pool filter for large tank??

[IKeepPacu]

tax time is coming, and im building a pacu tank with my check. had 2nd 3rd and 4th thoughts about using a kiddie pool for pacu

im HOPING on 10x5x5 plywood, but the best laid plans turn to....well, we all know heating it with a pool heater since it will be all very tough fish in there, and theres some room for error if the heater dies.

Will a standard pool filter work as the main filtration for the tank?? i know theres 3 different types....cartridge, sand, and DE.

the sand seems like it may work like a giant FB filter. but i would then need to have massive aeration in the tank to support the bacteria in the filter and not deplete O2 in the tank, would i not?? cleaning would also be easy every few days with just a backwash i would imagine. if this does work, i was considering cutting a skimmer into the tank as is used on a pool, and covering the basket with some type of material as to catch many of the solids.

the cartridge seemed like a good idea, but i have doubts on the bacteria it could possibly support, altho does seem good as a mechanical filter. easy to clean, just hose it off in the driveway.

the DE....well, i have no idea. never used DE filters, so wouldent know what to expect.

or am i completely barking down the wrong tree here???

 

[duke33]

Might work, I've asked about using one when I first got my 300. Most replies were that it would be to big; to much flow. After much study it would be no more than a huge FB, like you stated. The cartridge type, IMO, might do the trick.

 

[johnptc]

i use a bank of hayward swim clears ( cartridge) on the big tank and one (525 sq ft) on the 1000gal running 50 gpm

the bio filtration is separate

cartridges need to be soaked in bleach and water before hosing off


or consider a bead filter.........

 

[IKeepPacu]

bead filters seemed like a great idea. however the best one i saw, the aquedyne i believe, was over $1k. and i honestly dont want to spend than on a filter

 

[Danh]

Pool filters are mechanical filters, not bio filters. Of course they'll house some bacteria, but not like a FB filter. The sand in a pool filter is not fluidized. I wouldn't use a pool filter a main filter on a fish tank.

 

[pacu mom]

tax time is coming, and im building a pacu tank with my check. had 2nd 3rd and 4th thoughts about using a kiddie pool for pacu

im HOPING on 10x5x5 plywood, but the best laid plans turn to....well, we all know heating it with a pool heater since it will be all very tough fish in there, and theres some room for error if the heater dies.

Will a standard pool filter work as the main filtration for the tank?? i know theres 3 different types....cartridge, sand, and DE.

the sand seems like it may work like a giant FB filter. but i would then need to have massive aeration in the tank to support the bacteria in the filter and not deplete O2 in the tank, would i not?? cleaning would also be easy every few days with just a backwash i would imagine. if this does work, i was considering cutting a skimmer into the tank as is used on a pool, and covering the basket with some type of material as to catch many of the solids.

the cartridge seemed like a good idea, but i have doubts on the bacteria it could possibly support, altho does seem good as a mechanical filter. easy to clean, just hose it off in the driveway.

the DE....well, i have no idea. never used DE filters, so wouldent know what to expect.

or am i completely barking down the wrong tree here???

We use two spa filters run with a large Hammerhead pump (5800 gph) for extreme mechanical filtration on our 300 gallon tank. We have a wet/dry filter for biological filtration. Our tank is undecorated, with a bare floor. With two uptakes just the floor (poop suckers) there has been no waste/debris to vacuum out of the tank in the nearly two years the tank has been running. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97647&page=3

 

[johnptc]

Pool filters are mechanical filters, not bio filters. Of course they'll house some bacteria, but not like a FB filter. The sand in a pool filter is not fluidized. I wouldn't use a pool filter a main filter on a fish tank.

they are great for large tanks...but the bio filter is separate

 

[johnptc]

bead filters seemed like a great idea. however the best one i saw, the aquedyne i believe, was over $1k. and i honestly dont want to spend than on a filter

aquedyne is tops but pricey.....the advantages are they have a wash cycle......no cartridges to maintain and the are bio filters as well

 

[Dr Joe]

Listen to Johnptc, but even better...look at his systems!

You can down size and go with a cheaper model but just remember that you did .

What's your budget on this project?

If you have the time watch and adv. on craigslist and freecycle.org in your area too (think hot tub remodelings, you can pick up aeration/mech.filtration/heater in one fell swoop). Thenjust build a bio-sump and your good top go

Dr Joe

.

 

[PredatorTank215]

What if you run a large sump before the pool filter? I know the sand wont hold much bacteria but wont the sump develop bacteria from aeration and waste? Maybe a bio wheel?