250g Clarity Plus Acrylic
50g W/D with 2 chambers of bio balls and some foam pad
Dual 1350gph return pumps
Messy fish
I'm going to want some more mechanical filtration. Should I A) plumb in a Ocean Clear canister to an existing return or B) run a 10g W/D with all mechanical and a 3rd pump? Both options are on hand; spare crap.
Don't think Ocean or NU clear are too widely used by the members on this forum. They look like EXCELLENT filtration options, but, also more complicated / daunting than other, more-common filtration options (i.e. self-driven canisters, HOBs, etc.). Good luck getting a response (I'll be watching).
Yeah, I don't see many of them here. I run 3 Magnum 350's on my 125 and this one could out-filter them I'm sure (not that I dont love the 350's). It wouldn't be much to plumb it in; but it could get complicated to maintain... Thanks!
I hate the Ocean Clear that I have, stopped using it long ago. If I had to choose between the two I would go with the 10 gallon sump filled with mechanical media just because it would be much easier to change/clean the media.
But a DE filter like the on in my signature beats both those options hands down if your goal is crystal clear water and lowest possible maintenance.
I hate the Ocean Clear that I have, stopped using it long ago. If I had to choose between the two I would go with the 10 gallon sump filled with mechanical media just because it would be much easier to change/clean the media.
But a DE filter like the on in my signature beats both those options hands down if your goal is crystal clear water and lowest possible maintenance.
I hate the Ocean Clear that I have, stopped using it long ago. If I had to choose between the two I would go with the 10 gallon sump filled with mechanical media just because it would be much easier to change/clean the media.
But a DE filter like the on in my signature beats both those options hands down if your goal is crystal clear water and lowest possible maintenance.
If I remember correctly Oughtsix had leaking issues even after a new gasket, but I am not 100% sure on this.
I own four Nu-Clear canisters (which I love) and two Ocean Clear canisters as well.
One of the Ocean Clear canisters I got in trade Aclockworkorange. It is fairly old, but I filled it with water at 20 psi and capped it off. It held pressure for a month before I emptied it, so I assume it is good-to-go. The other one is brand new. I haven't yet set it up on a tank, but I expect it to work just like the Nu-Clears as long as I don't have issues getting it to seal.
I like my Nu-Clears a whole lot, they filter down to 25 microns (I use a 100 micron pleated screen cartridge followed by a 25 micron pleated polyester fiber cartridge) and go about a month between changes. I also like the fact that it is a closed-loop system - more water through the overflows tends to cause more noise.
I would go ahead and set up the Ocean Clears. If they have been sitting around for a long time I would do the following:
Clean them with water and white vinegar, especially the channel the o-ring sits in and the sealing surface of the lid.
Silicone grease the o-rings. Using your fingers be sure to coat them completely with a thin layer of grease. Feel for any nicks and look for cracks.
Silicone grease the threads. Put a bit of grease inside the threads on both the top of the canister and the ring. This will make a huge difference in how easy it seals.
By far my biggest complaint was mine leaked. I had a big 1/8th hp external pump and the Ocean Clear canister could not handle the pressure. I tried a new O ring, a new lid, silicone grease and knocking the the retaining ring on with a dead blow hammer and I could not get it to seal properly with the big pump. With a wimpy little Quiet One 3000 it would not leak but with a big pump it would.
With the little pump the cartridge would plug within a week and the cartridges are expensive and a pain to clean. You really need a second set of cartridges so you can be cleaning one set while running the other set. This is just indicative of cartridge filters as a whole though.
I have run Magnum 350's, Big Blue cartridge filters and the Ocean clear cartridge filters and have come to the conclusion that while they do work they are high maintenance. The Ocean Clears and Big Blue filters almost guarantee spilling water during cartridge changes.
After having used a DE filter I would never go back to cartridge filters. I am almost a year into my big Hayward EC40 DE pool filter and I am still on my first charge of DE powder. About every other week I will turn off my pump. Knock all the DE media off the filter screens with the external dislodging handle then turn the pump back on. I can't imagine a lower maintenance mechanical filter. But the big advantage of the DE filter is the water clarity. A cartridge filter simply can't match the clarity of a DE filter (Unless you went with a 1 micron cartridge which you would be changing hourly).
If I didn't use a DE filter I would use a lot if mechanical media in a sump or filter socks. Filter socks can tend to clog somewhat quickly BUT they are so much quicker and easier to change than cartridge filters and you don't even have to turn off the pump to change them if you design your sump well.
All this is just what I have found after trying many different mechanical filtration methods on my tanks your results will most likely vary.
