DIY lifeguardmondules/fluidizedbed/reators

[pocel]

My tank is a 220 freshwater. I have a dinky canister on it now. I am planning to use four inch clear pvc for the main chamber I plan to base the design off of these http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=21043&cat=1384&page=1 however at the top i plan to have a wye and the bottom to have a screw off cap.

My questions.
1. How tall do these 3 modules need to be if i am using a mag drive 2400?

2. Any suggestions on what i should use for a mechanical filtration in a four inch tube before it goes through the carbon and finally the fluidized bed.

Thank you in advance
justin

 

[cathos]

You could use a filter sock, filter floss (plain polyester quilt batting with no additives), or actual filter sponges. If you are looking to do filter socks, McMaster-Carr has some really cheap at http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/117/380/=bek3vm. You can just rinse them out if they get clogged. I wouldn't generally recommend any smaller than the 10 micron filter, and you may need to clean it daily for a week or so until it gets most of the big particles out of the water.

 

[KaiserSousay]

I think your going to end up spending quite a bit of money for a system that will perform OK, at best.
Add in the extra effort needed to service your beast and it won’t take too long before you pull it all out.
I would re-think your plan.
Look at off the shelf options.
A number of spin on cartridge style filters are around for mech. These filters offer filtration in the 10-20 micron range and are really simple to service. Some have built in shut off valves for simple servicing. These cartridges do a super job of removing particulate and can be cleaned for reuse.
On the FBF, these are usually driven by a separate pump or plumbed as a “leg” off of other filtration. The flow needs to be just right for proper suspension of the sand. If you try to incorporate it inline that would drag the whole system’s performance down.
My advise is price this all out before you start placing orders for all the things you need. When done, take a hard look at what it will cost you.
$0.02

 

[pocel]

thanks for the info i reread the pricing on the clear pvc its way to much 23 bux per foot. i thought it was per peice of 10ft pipe scrap that

 

[pocel]

if i wanted my idea to be put down i would have posted on reefcentral.

a reactor of the size i am planning is over 500 bucks.

i am not running sand in the fbf in this hypothetical but k1 media with an air pump

if i can run 4times the amount of charcoal in this thing its worth the effort this is still in the brainstorming idea phase of engineering this filtration.
Do i detect envy for the 220?

 

[KaiserSousay]

if i wanted my idea to be put down i would have posted on reefcentral.

a reactor of the size i am planning is over 500 bucks.

i am not running sand in the fbf in this hypothetical but k1 media with an air pump

if i can run 4times the amount of charcoal in this thing its worth the effort this is still in the brainstorming idea phase of engineering this filtration.
Do i detect envy for the 220?

 

[pocel]

sorry man took it the wrong way rought day im sure you've been there. thought you were sayin forget about doing a diy filter and just buy off the shelf. anyhow i do appreciate the input. i am starting to lean towards the drawer diy trickle wet dry's they seem very easy to maintain and if you run to of the units thats quite a bit of media going.
later