Filtering for larger debris

[pm0084]

First I would like to say Hi since I am new to this forum, though I have spent a fair amount of time looking through various posts in the past. I have a 125 Gal. aquarium with 1 mouth bass....as I decided to go with the native theme....well I didn't decide as much as the kids. I originally used small gravel as a substrate, and switched to sand hoping that the fish waste would not get caught in the sand and instead float to the filters. ( I have 2 marine land emperor 400's) This however I have found not to be the case. I am seeking any thoughts or advice from keepers of other large fish that produce larger than average sized waste.

I thought of adding a large plastic grate to the bottom, with larger river stones as a substrate, and build a PVC grid under the grate with larger pond style pump. My thought is the waste should fall through the larger gaps in the rock and large gaps in the grate. Then with the waste on the glass bottom the grid with a pump should be able to suck everything up.

Any suggestions would be great.

 

[Mike fail]

just vacuum large waste out with a siphon once a week

 

[zennzzo]

First I would like to say Hi since I am new to this forum, though I have spent a fair amount of time looking through various posts in the past. I have a 125 Gal. aquarium with 1 mouth bass....as I decided to go with the native theme....well I didn't decide as much as the kids. I originally used small gravel as a substrate, and switched to sand hoping that the fish waste would not get caught in the sand and instead float to the filters. ( I have 2 marine land emperor 400's) This however I have found not to be the case. I am seeking any thoughts or advice from keepers of other large fish that produce larger than average sized waste.

I thought of adding a large plastic grate to the bottom, with larger river stones as a substrate, and build a PVC grid under the grate with larger pond style pump. My thought is the waste should fall through the larger gaps in the rock and large gaps in the grate. Then with the waste on the glass bottom the grid with a pump should be able to suck everything up.

Any suggestions would be great.

welcome to posting on the MFK Forums....What seems to be more effective is do a Reverse Under Gravel filter...that's where you pump water down under the gravel effectively pushing ditrus and waste up where the filter can get to it...
On the emperor 400's do you have the mid-water grate closed and the extension pick-up tubes in place?...

 

[pm0084]

The mid grate is closed on one and about 1/2 open on the other. I currently switched to sand so I raised the suction about 4"-5" above the sand. I would love to vaccum 1 time a week, but you would be amazed by how much waste this guy produces. I may need to do some more research on a reverse filter, as it may work fairly well if I use the crate and larger stone idea. I just don't know how he would like all that water moving up through the tank.

 

[pm0084]

I also removed the small grill at the suction tube bottoms, since the waste was to large to fit through the smaller slots. Now it is just 1 large opening.

 

[zennzzo]

The mid grate is closed on one and about 1/2 open on the other. I currently switched to sand so I raised the suction about 4"-5" above the sand. I would love to vaccum 1 time a week, but you would be amazed by how much waste this guy produces. I may need to do some more research on a reverse filter, as it may work fairly well if I use the crate and larger stone idea. I just don't know how he would like all that water moving up through the tank.

You can still use the sand, and get a couple of Koralia pumps/powerheads to move a bit of current around the bottom and the 400's can scoop it from mid-water...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4585+15955&pcatid=15955

If you have ever kept Large Plecos you'll know then what turd management is all about...I'd like to find something to de-turd my decor from those 3 ft hangers...As nothing except manually vacing will do the job...