Diatom Filters

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cbfreder

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 24, 2006
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What is the deal with these things? While I am sure that they do a phenomenal job of polishing the water, I bet that there are plenty of other solutions that aren't as expensive and can be run continually. For example, a fine mesh filter cartridge (polyester, even) should have no problem getting particles as small as 1 micron. It would be cheaper, could be run continuously, and wouldn't require extra media or plumbing.

Do any of you use these on your freshies? Is there a reef issue that I am overlooking?

Brandon
 
i used to have an old diatom filter that cleaned the water better than any other filter i have ever owned... the media in these things is diatoms which are microsopic fossilized organisms... they polish the water to perfection but clog quickly... i need to buy a new one they work great as a once a week filter..... oh i i have only used mine on freshwater...
 
I stopped using diatom filters years ago when the health hazards associated with the powder was fully realized. I use sock filters now. They're available with filtering rates doen to 1 micron (like diatom filters).
 
Breathing in the fine diatomaceous dust can cause silicosis:

Silicosis
A disease of the lungs caused by inhalation of free silica dust over a prolonged period of time. Free silica is dispersed in the air and inhaled into the lungs where the silica lodges in the alvioli sac linings. The irritative action of the silica in the lung results in the formation of nodular lesions; these may coalesce and form massive areas of fibrous tissue. In advanced cases patients experience difficult breathing, coughing with sputum, chest pain, and a tendency to develop tuberculosis or repeated attacks of pneumonia. Once fibrosis has developed there is no cure.
 
That's pretty serious, I've never noticed any product warnings on Diatom filters stating that, I wonder how many people use thies not knowing. That would explane why they're few and far between thies days.
 
I agree with oddball. Micron rated filter pads and screening do the job just as well IMO. I also think you would have to breathe quite a lot of it in order to get Silicosis. That's a disease common to miners.
 
OK i thought you were going to say it was hazardous to the fish, not people:screwy: .
 
hillbilly said:
I agree with oddball. Micron rated filter pads and screening do the job just as well IMO. I also think you would have to breathe quite a lot of it in order to get Silicosis. That's a disease common to miners.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's more common to miners. But, if you ever had pneumonia, you also have lung scarring and are more easily affected by respiratory contaminants. If you're prone to chest colds, bronchitis, and/or are hit by allergic reactions to airborn pathogens/pollutants, you're more susceptible to being affected easily by these contaminants.
Diatoms are also used in pest control because the razor sharp exoskeletons quickly strip insects of their wax coating, wings, legs and antennae. I simply don't want to breath in anything with this much destructive potential.
 
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