Thinking of hooking up a cheap Intex cartridge pool filter

[Def Leppard Hysteria]

You are on the right track. We run two Rainbow RTL-25 filters for mechanical filtration on our 300 gallon tank. We like them so much, we are going with six RTL-100s on the big tank.

http://www.spaandpoolsource.com/rainbowrtl-25fpt.aspx

RTLs are usually seen on big reef set ups for mechanical filtration. I sought advice from a reef man who sets up and maintains tanks, and he introduced us to Rainbow RTLs.

How is the maintenance on these filters, pacu mom? The top load design is very intriguing. I'd love to be able to buy a cartridge filter and not have to spill gallons of water getting the micron filter out of the unit. I assume you plumbed ball valves before and after the filter?

 

[pacu mom]

I was told a bleach soak will clean them. Too lazy--I tried it once and left them in 100% bleach and forgot them for a couple of weeks and ruined them. (the plastic components degraded) For almost eleven years I've been just replacing them with new ones. That will change when we set up the big system....the big cartridges are over $60.

This forum has been good. People's questions have me rethinking our big setup. We do have valves on either side of the RTLs, but I haven't used them (my husband closes one). We change the cartridges during a water change as the tank is draining and any remaining water in the RTL-25s drains out.

Someone's question has me thinking that perhaps we could have put the RTLs before the Hammerhead pump. I don't know. It's worked fine the way we have it for 11 years. Probably doesn't matter if it is before or after the pump.

On our big set up, I was going with six RTL-100s run by a Hammerhead pump. There will be an Ultima II 4000 also drawing and returning water to the tank. I've decided to connect the Ultima to one of the six poop sucker pipes (vertical pipes just off the floor), since the pipe will ensure enough water when purging the Ultima. (This would be in lieu of an uptake near the top of the tank that I had planned). Now I'm thinking of putting one of the RTLs before the Ultima. Everyone's questions has me tweeking my own plans and making the system better....so thanks for the questions.

 

[Cecil B.]

Wow you guys remind me of the koi folks on koiphen with all that equipment!

 

[pacu mom]

Sorry--I hope you don't consider my comments a derailment. Our big tank is 15' x 4' x 4', so we do need that equipment And I really do love spa filters for mechanical filtration.

 

[kendragon]

Pumps are designed to push water and are very inefficient in pulling water. So any filtration should be installed on the output side of the pump. These pool filters are intended to operate at medium to high pressure. Aquaculture pumps are low pressure low RPM so use your ingenuity to minimize head pressure...hence bypass. Remember, you always want flow even when the cartridge is full.