
I have a 3" fludised bio sand filter, it flows about half gph flow if unfluidised. Which would make it a particle filter.
I will definitely be tinkering with it.

 

[kendragon]

Pool pumps are normally pressure pumps with high RPM (3600RPM).
Pond pumps are low pressure (1725RPM).

Sand filters operate at 5PSI and greater. 5PSI equates to approx 12 ft of head pressure. Check the spec on the pump. Pretty sure at 12 ft of head pressure you get zero flow. You need a pump strong enough to overcome the back pressure.

I ran a 17" sand filter with glass media. The pond pump used was just right (1/15hp/3000gph). I would have to backwash when it hits 5PSI. Clean glass operates a 1PSI.

 

[markstrimaran]

So glass media, being lighter weight helps reduce the overall power needed.

Thanks for the input. I was going to try some sugar sand, wind blown fine stuff. Plastic beads. Have to add glass beads. I am thinking the glass beads they use on the yellow highway lines for reflection. They probably come in many sizes.

T

 

[markstrimaran]

I looked at the sand filter today. A custom sewn filter sock over the intake pipe. With the out side space filled with K1 Media.
It would be a closed loop. The tank will be 14 feet above the filter. As it will be installed down stairs in the basement. I am working on a pressurized poly floss prefilter also.
I like the sand filters container. The pressure rating, and removable lid to access the inside. The sand as a media is optional.

 

[monkeybike]

You could run a Jebao dct 6000 pump for around the same wattage consumption as that mag drive, but I still think you need a bigger pump.

 

[markstrimaran]

Kind of getto looking, finally figured out a way to seal the round lid, and attach a 14x14 filter sock. Inside the square box.
The swimming pool filter, is going to K3 media.

 

[markstrimaran]

Warmed up enough to work in the garage.

Water from the aquarium gravity feeds into the square box, it has a 14''x14" filter sock.

Drains down into the swimming pool filter, it will have k3,or k1 open to ideas,ping pong balls. here. Very tempted to bulk head fitting it, and have 50 watts of algae scrubber lights inside.
Using these
As a self cleaning fluidized scrubber.

 

[kendragon]

Very confusing. Shows the pump suction hooked up to the filter inlet and the square box gravity feeding into the outlet of the filter.
Is the pump suppose to suck the water out of the sand filter? If so, the connections on the pump and filter is all backwards.
Good luck with your build and thanks for sharing.