Filtration for 1500 Gallon

[gordoncheers]

I currently have a 15 ft x 3.5 ft x 4 ft fibreglass tank setup with overhead sumps on the left and right side.
I am thinking of changing up my mechanical filtration as filter wool is getting too tedious and costly to replace.
Not a fan of filter socks
any suggestions?

 

[duanes]

I like, and have been using Porrett foam for the last few years.
Beside acting as mechanical filtration, colonies of beneficial bacteria colonize it.
It is easy to clean, I just hose it off in the garden, and because it is tough material, it holds up well under that regular abuse.

Instead of baffles in the sump, it is rigid enough to use to separate sections, and it is able to stand vertical (braced between the walls) and isolate a pump.
My 125 gal sump/refugium below, it separates the pump/biomedia section, from the planted refugium.

The pic above is when it was 1st installed, the planted area today really needs the separation the Porrett provides

 

[celebrist]

I second the efficacy of poret foam

 

[FJB]

Nice!
Come on celebrist , show us a nice picture of the silver dollar tank as well, less sump.
Beautiful sump and stand though. I need to get me some porrett foam just to have around.

 

[twentyleagues]

There are two major schools of thought on this.
1st is a mech filter that actually removes the junk from the system such as floss or socks. When dirty pull it out and swap for clean all the garbage caught is removed " fairly" quickly..... This is the method I prefer.

2nd the foams, these are usually not cleaned as often and therefore the junk is left in the system longer. Not always immediately detrimental.

There are also setups like settling chambers where detritus is allowed to fall out of the water column and syphoned out. Or mesh screens that the water is run over allowing detritus to collect out of the water and is removed on the screen and rinsed away. I've used settling chambers before and if you have the room are nice and work well.

 

[Krismo962]

You can use those japanese filter mats for koi ponds as mech filtration before the water hits the wool. The mat will catch the large particles and the wool will filter out finer particles.

 

[aroijuana]

You can use those japanese filter mats for koi ponds as mech filtration before the water hits the wool. The mat will catch the large particles and the wool will filter out finer particles.

+1 matala mat

 

[celebrist]

How dare you call it a silver dollar tank ?

 

[FJB]

Gorgeus! Bala sharks, barbs, tetras (and SDs), awesome landscaping and ALL!
Thanks!

 

[fishdance]

I currently have a 15 ft x 3.5 ft x 4 ft fibreglass tank setup with overhead sumps on the left and right side.
I am thinking of changing up my mechanical filtration as filter wool is getting too tedious and costly to replace.
Not a fan of filter socks
any suggestions?

This forum no longer caters to monster fish (1m+) or large tanks unfortunately. Most of the similar minded fish keepers no longer visit.

I've got two similar sized tanks but custom built with side drop multi chamber filters. Air lift, moving bed, static bed, settlement. Gravity fed (not pressurised).

In your situation I would consider a small swim pool sand filter (multiport valve) with oversized pump. Just run the pump/filter once a week for a couple hours to stir and remove all the particles then a back flush to clean the filter. The pump can be high wattage or noisy since your not constantly running.

Make sure the pump is big enough for back flush (or use two pumps). Make sure you back flush regularly as cleaning a clogged sand filter is quite difficult. The backflush aids your water change schedule.

You can filter very small particles this way if sparkling clear water is your goal.

I used to use similar and apart from turning taps, it's relatively painless but I've opted for a more energy efficient, lower frequency option.