How much air do I need to fluidize media ?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
eddiegunks said:
Jez1992 Jez1992

I made this for my sump. It is 12x18 inches. The openings are 4x12

Do you all think that it will flow 4000gph or should i cut some biggerholes in the mesh?

I am going to silicone this into the sump. I'm also going to silicone a few bumpers in there. This way if my mesh ever breaks I could reach and cut this one out and slide a new one in to sit alongside the bumpers. I probably do not need to silicone this in but I will do it just to add a little stregth.
Click to expand...

Is there supposed to be an image?
I'd test run first without media and wastewater, and then if flows okay set it up properly with media
 
eddiegunks said:
Jez1992 Jez1992

I made this for my sump. It is 12x18 inches. The openings are 4x12

Do you all think that it will flow 4000gph or should i cut some biggerholes in the mesh?

I am going to silicone this into the sump. I'm also going to silicone a few bumpers in there. This way if my mesh ever breaks I could reach and cut this one out and slide a new one in to sit alongside the bumpers. I probably do not need to silicone this in but I will do it just to add a little stregth.
Click to expand...

Is there supposed to be an image?
I'd test run first without media and just water, and then if flows okay set it up properly with media.

The slides sound like a good idea as well
 
I've decided to change my pump system and my sump. I added the screen mesh as noted by a member above. Great idea.

My question now is do I really need air to fluidize the media? I will have one 2 inch pipe feeding the sump running at approximately 4000 gallons per hour. That could be enough to get the media rolling. What do you think? I can still add air if needed.

I'm just letting some fittings dry. I have not connected my new reef flo pump yet. So I may run a test with the pumps I have currently have set up.

IMG_0040.JPG IMG_0041.JPG
 
Last edited:
eddiegunks said:
I've decided to change my pump system and my sump. I added the screen mesh as noted by a member above. Great idea.

My question now is do I really need air to fluidize the media? I will have one 2 inch pipe feeding the sump running at approximately 4000 gallons per hour. That could be enough to get the media rolling. What do you think? I can still add air if needed.

I'm just letting some fittings dry. I have not connected my new reef flo pump yet. So I may run a test with the pumps I have currently have set up.

View attachment 1265740 View attachment 1265741
Click to expand...

I don't think that will work. I ran just pumps on mine before without any air and all the media just got stuck on the last baffle before the return chamber since that's where all the flow was going.
 
1000ninja said:
I don't think that will work. I ran just pumps on mine before without any air and all the media just got stuck on the last baffle before the return chamber since that's where all the flow was going.
Click to expand...

Thanks ninja.

I just tried it before reading your post. You're right it doesn't work. Ha ha.

I had an air pump I was going to use. But then one of my other pumps gave up the ghost, so I needed to use that one to put air into my other tanks. I've got a eBay pump coming as a stopgap. It should arrive tomorrow. I should be able to put air on it tomorrow.
 
Well I am playing around with us to get it right. I have a 1250 gph Air pump and I bought some new air stones that are supposed to flow very well.

I am now running a reeflo barracuda pump. It Flows about 4000 gallons per hour with head figured in. I had one 2 inch pipe pumping into my sump. This was not giving me a very good fluid K one. So I decided to try some kind of a spray bar with different size ends. I still was not getting very good k1 flow.

I ended up putting a 45° Fitting on the 2 inch pipe. I tried a 90 but it was hitting my screen pretty alhard and i did not want to damage it. The 45 hits on the glass not the screen.

I was still getting K. one stacking up on my screen and not giving me a very good movement. I then added a couple of 90s on my other spray bar and pointed them to the back of the aquarium and that helped get the k1 off the screen. I was not able to get the k1 flowing with juat air and straight return pipes.

I have a larger air pump arriving shortly and I would like to try, before I glue these pipes permanently.

The question I have is can I add more K1? Or do you think this is enough? The pond is 8x4x2 feet. I have about one cubic foot of k1. I have a total of 460 gallons of water. I plan to you to stock three or four stingrays. 8,9 and 12 inches (one motorro and two MM) . I also have a mechanical filter with more biological media in it as well. Lava rock style media.

More k1?

Thx

 
More k1?

How long does it tale k1 to cycle? I was using other media with the pond running......when i switched to k1 i moved the existing media to the pond. It has had water for 5-6 weeks. Still not cycled.

It has been running with k1 for 15 days.
 
eddiegunks eddiegunks : Your K1 setup looks perfect.. If I were you, I would leave it as it is..
K1 media takes a few weeks to months to fully cycle but since you have existing media in the sump, the process should speed up considerably..
 
  • Like
Reactions: eddiegunks
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom