New Filtration

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JasonsPlecosCichlids

JasonsPlecosCichlids

Goliath Tigerfish
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Jan 23, 2010
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Looking at changing up the filtration once I get my big tank, somewhere around 600-700, don't think I'll make it to 1000 gallons. Currently have Mattens, have worked great, but the plecos chomp on them a lot and with what I feed them which are a lot of veggies, the food doesn't break down that fast, so thinking about using something else. Was looking at this idea, making a huge filter out of this if the room permits in the new house. The house we were going to get, it would fit right beside the tank, that house is out of the question now so on to the next house. I was thinking some K1, any other ideas?00F0F_dVEkYFLzDtl_1200x900.jpg
 
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JasonGoneFishing said:
Looking at changing up the filtration once I get my big tank, somewhere around 600-700, don't think I'll make it to 1000 gallons. Currently have Mattens, have worked great, but the plecos chomp on them a lot and with what I feed them which are a lot of veggies, the food doesn't break down that fast, so thinking about using something else. Was looking at this idea, making a huge filter out of this if the room permits in the new house. The house we were going to get, it would fit right beside the tank, that house is out of the question now so on to the next house. I was thinking some K1, any other ideas?View attachment 1331707
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Personally would be concerned on the strength of the container long term. Also if what it's made of will leach anything harmful in the aquarium.
 
Don’t want ultima again? I’m loving my hmf/ultima combo. Pretty much no maintenance so far.
 
tlindsey said:
Personally would be concerned on the strength of the container long term. Also if what it's made of will leach anything harmful in the aquarium.
Click to expand...

Was concerned about the same myself but have access to specs on those IBC totes. I would have no problem using a new one on my system. They are rated for years of continuous use and are food grade.
 
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Being in plastics recycling I come across these everyday at work. A lot of them hold very corrosive and toxic chemicals. Do you think this would be the case if health and safety people thought these containers were weak. I don't think so. They are as tough as old boots so strength wise there's no issues.

The problem with these containers, and any other made out of plastic, is that plastics have varying levels of absorption rates. Granted it's extremely low but when we're holding aquatic life in these containers it can become a real problem, especially if the container previously held something dangerous.

In short, the previous contents will be absorbed, like a sponge if you will, into the actual polymer. And thereafter will be slowly released into any future liquids that are held in there. The common term we're all familiar with is leaching.

However, if you find a container that has held non toxic solutions, and you jet wash it out several times you should be good to go. Just to be on the safe side i'd put a load of non expensive fish in there to start off with for a couple of months and observe. No deaths and i'd say you could then use it for whatever aquatic purpose you wish.
 
People in aquaponics use those all the time to grow, bred, house tilapia. So I dont see why not. Like stated before depends on what was in there before. As for why not use that for your filter id say its a waste of space. Get 3 55 gallon barrels use 1 for a settling chamber 1 for mech and 1 for bio. I'd think 55g of bio would be more then enough for just about any size tank. You could hook up a 4th if you really think you need it and run it full of k1 or something like that too. Or like stated above why not just a mech filter and an ultima?
 
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If I didnt have the plecos, I would stick with Mattens only. I thought about the Ultima, friend of mine has one I can buy but this tote would be a lot cheaper if I can make it work/have the room. I may end up with am Ultima for looks purposes, I was going to build a separate room for this tote next to the tank so it looked nice. I was warned about certain fish picking at the HMF, seems to only be the plecos in my case, some of them are no longer as thick as they originally were. Then with acrylic either I will have to have the braces built in or make something separate and drop it in. I also thought about some wire mesh to put in front of the HMF but haven't done it yet.
 
One other advantage/disadvantage I’m having with my ultima is that my reeflo adds heat to the water. Enough that my heaters never turn on. While it sucks to have a device running at 144watts 24/7 it saves me because before I had ~800 watts that used to always turn on.
 
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