dawnmarie;3871963; said:
I feel like i'm about to get an education here.
Are bag filters better because of their micron size or design ?
When you say "organic (bacterial) buildup" do you mean biological bacteria or fish waste/uneaten food or both ?
Unless you have a sump there aren't any bag filter options that incorporate an effective bypass method(with all due respect to the DIY versions on this forum). I tried using a 100 micron cartridge in my setup and was not happy with the water clarity. After some experimentation with different micron sizes I have settled on 30 microns as acceptable for me. You are absolutely correct in that the finer the micron rating the shorter the service interval.The only way to lengthen the service interval is to use a filter with a larger surface area(such as a pool filter) or adding more cartridge filters plumbed in parrallel.
None of this is meant to be argumentative, I just like to know the WHY behind the HOW.
dawnmarie;3878477; said:
BUMP. Has no one ever actually used a cartridge pool filter ? I find this hard to believe
I've used many pool related products (and a few other experiments) before. There's nothing wrong with the use of a cartridge so long as you're ready to clean and bleach it regulary, which would require the use of additional replacement cartridges during the process.
My use of the term "organic (bacterial) build up" refers to the bacterial growth that inevitably occurs on all surfaces in an aquarium, not to particulate wastes and the like. Even at low waste levels, that build up can slow or clog a micron cartridge, and the smaller the micron rating the worse that situation is. Certainly it takes longer to occur in low waste conditions, but it still does occur. In that case, you really need to make sure your pump is pressure rated and of a very well built and reliable model.
Bag filters have a thicker profile which, even at the same micron rating, tends to make them clog less quickly that a cartridge on a per square foot basis. They also have the ability, as you indicated, to allow water to bypass them if the become clogged when used in certain configurations (as in a sump as you noted).
There are some designs that do not require a sump yet still allow bypass as needed. Last time I checked Aquatic Ecosystems has such models, but they are basically just an enclosed PVC cylinder on a stand.
You can always reduce the clogging speed on your pool filter by running it last in a series of various micron rated cartridges or bags.
