GET ON IT THEN!!! Haha and post pictures. I would like to see this creative add on, because there is plenty of room for improvement
fluidized sand bed filter
- Thread starter wheatgerm
- Start date
GET ON IT THEN!!! Haha and post pictures. I would like to see this creative add on, because there is plenty of room for improvement
Finally had time today to get it plummed into my filtration. I blew some sand out when I first kicked the pump on but luckily I had put a ball valve so I could adjust it.. im hoping I can turn the psi up alot once the bio gets established into the sand. I heard the sand is harder to Roll once establishbut that will be a good thing with my setup and pump
wow, that's so cool, thinking about making one now, you should do a write up of how you made yours 
p.s. this isnt my idea.. i found it on google http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-filter/10.asp i just made mine alot bigger. this is the link to the whole build, parts ect
Nice looking geos! I have five of those in my tank, but they are still only about two inches. Nice looking tank also.
I do believe I will make a FSB. I also heard that the sand becomes smooth after many, many tumbles and needs to be replaced. Replaced gradually however as not to remove BB...
New to the hobby after a long time away, looks like an easy to make project and good for the water chemistry. I have a few questions:
How much nitrate does a FSB filter really remove? More than enough to justify cutting back on water change$$$, or just a bit?
Where is your FSBF in your water flow, like right before the return pump, after the bio balls?
How much nitrate does a FSB filter really remove? More than enough to justify cutting back on water change$$$, or just a bit?
Where is your FSBF in your water flow, like right before the return pump, after the bio balls?
i think your sand filter is a great idea but one problem the diameter of the pipe is to small
the problem with all sand filters is when you turn the pump off the sand compacts down very tight and its near impossible to get them restarted without turning it on its side and the diameter will make this even harder with the amount of sand you have in it
i made my own to start with but it was a total wash out
so i brought this on which is a great design if you want to copy it as it has a bypass so you can put a very big pump on it and only use the power you need for the sand filter the rest will flow back to the tank as normal it was gives you the advantage of having much much morepower from the pump to get it moving again if it compacts dow
you also need to make sure the water going into it is super clean no particals or it will turn into one big crap filter which will just sit ontop of the sand which you wont be able to see as the pipe is not clear you also need clear pipe to see the level of the sant moving
this is mine i run a 18,000 lph pump throw it then the bypass feeds the UVs
the problem with all sand filters is when you turn the pump off the sand compacts down very tight and its near impossible to get them restarted without turning it on its side and the diameter will make this even harder with the amount of sand you have in it
i made my own to start with but it was a total wash out
so i brought this on which is a great design if you want to copy it as it has a bypass so you can put a very big pump on it and only use the power you need for the sand filter the rest will flow back to the tank as normal it was gives you the advantage of having much much morepower from the pump to get it moving again if it compacts dow
you also need to make sure the water going into it is super clean no particals or it will turn into one big crap filter which will just sit ontop of the sand which you wont be able to see as the pipe is not clear you also need clear pipe to see the level of the sant moving
this is mine i run a 18,000 lph pump throw it then the bypass feeds the UVs
The diameter of the pipe I have looks fairly close to the pipe in your picture. Also my water flow from my pump is T'd off and I made my own bypass. Im not restricting any flow from my pump and i still don't blow any sand out once I got it set right, as for when the power goes off and the sand settles, well I guess ill cross that bridge if I get to it (I don't think it will happen because of the diameter of the pipe that I chose) I have an evo 4500 pump and im pretty sure it will be plenty of psi to get the sand flowing again. The pipe isn't clear but when I stick a light up to it I can see the movement of the sand, I can also hear the sand rolling around in the tube. Thanks for the concern but I found it a bit ridiculous to pay over 100$ to buy something that I could build for 15$
all the cost of the bought one aside, im curious to see how long it will take for all that sand to work as abrasive and scratch that clear tube so bad you wont see anymore than the pvc lol.
