Fluidized Bed Filters? (yes I realize the risk)

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Kevin8888

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 14, 2009
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Does any one have experince with these?

I'm trying to cut the costs of my 500Gal set up more, first step was to use Aragocrete for the majority of the live rock, but I want to be sure that there is sufficient nitro-cycle surfaces and there is nothing better for a ton of surface like fluidized bed and since I don't trust aragocrete as much as live rock I want to suppliment with fluidized bed.

So any tips tricks or recomendations, and also any input on keeping them from crashing during power outages would be awesome.
 
Unfortunately there is no way to prevent the crash when the power goes out, but if they are used to just add a little something extra it should not be a problem. I had one on my Mbu tank and loved the extra security it gave me. The main problem I had with mine was it constantly leaked. They seem to spring a leak from every imaginable place after about a year or two of use. Mine lasted a year and half before it finally started to leak around the casing and I threw it away. When I set up my next tank I am going to plumb it to be powred by one of the overflows with a check valve and quick release and have it sit in the sump. I think they are best in the sump for two reasons. 1 mine mainly leaked from ther output so it would drip down the back of the tank and wreck the stand which would not be aproblem in the sump. 2 mine split from the bottom case whch I think is because it was hanging off the back of the tank and the weight of the water caused it to give out. I have seen this happen to other people that have them hanging and the LFS by me that uses them said they should alawys be set on some thig solid adn never hung off the back of the tank for this exact reason.
 
for sure just install a check valve system just like on air hoses and you are good to go
 
Well its definatly going to be sump (right beside my algea scrubber), and its going to be DIY since I'm handy like that, going to pick up some 4" acrylic tube for it and its going to be taller then nessisary so I can add media if I increase the bioload on my system.

I've heard things about using a battery opperated airpump to keep it moving and keep the oxygen moving into the sand so the bacteria dont die as redialy during power outages, Im thinking I will actualy keep air bubbling through constantly for two reasons the main being it will add O2 for the bacteria to do their thing without draining the system of all air, and any excess will go to adding air to the system.

I'm also half thinking I mite just run it with an open top (since its extra tall shouldnt be a problem with the sand, and I can use the overflow to feed my algea scrubber (kill two birds with one stone, ammonia disapears, and nitrates get sucked out partially by the algea before going back to the tank).

Also The1andonly... are you saying to run it off the overflow with no pump? Is there enough pressure for a reasonable volume of sand? Where should the check valve go/its purpose in this situation... to stop poluted water from conaminating the overflow in a poweroutage? I know what they do I'm just confused as its placement in this case. Thanks guys!
 
Yea I ran mine off an auxiliary pump and it never seemed to work out right. The pump first pulled tank water and that caused the pump to be constantly cleaned. Then I ran the pump out of the sump but had to get a bigger pump which equaled more power, and the rates here in so cal are killer. So in the end I put it in line with the over flow and a check valve before the filter to keep the media suspended the right amount. I used the Life Guard Bed Filter and I will just make the next one, because as soon as you open up the lifeguard to add more sand media they never seem to go back together right. So after chasing and fixing various leaks on it the bottom finally gave out and if I had not been home it would of pumped all the water out of my sump and on the floor and killed the pumps. I do not recommend buying one. For media I am going to steal the idea from JohnPTC and use this
http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/1797/Kaldnes-Media
 
Hmm that media seems like a decent idea, for one it wouldnt crash as brutaly if there was a failure... I think i will look into that and similar "large" media for use.
 
At the same time its doesnt have even close to the same bioload capacity... though I'm using it as a suppliment not main source so I suppose it mite work in this situation.
 
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