Fluidized Sand Filter

[sbash]

Hi Everybody!

It was brought to my attention sand filters are a thing. Are they really just a simple as a reactor with sand in them?

For example, I have a Phosban 150, can I just put some live substrate in there and start it up?

If so, would finer sand/substrate be better? I have lots of coarse aragonite on hand, but can get some other sand if needed.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions?

 

[Journeyman]

Yep. That's it exactly.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

What are you trying to achieve?

 

[sbash]

What are you trying to achieve?

I want to lower the live rock footprint needed for my clownfish stock tanks.

 

[sbash]

Alright, I fired it up last night. I used some pool filter sand (quartz or silica sand) instead of my live aragonite. Apparently the aragonite will break up in no time.

I also had a few drops of bottled bacteria (Aquaforest brand) that I threw in.

As a test, I have been cycling the current rocks with 5 ml of ammonia, which should be aout 40 ppm. Normally this is down to 1pmm in 24 hours. Last night I added 6 ml (should be 48 ppm). If it reads higher than 1ppm tonight, I'll reduce the daily dose down to 5 ml again until I see a change.

I'm also finishing the plumbing on the system tomorrow, so by Sunday the water volume will be double, so that will skew results (I guess I could just add 10 ml).

I'll be putting at least 100 baby clownfish in the system on Wednesday, so that will help cycle the new filter as well.

 

[Midrats]

I used to have a fluidized sand filter back in the early Nineties. It was called a Quicksand.

 

[sbash]

I used to have a fluidized sand filter back in the early Nineties. It was called a Quicksand.

Looks exactly the same as the Phosban 150:
http://www.bearvalleyaquatics.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=244

 

[SDK]

I used to have a fluidized sand filter back in the early Nineties. It was called a Quicksand.

I had one of those too. Finicky as heck and more nitrates vs LR. Probably good for fish intensive uses.

I also remember the recommendation to have a skimmer or aeration going when using one of these. The high rate of aerobic activity can supposedly drop the dissolved O2 levels. I had both a skimmer and limewood airstone going with mine, because that's how we rolled in the 80's and 90's. You had to have your limewood stone spattering salt everywhere

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I would just be careful if you are relying on it for nitrification, if it gets clogged or the power goes out etc (anything that stops the fluidization) you lose all nitrification and it may need to re-cycle once re-suspended.

 

[Hemmdog]

I know it works well on a commercial scale in public aquariums, not sure how the little phosban will do, but let’s find out! Lol.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I also used a large one for my outdoor pond years ago, but for water polishing. It was an expensive experiment that didn’t last long. I kept the surface skimmer and other bits i added to prefilter. But just wasnt worth the upkeep for what i was trying to accomplish.

 

[sbash]

I had one of those too. Finicky as heck and more nitrates vs LR. Probably good for fish intensive uses.

I also remember the recommendation to have a skimmer or aeration going when using one of these. The high rate of aerobic activity can supposedly drop the dissolved O2 levels. I had both a skimmer and limewood airstone going with mine, because that's how we rolled in the 80's and 90's. You had to have your limewood stone spattering salt everywhere

My overflows should produce a decent amount of aeration, but good point. I'll test the pH with and without an airstone (over a 24 hour period) and see if there is a significant change. I'm not sure how else to measure it?

I have seen some folks add bio balls to the filter, I assume that was to address the potential nitrate issue. But one thing at a time

I would just be careful if you are relying on it for nitrification, if it gets clogged or the power goes out etc (anything that stops the fluidization) you lose all nitrification and it may need to re-cycle once re-suspended.

This is a problem regardless of the filtration media. Currently, my new design, relies on a sump filled with live rock, so if the power goes out, then the empty stock tanks will have zero filtration.

However, this is a non issue because I have a generator to power the fish room if the power goes out.

I know it works well on a commercial scale in public aquariums, not sure how the little phosban will do, but let’s find out! Lol.

From what I have read, the 150 should handle about 30 lbs of fish. 150 clownfish babies/jeuvies weighs all of 5 pounds (just a guess), so it should suffice for now. This is also an augmentation to live rock, which can already (hopefully) handle the bioload.