Pool filter canister and Reeflo Pump?

[The Crunkness]

I am in the process of putting together my filtration plan for my newly acquired 350 gallon (8x3x2).

I have been designing a traditional style sump using a fluidized K1 bed driven by a Reeflo dart, but recently came across a pool filter canister (Hayward sand filter s210t) that the pump went out on. I've done some research and think that my pump might work on this thing but need to get some input as I've found very few other hobbyist using this method.

The Hayward filter recommended flow rate is 44 GPM with a max of 75 GPM. The Dart runs about 60 GPM but I can change out the impeller and make is flow at 43 GPM. Reeflo runs @1750 RPM and 4.7 PSI.

Question #1
Will my pump work with this canister style pool filter?

Question #2
If my pump will work, should I just use sand as its intended? Or us my K1 media in its place?

Question #3
I really want to have a "sump" so that I can use filter socks or floss for mechanical filtration as well as a refugium. Can I come straight out of my tank into the "sump" then pump from the end of the sump into the canister then back to my tank? I'm still trying to figure this part out.

Thank You

 

[tlindsey]

I am in the process of putting together my filtration plan for my newly acquired 350 gallon (8x3x2).

I have been designing a traditional style sump using a fluidized K1 bed driven by a Reeflo dart, but recently came across a pool filter canister (Hayward sand filter s210t) that the pump went out on. I've done some research and think that my pump might work on this thing but need to get some input as I've found very few other hobbyist using this method.

The Hayward filter recommended flow rate is 44 GPM with a max of 75 GPM. The Dart runs about 60 GPM but I can change out the impeller and make is flow at 43 GPM. Reeflo runs @1750 RPM and 4.7 PSI.

Question #1
Will my pump work with this canister style pool filter?

Question #2
If my pump will work, should I just use sand as its intended? Or us my K1 media in its place?

Question #3
I really want to have a "sump" so that I can use filter socks or floss for mechanical filtration as well as a refugium. Can I come straight out of my tank into the "sump" then pump from the end of the sump into the canister then back to my tank? I'm still trying to figure this part out.

Thank You

twentyleagues
MrsE88
duanes

 

[MrsE88]

I’m not sure you can pump from the sump, to the canister, back to the tank... unless the canister sits higher then the tank.
I could be wrong. In my head I just can’t picture it working any other way, but I do have limited experience with sumps.

I think your pump sounds like it will work with the sand filter. You could always do a test run outside and see how it goes.
Im not sure about replacing the sand with k1. I think it will be too light and cause problems. Again, this is just going off what’s making sense to me. Not from experience.
Hopefully others will chime in with better answers for you

 

[twentyleagues]

Pump will be fine.

K1 can work in place of sand. The problem arises during backwashing there is no screen to stop the media from being back washed out of the filter along with the garbage. To get a screen it usually requires a new control valve with a screen option. Sand filters don't need a screen so most don't come with it. If it was a fluidized bed or glass bead filter it will have a screen already.

The possible problems pumping from the sump to the can will be during a back wash maintenance there won't be enough volume of water. Another problem is how much flow will be coming out of the can to the tank? Your overflow should be able to handle it but just be sure first.

 

[duanes]

Pump will be fine.

K1 can work in place of sand. The problem arises during backwashing there is no screen to stop the media from being back washed out of the filter along with the garbage. To get a screen it usually requires a new control valve with a screen option. Sand filters don't need a screen so most don't come with it. If it was a fluidized bed or glass bead filter it will have a screen already.

The possible problems pumping from the sump to the can will be during a back wash maintenance there won't be enough volume of water. Another problem is how much flow will be coming out of the can to the tank? Your overflow should be able to handle it but just be sure first.

Agree with above.
If you prefilter sufficiently before the Hayward can, you may not need to back wash often.
I used one at a house I was renting with a pool, a single backwash would use hundreds of gallons to clean the sand, and before water ran clear.
This is why I suggest doing everything possible to avoid having to backwash it.

 

[jjohnwm]

Oughtsix has experience with pool filters applied to aquarium use, actually with a Hayward filter although his is a diatomaceous earth model. Maybe he can help with this.

I hope you can keep us updated on your progress. I am very interested in trying this, just can't find the model I want at the price I want to pay. In my case, I have a prefilter/sump set-up already operating, and will either add the pool canister into the return line going from the existing pump to the tank, or will perhaps use a second pump. With good mechanical pre-filtration in place I think you will do very little back-flushing...at least I hope so...

 

[Matteus]

 

[Oughtsix]

Question #1
Will my pump work with this canister style pool filter?

I have been using a Hayward EC 40 diatomatious earth pool filter on my aquarium. It was a gamble when I purchased it and I did not know if it would work with a little aquarium pump. The EC 40 worked better than I expected! Even with a small 400 GPH aquarium pump it worked fantastic! Pool filters are designed to provide a huge (in aquarium terms) amount of filtration surface area so they can run high volumes of water while minimizing back pressure. My gut guess is you sand filter will run very well even with a pump much smaller than yours. I definitely would not upgrade the impeller until you try the current impeller. Another gut feeling is the 44 GPM minimum is pretty meaningless in your aquarium application.

Question #2
If my pump will work, should I just use sand as its intended? Or us my K1 media in its place?

Depends, do you want more bio filtration or finer mechanical filtration. If it were me I would use the sand as intended and my gut feeling is it will do a nice job of providing extra fine filtration with a very good run time before having to back wash the sand.

Question #3
I really want to have a "sump" so that I can use filter socks or floss for mechanical filtration as well as a refugium. Can I come straight out of my tank into the "sump" then pump from the end of the sump into the canister then back to my tank? I'm still trying to figure this part out.

This is exactly how I run my EC 40 DE pool filter. It works great for me! The initial socks or floss will catch the bigger dirt then the sand filter will catch the much finer particles. You will want to change the socks/floss frequently to remove the debris before they start to break down to nitrogen compounds. The sand filter should run quite a long time before getting clogged and need to be back washed.

P.S. There is a link to my EC 40 DE pool filter thread in my signature below.

 

[The Crunkness]

Agree with above.
If you prefilter sufficiently before the Hayward can, you may not need to back wash often.
I used one at a house I was renting with a pool, a single backwash would use hundreds of gallons to clean the sand, and before water ran clear.
This is why I suggest doing everything possible to avoid having to backwash it.

I was thinking

I have been using a Hayward EC 40 diatomatious earth pool filter on my aquarium. It was a gamble when I purchased it and I did not know if it would work with a little aquarium pump. The EC 40 worked better than I expected! Even with a small 400 GPH aquarium pump it worked fantastic! Pool filters are designed to provide a huge (in aquarium terms) amount of filtration surface area so they can run high volumes of water while minimizing back pressure. My gut guess is you sand filter will run very well even with a pump much smaller than yours. I definitely would not upgrade the impeller until you try the current impeller. Another gut feeling is the 44 GPM minimum is pretty meaningless in your aquarium application.



Depends, do you want more bio filtration or finer mechanical filtration. If it were me I would use the sand as intended and my gut feeling is it will do a nice job of providing extra fine filtration with a very good run time before having to back wash the sand.



This is exactly how I run my EC 40 DE pool filter. It works great for me! The initial socks or floss will catch the bigger dirt then the sand filter will catch the much finer particles. You will want to change the socks/floss frequently to remove the debris before they start to break down to nitrogen compounds. The sand filter should run quite a long time before getting clogged and need to be back washed.

P.S. There is a link to my EC 40 DE pool filter thread in my signature below.

Oustanding feedback. This is exactly what I was hoping for. Thank you!!!

I will be starting a build thread once I gather all my material. I'll have a few other questions I'm sure as I go through. I some some great success when I built my 420 gallon years ago out of glass but I'm approaching this one a little different. That was a garage tank that I wasn't too worried about looks. This one will be a show tank in the wall of my living room.