Mechanical Filtration, Here I Come!
- Thread starter Dan F
- Start date
I'm curious to see how the 100 micron/25 micron combo works out for you. I currently only have the 100 micron on mine and bioballs in the second, but I'm not sure if I really need the extra bio, so I might eventually switch it out for a 25 micron cartridge for better water polishing.
Anyways, I was hoping to add a suggestion before you got everything set up but it sounds like you've already got it up and running. I think it would be a good idea to include a union or union ball valve between your pump and the the filters, and between the filters and the return so that you can easily take everything apart without draining the tank in the event that you have to do major maintenance. I ended up with some minor leaks when I first set mine up and I was really glad that I was able to easily isolate the filters from the rest of the tank to work on them without spilling too much water.
Oh, and I think I've said this before, but that tank setup looks fantastic. I love the cabinets and how you've integrated the whole thing into your home.
Anyways, I was hoping to add a suggestion before you got everything set up but it sounds like you've already got it up and running. I think it would be a good idea to include a union or union ball valve between your pump and the the filters, and between the filters and the return so that you can easily take everything apart without draining the tank in the event that you have to do major maintenance. I ended up with some minor leaks when I first set mine up and I was really glad that I was able to easily isolate the filters from the rest of the tank to work on them without spilling too much water.
Oh, and I think I've said this before, but that tank setup looks fantastic. I love the cabinets and how you've integrated the whole thing into your home.
the_deeb;4599836; said:
Thanks, it has been quite a project, but it really is my dream tank.
It seems like a good combo, it is really doing an excellent job of water polishing. The real test will be how long I can go before cleaning the cartridges. I have two of the 25 micron cartridges so I can swap those, the 100 micron will have to be cleaned and reinstalled - I may pick up a second one if it seems worthwhile.
I did use valves (no unions, but I can always take apart the barbed fittings), they actually came with the used 522 I got off CL. No leaks so far, but I am (was?) a plumber, so I should be able to do this without leaks...
More photos, as promised!
The intake is a DIY project made from 1.5" ABS and 1" PVC. It is a little hard to see, but that's the idea.
I used a triangular piece of flat ABS to fit around the intake and hold it in place.
The return is via one of the two built-in returns that come with the Aqueon Megaflow kit.
A corner is cut out of the glass top for the intake.
The plumbing goes through the wall (the photo is one of two access panels in the laundry room behind the tank) to the crawl space where the filters are.
The last photo is of the Nu-Clears up and running.
The intake is a DIY project made from 1.5" ABS and 1" PVC. It is a little hard to see, but that's the idea.
I used a triangular piece of flat ABS to fit around the intake and hold it in place.
The return is via one of the two built-in returns that come with the Aqueon Megaflow kit.
A corner is cut out of the glass top for the intake.
The plumbing goes through the wall (the photo is one of two access panels in the laundry room behind the tank) to the crawl space where the filters are.
The last photo is of the Nu-Clears up and running.
xrayjeeper83;4600040; said:
I have a 300 gallon sump with a bunch of DIY filters:
Six Bio-wheel Contraption
12 gallons of Bio-balls in Bucket Filters
2 filter floss/felt mechanical Bucket Filters
One 20+ year old Eheim 2017 full of ceramic rings and bio-bail (no impeller, run off the same Iwaki MD70RLT as the rest of the sump)
Dan Feller;4599881; said:No leaks so far, but I am (was?) a plumber, so I should be able to do this without leaks...
Ah, I am certainly no plumber, so I will defer to your better judgment.
I always thought your biofilter was totally ridiculous (in a Frankensteinian sort of way)
