Settling tank

RonD · 10/13/2008, 03:12 PM

Been wondering if anyone uses a pre settling tank to sift solids out of the water. My sump collects it on the bottom before it gets to the skimmer and back to the return pump. Been thinking that perhaps a pre settling tank that is cone shaped with a ball valve on the botton might do the trick and make it easy to clean as well.. open the ball valve briefly and it would suck the solids that collect in the bottom of the cone out and then close it again.

sort of like the first stage in this diagram ??

Playa-1 · 10/13/2008, 06:30 PM

I would say that instead of the settling area just put in a filter sock. Capture and remove the detritus before it settles and creates issues with the water quality.

RonD · 10/13/2008, 09:15 PM

I do use socks now but looking for alteratives to this. The system is pushing 500 gallons and anything I can do to keep the detritus at bay helps. I am looking at upgrading my skimmer to a reeflo 250 and re doing some of my plumming to help make my overflows dump either directly into the skimmer or into a pre sump as shown above... what do others do with larger systems with larger bio loads ?

Playa-1 · 10/13/2008, 10:13 PM

I've seen larger systems with Multiple filter socks. I've seen multiple canister filters in use. I guess it just all depends on what works best for your situation. I'm sure the settling trap idea would work just fine as long as you can keep it clean.
If I'm not mistaken there is a forum for larger tank keepers on RC.

RonD · 10/14/2008, 07:06 AM

thanks for your input.. I will have a look over yonder. what got me onto this in the first place was reading about filter socks etc and the contact time the water has with the detritus in them. With the water pushing and mashing the detritus against the sock made me think that if it just sank into a pre chamber that I could just pull/suck it out before it got mashed.. trying to build a better mouse trap yet again

ReeferAl · 10/14/2008, 09:55 AM

I've thought that if I ever do a new large tank I'd like to use something like this vortex filter

It would require the sump to be a floor below the tank (in the basement) so the water from the tank could flow by gravity through the vortex filter and then to the sump. It gives more settling time than just a settling tank as the particulates are pushed toward the outside and slowly sink while the outflow is from the center of the chamber.

Allen

ReefEnabler · 10/14/2008, 03:15 PM

thats a neat concept... but that thing is 5 feet tall

wonder how well a much smaller one would work.

luv4paws2 · 10/14/2008, 04:07 PM

I've used those filters on koi ponds where the sediment is much heavier, not sure if deutritus would settle out or just keep going through. If you could get it to work it would be nice to just open the valve every couple days and be done with it.

ReeferAl · 10/14/2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by luv4paws2
I've used those filters on koi ponds where the sediment is much heavier, not sure if deutritus would settle out or just keep going through. If you could get it to work it would be nice to just open the valve every couple days and be done with it.

I'm sure that would depend on the flow through it. With slower flow the detritus would have more time to settle, although if it's too slow it won't be propelled centrifugally. With settling pools/tanks too what settles is determined by the flow rate. To get really fine detritus to settle you need a very long tank with relatively slow flow, otherwise only the larger particles will settle there too.

Allen

P.S.

Yes, it is rather large. I said for a "large tank". I'm sure one could be built on a smaller scale.

10/13/2008, 03:12 PM	#1
RonD Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Victoria BC Posts: 721	Settling tank Been wondering if anyone uses a pre settling tank to sift solids out of the water. My sump collects it on the bottom before it gets to the skimmer and back to the return pump. Been thinking that perhaps a pre settling tank that is cone shaped with a ball valve on the botton might do the trick and make it easy to clean as well.. open the ball valve briefly and it would suck the solids that collect in the bottom of the cone out and then close it again. sort of like the first stage in this diagram ?? __________________ If I had a clue... I'd be sitting on the floor playing with it. My vid's http://www.youtube.com/user/rondev Current Tank Info: 210 Gal Display, 220 Gal frag tank, 300 gal sump, Sequence Hammer head Pump, Reeflo Orca 250 Skimmer, 2x400w MH. Tit. Heaters, 200+ lbs Jakarta LR and an empty wallet :)

10/13/2008, 09:15 PM	#3
RonD Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Victoria BC Posts: 721	I do use socks now but looking for alteratives to this. The system is pushing 500 gallons and anything I can do to keep the detritus at bay helps. I am looking at upgrading my skimmer to a reeflo 250 and re doing some of my plumming to help make my overflows dump either directly into the skimmer or into a pre sump as shown above... what do others do with larger systems with larger bio loads ? __________________ If I had a clue... I'd be sitting on the floor playing with it. My vid's http://www.youtube.com/user/rondev Current Tank Info: 210 Gal Display, 220 Gal frag tank, 300 gal sump, Sequence Hammer head Pump, Reeflo Orca 250 Skimmer, 2x400w MH. Tit. Heaters, 200+ lbs Jakarta LR and an empty wallet :)

10/14/2008, 07:06 AM	#5
RonD Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Victoria BC Posts: 721	thanks for your input.. I will have a look over yonder. what got me onto this in the first place was reading about filter socks etc and the contact time the water has with the detritus in them. With the water pushing and mashing the detritus against the sock made me think that if it just sank into a pre chamber that I could just pull/suck it out before it got mashed.. trying to build a better mouse trap yet again __________________ If I had a clue... I'd be sitting on the floor playing with it. My vid's http://www.youtube.com/user/rondev Current Tank Info: 210 Gal Display, 220 Gal frag tank, 300 gal sump, Sequence Hammer head Pump, Reeflo Orca 250 Skimmer, 2x400w MH. Tit. Heaters, 200+ lbs Jakarta LR and an empty wallet :)

10/14/2008, 03:15 PM	#7
ReefEnabler Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 3,760	thats a neat concept... but that thing is 5 feet tall wonder how well a much smaller one would work. __________________ - Ryan B "that is enough skimmate to ruin lives." - GSMguy Current Tank Info: 220g Display, 70g sump, 35g frag, 50g fuge, 2x250w MH, 1x400w MH, 2x80w T5, 2x140w VHO Actinic

10/14/2008, 04:07 PM	#8
luv4paws2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 612	I've used those filters on koi ponds where the sediment is much heavier, not sure if deutritus would settle out or just keep going through. If you could get it to work it would be nice to just open the valve every couple days and be done with it. __________________ If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed. Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 110 x-tall, 30 gal sump/fuge

10/13/2008, 06:30 PM	#2
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I would say that instead of the settling area just put in a filter sock. Capture and remove the detritus before it settles and creates issues with the water quality.

10/13/2008, 10:13 PM	#4
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I've seen larger systems with Multiple filter socks. I've seen multiple canister filters in use. I guess it just all depends on what works best for your situation. I'm sure the settling trap idea would work just fine as long as you can keep it clean. If I'm not mistaken there is a forum for larger tank keepers on RC.

10/14/2008, 09:55 AM	#6
ReeferAl Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Fond du Lac, WI Posts: 2,040	I've thought that if I ever do a new large tank I'd like to use something like this vortex filter It would require the sump to be a floor below the tank (in the basement) so the water from the tank could flow by gravity through the vortex filter and then to the sump. It gives more settling time than just a settling tank as the particulates are pushed toward the outside and slowly sink while the outflow is from the center of the chamber. Allen