pool filter for large tank??

johnptc

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Apr 6, 2005
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PredatorTank215;1507680; said:
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?

how about after the filter........that way it wont get filled with fish cr@p.......use lots of bio media in the sump......
 

IKeepPacu

Jack Dempsey
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Jan 2, 2008
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DrJoe....the projects budget is whatever my rebate check is. not looking to spend more than a few hundred for a filter, which is where the pool ones came into idea. i can get used ones for cheap as hell, then just run them with heavy declor for a few weeks to remove any chlorine r whatever that may be holding down in there.

so, starting to sound like the pool filter idea may not be as good as i was hoping. back to square 1 with filtration it seems. unless there is some way to make them work still?
 

juststeve79

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Jan 24, 2008
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hey just a thought .... i was thinking if you take the sand out and fill with bio ball and other bio supporting midea! and then you can just build some type of inline prefilter
 

PredatorTank215

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johnptc;1508060; said:
how about after the filter........that way it wont get filled with fish cr@p.......use lots of bio media in the sump......
If its after the pump what brings the water back into the tank? Unless its sealed air tight which would make cleaning the sump hard.
 

johnptc

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PredatorTank215;1508174; said:
If its after the pump what brings the water back into the tank? Unless its sealed air tight which would make cleaning the sump hard.

ahhhh sorry i mounted the sump box above the tank... ....pump filled from filter ....gravity drain into tank
 

scubasteve06

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Jan 10, 2008
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I would just cut the big section where the sand is into 3 chambers and run pre filter first chamber, bio balls second, and scrubbies 3rd. Would that not work?
 

IKeepPacu

Jack Dempsey
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Jan 2, 2008
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juststeve79;1508107; said:
hey just a thought .... i was thinking if you take the sand out and fill with bio ball and other bio supporting midea! and then you can just build some type of inline prefilter
theres something i stupidly dident think of!!! mix bio-max and scrubbies or something instead of sand, and can still use a pool skimmer box, and use the basket with a foam as mechanical?


almost sounds like a good idea. brand new filters with 2hp pumps are only 1-200 on ebay. id be willing to buy 2-3 used at that price, and could end up turning over the water several times an hour with alot of bio
 

Wolf3101

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Apr 26, 2007
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Use the pool filter for the mechanical portion of the filter system but go with a bio tower for the rest. This is the most cost effective way of doing things. A pool sand filter will NEVER be a bio filter no mater how you tinker with it and none of the other lower priced options would work well enough to try. A large diamator tube or even a 55 gallon bucket of scrubbies and a return pump wouldn't set you back very much and would be VERY effective. The cartrage style pool filters are quite efficiant mechanical filters especially if you build a sediment seperator on the intake.

My main problem with the kiddie pool idea every time it comes up is the lack of long term durability. A timber framed liner pond can last for 10 years or more with proper maintaince while even the best kiddie pool is doing good if it lasts 3.
 

RBE17

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Oct 2, 2007
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Why not use a series of 55g drums for mechanical and bio? You can use the sand filter or the bead filter for fines removal and water polishing. This is generally what the koi keepers do.
 

juststeve79

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Jan 24, 2008
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RBE17;1510265; said:
Why not use a series of 55g drums for mechanical and bio? You can use the sand filter or the bead filter for fines removal and water polishing. This is generally what the koi keepers do.

that sounds like a good idea!! l
 
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