Can you check my filter?

[Bengalcats888]

Oh. lol. Ok, I get it now, the water flowing out is faster than what is coming in.

My friend explained it further so I understand now what you are saying.

 

[Bengalcats888]

I have no experience with swirl filters, and very little with all the various cutely-named types of overflows, because all my overflow-equipped systems are in my basement fish room and the noise just doesn't bother me...so I can't comment on that particular aspect of this filter.

But, the basic design just seems bass-ackward to me. You have the water from the tank swirling to lose it's larger particles, and then flowing upwards through assorted layers of mechanical media that seem to be getting finer and finer towards the top. You are planning on cleaning the final layer, 40 pores/inch foam, every week. Meanwhile, the coarser grades of matala are down there in the bottom, getting filthy and not seeing a lot of maintenance. This seems exactly opposite to the way I would set it up.

I would suggest using one barrel as the swirl filter, set up with a bottom drain as you have it...but then allow the water to flow unobstructed to the top, where it can overflow into a second barrel that is set up with layers of filtration that start coarse at the top and become progressively finer at the bottom. Then you can be cleaning the first, coarse elements more often, leaving the foam hopefully untouched except for widely spaced intervals. You even referred to the foam as "biofoam"which is its intended purpose, i.e. to act as a biofilter. Hopefully, the water will be essentially filtered clean of all solid particles by the time it reaches that point. The only cleaning required will be the periodic rinsing of the excess bacterial sludge that will accumulate. It's those coarser top layers of matala that should be cleaned regularly; the more often you do that, the more solid organic waste you will remove before it has a chance to be broken down, and the slower your water will accumulate nitrates.

In ideal situation and large space, you are correct.

 

[fishdance]

If you wish to remove the noise, add a T on the outside of the overflow with one leg taking water down and the other leg going up as a breather to let trapped air out. Bubbles create a lot of resistance and hugely reduce gravity flow so it's good to remove them even if noise wasn't an issue. You will need to raise the top leg slightly higher than the filter water level and i usually add fly screen mesh to stop any bugs or dirt entering.

The swirl isn't going to work but it's still good experience trying and experimenting.

 

[Bengalcats888]

If you wish to remove the noise, add a T on the outside of the overflow with one leg taking water down and the other leg going up as a breather to let trapped air out. Bubbles create a lot of resistance and hugely reduce gravity flow so it's good to remove them even if noise wasn't an issue. You will need to raise the top leg slightly higher than the filter water level and i usually add fly screen mesh to stop any bugs or dirt entering.

The swirl isn't going to work but it's still good experience trying and experimenting.

Great tip.

Swirl probably not worky but it is definitely an experience since I never have done this before.

The outlet starts out at 2” then I reduce to 1.5”
to top of the tank water line. If I reduce to 1”
pvc pipe and bring it the tank bottom on one edge of the tank, plug one end. Drill 1/4” holes, would that push water at the bottom of the tank? Mine is bare bottom. It is to push the waste over to the pump. Would this produce a lot of resistance?

Thank you.