Anybody use fluidized sand filters?

hulley · 03/05/2006, 06:43 PM

Just like the title says! They seem like a good idea. Any thoughts on these?

mr pink floyd · 03/05/2006, 06:57 PM

wha tare they

StinkinTuna · 03/05/2006, 07:05 PM

I was wondering why I don't hear of too many people using them either!?

I used one back in the day of bleached dead corals as decoration and tanks without live rocks, but the theory of their operation , to me, is still beneficial.

I currently use one on my main tank.

Perhaps fuges have taken it's place, but since I don't have those the Fluidized bed filter has been treating me well, no negative effects from it at least.

hulley · 03/05/2006, 07:08 PM

Basically a big clear tube (kinda like a skimmer) and water enters the tube from the bottom, as the water rises to the top, the water will pass through fine sand that colonizes the "good" bacteria and biologically filter the water (like live rock), then the clean water flows out the top. Very simple and effective looking idea. Supossedly with no nitrate problems like bioballs have. Marinedepot.com sells them if you want to see what they look like. According to my Marine fish encylopedia, they are very effective at biological filtration without taking up alot of space.

SDguy · 03/05/2006, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hulley
Basically a big clear tube (kinda like a skimmer) and water enters the tube from the bottom, as the water rises to the top, the water will pass through fine sand that colonizes the "good" bacteria and biologically filter the water (like live rock), then the clean water flows out the top. Very simple and effective looking idea. Supossedly with no nitrate problems like bioballs have. Marinedepot.com sells them if you want to see what they look like. According to my Marine fish encylopedia, they are very effective at biological filtration without taking up alot of space.

How would you not have nitrate problems? They are basically a remote, high capacity biological filter, used for tanks with high/messy fish loads.

Chihuahua6 · 03/05/2006, 07:32 PM

I had two running on my 150 aggressive tank about 7 years ago. They did a good job back then. I think live rock, fuges and sand beds are just better and took over the fluidized bed route of filtration.

hulley · 03/05/2006, 07:47 PM

Well, I'm going BB! I'm setting up a 30G (gettin it drilled now for sump use) and re-setting up my 90g as a BB as well! I dont want a nasty sandbed or fuge in my systems! (here come the flames) Besides, I think sand beds are not quite the same thing, sand beds are not suspended in water flow, they settle, and trap doody!

hulley · 03/05/2006, 07:49 PM

SD guy, I said "supposedly". I have no real experience with these things yet!

SDguy · 03/05/2006, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hulley
SD guy, I said "supposedly". I have no real experience with these things yet!

Sorry, I wasn't implying that you should know.

Fluidized sand filtration units and DSB are separate, different things.

BTW, if you don't want to get flamed, why do you call them "nasty". Just curious.

hulley · 03/05/2006, 08:12 PM

My laziness ( yes I admit it) causes my sand to get nasty! I dont clean as well as I should, The 30g will be a trial in BB'ness until I decide to set up the 90g, I however think that sandbeds look much better! when they are clean (again, my laziness!).

hulley · 03/05/2006, 08:14 PM

BTW, I'm really not getting ****y! I take everything in a positve manner! no harm no foul! right?

chrismunn · 03/05/2006, 08:14 PM

your nasty you bastard, how dare you say that about me! ..............oh wait, what are we talking about?

hulley · 03/05/2006, 08:19 PM

Now that, was funny!! Too good chrismunn!

03/05/2006, 06:43 PM	#1
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	Anybody use fluidized sand filters? Just like the title says! They seem like a good idea. Any thoughts on these?

03/05/2006, 07:32 PM	#6
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	I had two running on my 150 aggressive tank about 7 years ago. They did a good job back then. I think live rock, fuges and sand beds are just better and took over the fluidized bed route of filtration. __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

03/05/2006, 08:14 PM	#12
chrismunn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,200	your nasty you bastard, how dare you say that about me! ..............oh wait, what are we talking about? __________________ Marine Aquarists Association of South Texas Austin Reef Club PBITAWA... Current Tank Info: 14g bio cube

03/05/2006, 06:57 PM	#2
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	wha tare they

03/05/2006, 07:05 PM	#3
StinkinTuna Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: LA, CA Posts: 616	I was wondering why I don't hear of too many people using them either!? I used one back in the day of bleached dead corals as decoration and tanks without live rocks, but the theory of their operation , to me, is still beneficial. I currently use one on my main tank. Perhaps fuges have taken it's place, but since I don't have those the Fluidized bed filter has been treating me well, no negative effects from it at least.

03/05/2006, 07:08 PM	#4
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	Basically a big clear tube (kinda like a skimmer) and water enters the tube from the bottom, as the water rises to the top, the water will pass through fine sand that colonizes the "good" bacteria and biologically filter the water (like live rock), then the clean water flows out the top. Very simple and effective looking idea. Supossedly with no nitrate problems like bioballs have. Marinedepot.com sells them if you want to see what they look like. According to my Marine fish encylopedia, they are very effective at biological filtration without taking up alot of space.

03/05/2006, 07:47 PM	#7
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	Well, I'm going BB! I'm setting up a 30G (gettin it drilled now for sump use) and re-setting up my 90g as a BB as well! I dont want a nasty sandbed or fuge in my systems! (here come the flames) Besides, I think sand beds are not quite the same thing, sand beds are not suspended in water flow, they settle, and trap doody!

03/05/2006, 07:49 PM	#8
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	SD guy, I said "supposedly". I have no real experience with these things yet!

03/05/2006, 08:12 PM	#10
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	My laziness ( yes I admit it) causes my sand to get nasty! I dont clean as well as I should, The 30g will be a trial in BB'ness until I decide to set up the 90g, I however think that sandbeds look much better! when they are clean (again, my laziness!).

03/05/2006, 08:19 PM	#13
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	Now that, was funny!! Too good chrismunn!