Fine filter media ideas please???

[Redoog]

not sure if this is acurate, but in your last pic, your pump is fully submerged, in the earlier pic is appears like it is not, that will cause you problems. I think if you just set your pump up off the bottom it will make a differance as well.

i wish my sump was that big, you have so much room to expand. If you copied the set up that i copied, you could run 200 scrubbies submerged, and about 5 gal bio balss unsubmerged

 

[Griller]

I think if you just set your pump up off the bottom it will make a differance as well.

Done.

i wish my sump was that big, you have so much room to expand. If you copied the set up that i copied, you could run 200 scrubbies submerged, and about 5 gal bio balss unsubmerged

Sounds like a good idea. I got all the nylon scrubbies (a mere 20) I could find. I also got hold of some reels of nylon netting (I love playing with filters). I don't really need more bio filtration - but it would be good to get rid of the chalky crap.

went Seachems Clarity it took a couple of treatments (4 exactly using min. dosage) but now my tank maintains the crystal clear look.

Thanks for the idea. When all else fails - go chemical

Result from my filter box and elevated pump after 12 hours = **CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER** All for under $60AU!



I need to get a better camera!

I really appreciate all you help guys:

• JL thanks for putting me onto the batting,
• Redoog thanks for
  • your mechanical filter example
  • assistance with the felt
  • and all the rest.
• JakeH for encouraging me to run with the box,
• Turtlesrock for the entertainment
• Everyone else for your ideas and input.

I'll let you guys know how well it works over the next few months.

 

[Griller]

Performance update:

1 week in and the water is still clear.

No sign at all of the filter clogging.

 

[JakeH]

Good to hear! Let us know how quickly that box start to clog & how that affects the flow. Gotta love when a good idea comes to fruition!

 

[Griller]

8 days after setup and filter is clogged. The filter box is holding extra water causing the sump to run low:





When I opened it up I found that only the batting at the bottom was dirty - but no where near enough to clog. The felt was full of fine gunk at the bottom and about 5cm up the sides:



The felt was annoying to clean. I hosed it down. What is the easiest way to clean this stuff???

Clogging problems:

1. The batting isn't picking up enough gunk - I may need a material that is finer than batting but not as fine as felt to go between batting and felt.
2. The felt is clogging quickly. I just had an idea to layer the felt with batting sandwiched between the layers - this will increase the effective surface area of the felt and increase time between cleans.

 

[barbarossa4122]

I got a roll(72" by 43") of 1 1/4" thick quilt batting for $10.00 and 2 20oz bags of poly fill for $10.00 from the textile district in Manhattan(39th street & 8th ave). The batting is too thick but I am splitting it down the middle, works great. I also use air conditioner 1/4" thick foam, real cheap. Oh, and uncut blue bonded pads and scrubbies. No more manufacturer filter cartridges for me. Most $$$$ I spend on media is for Purigen, Black Diamond carbon and Eheim Substrat Pro.

 

[Griller]

I also use air conditioner 1/4" thick foam

Thanks for the info.
It the foam a finer media than batting? How do you use it? I may try it out.

Oh, and uncut blue bonded pads

What is that?

No more manufacturer filter cartridges for me. Most $$$$ I spend on media is for Purigen, Black Diamond carbon and Eheim Substrat Pro.

DIY is so much better than LFS!!! I went to buy an auto-feeder an they were charging $100AU or more for a small one!

 

[juree]

NO need for invent new bike if exist EHEIM 2260

 

[bitteraspects]

AquaClear70 powerhead w/quick filter attachment.
the quickfilter comes with a micron cartridge, but i would just change it out for poly fill.
let the powerhead run with the polyfill for a few hours (or a couple of days) change the poly fill and do it again.
the tank will be spotless before you know it

 

[KaiserSousay]

8 days after setup and filter is clogged

Change the material every 6-7 days.
Not sure how you can have a media that traps micron sized particles, but not clog.
You can make the media chamber easy to change.
Basket, drawer whatever will fit. Have a spare, clean container ready to swap.
Have you looked into that Bio media issue?
Is that what is letting those fine particles loose in your water?
Must be something that is disintegrating to make this an ongoing problem.