Any recommendations for filtration for a 125 gallon?
Filtration for a 125
Started by
Guest_Alex95_*
, Aug 10 2011 11:27 PM
17 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_EricaWieser_*
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Posted 10 August 2011 - 11:48 PM
As a chemical engineer and as an aquarium hobbyist, my favorite filter design remains the fluidized bed. The basic idea of it is that you have small particles like sand in a container, and that you push air or water up through the bottom. Initially, at low velocity, the air/water just makes a few bubbles through the particles. But as the flow rate and volume get faster and faster, the bubbles become more and more forceful until eventually the particles move more like a fluid than like objects falling downward. The result of all this moving around is that all sides of the particle get exposed to current and can get colonized by beneficial bacteria. Therefore the surface area in a fluidized bed reactor is very, very large.
Video of what fluidized particles look like:
Shopping:
http://www.marinedep..._content=RB7631
http://www.thatpetpl...6967_a_7c199010
Video of what fluidized particles look like:
Shopping:
http://www.marinedep..._content=RB7631
http://www.thatpetpl...6967_a_7c199010
Edited by EricaWieser, 11 August 2011 - 12:07 AM.
#3
Guest_frogwhacker_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 12:28 AM
As a chemical engineer and as an aquarium hobbyist, my favorite filter design remains the fluidized bed. The basic idea of it is that you have small particles like sand in a container, and that you push air or water up through the bottom. Initially, at low velocity, the air/water just makes a few bubbles through the particles. But as the flow rate and volume get faster and faster, the bubbles become more and more forceful until eventually the particles move more like a fluid than like objects falling downward. The result of all this moving around is that all sides of the particle get exposed to current and can get colonized by beneficial bacteria. Therefore the surface area in a fluidized bed reactor is very, very large.
I've got a fluidized bed and sponge filter system that I've been meaning to set up to replace my HOB's as a secondary filter system to my canister and UV system. Your wonderful description of it's operation may have given me the ambition to finish this small project. Thanks.
#4
Guest_jblaylock_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 08:22 AM
In my 125, I run 3 large cannister filters and also have bio-balls bagged up behind my background...just to make use of the area.
#6
Guest_jblaylock_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 12:42 PM
Any recommendations for filtration for a 125 gallon?
What kind of fish will you have in this? Some will create a larger bio-load.
#7
Guest_dafrimpster_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 01:58 PM
My 180g is fitlered by two larger sponge filters and a canister(350gph) of course my bioload consists of three longear sunfish and one sailfin mollie right now.
#8
Guest_CATfishTONY_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 02:36 PM
[quote name='EricaWieser' timestamp='1313038100' post='91442']
As a chemical engineer and as an aquarium hobbyist, my favorite filter design remains the fluidized bed.
you gotta love it when a person is right.
do the math and you will see as EricaWiese said FBF RULE'S
While trickle filters may have relatively large amounts of surface area (up to 200 square feet per cubic foot of media), it is virtually impossible for bacteria to colonize all of it.
Fluidized bed filters, by design, do away with the trickle filter's shortcomings. The most obvious benefit is that all of the filter's large surface area is available for bacterial growth. With more than 6,200 square feet of surface area per cubic foot of media
http://www.bioconlabs.com/abtqs.html
THIS SYSTEM WILL BE IN USE FOR MY NEXT TANK FOR SURE.
http://www.duboisi.com/diy/BNfbf/bnfbf.htm
As a chemical engineer and as an aquarium hobbyist, my favorite filter design remains the fluidized bed.
you gotta love it when a person is right.
do the math and you will see as EricaWiese said FBF RULE'S
While trickle filters may have relatively large amounts of surface area (up to 200 square feet per cubic foot of media), it is virtually impossible for bacteria to colonize all of it.
Fluidized bed filters, by design, do away with the trickle filter's shortcomings. The most obvious benefit is that all of the filter's large surface area is available for bacterial growth. With more than 6,200 square feet of surface area per cubic foot of media
http://www.bioconlabs.com/abtqs.html
THIS SYSTEM WILL BE IN USE FOR MY NEXT TANK FOR SURE.
http://www.duboisi.com/diy/BNfbf/bnfbf.htm
#9
Guest_countrybumpkin_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 04:16 PM
FBF are notorious for not starting back up if the power goes off.
Water coming out may be very low in oxygen.
Water coming out may be very low in oxygen.
#10
Guest_Alex95_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 04:21 PM
PumpkinseedWhat kind of fish will you have in this? Some will create a larger bio-load.
#11
Guest_Alex95_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 06:24 PM
what is the gph on a fluidized sand bed filter?
#12
Guest_frogwhacker_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 07:47 PM
what is the gph on a fluidized sand bed filter?
The ones I'm familiar with have a gph rating as they don't come with a pump. You just need to find one that is rated for the size and needs of your tank and supply it with a pump that gives the appropriate gph. My rule of thumb is to usually go a little larger than what is recommended for my tank with everything, but other members can probably give you some better specifics than I can according to what you're keeping. Here's a place you can start your search for one. http://www.americana...SandFilter.html There's some pretty good info. there about them there too, though Erica gave a top notch summation of the operation of one here. Good luck.
Steve.
#13
Guest_jblaylock_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 08:54 PM
Pumpkinseed
Sunfish can be a little messy...the more filtration the better.
#14
Guest_Doug_Dame_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 09:04 PM
As a chemical engineer and as an aquarium hobbyist, my favorite filter design remains the fluidized bed.
you gotta love it when a person is right. do the math and you will see as EricaWiese said FBF RULE'S.
While trickle filters may have relatively large amounts of surface area (up to 200 square feet per cubic foot of media), it is virtually impossible for bacteria to colonize all of it.Fluidized bed filters, by design, do away with the trickle filter's shortcomings. The most obvious benefit is that all of the filter's large surface area is available for bacterial growth. With more than 6,200 square feet of surface area per cubic foot of media
Bear in mind the flip side of the coin: Bio-load challenge to us = dining opportunity to the bacteria.What kind of fish will you have in this? Some will create a larger bio-load.
If your tank isn't creating creating a tremendous bio-load, then the huge POTENTIALLY usable surface area of a FBF is irrelevant. And the disadvantages of a FBF (fast collapse of the bacteria colony in the event of a power failure, and I assume high operating costs due to the need to have continuous high water velocity) become more significant.
If you are doing commercial scale, high-density fish raising, to the point you can't see through the tank to see the other side because there's so many fish, then a FBF could well be a good solution.
NASA spent $1.5m developing the Fisher space pen with pressurized ink cartridges and special ink. Faced with the same gravity and temperature problems to overcome, the Russians used pencils. There is a moral in that. (This is such a great example of my principle that I manage to ignore the minor detail that this legendary space pen story isn't actually true.)
I use air-powered sponge filters in my f/w and b/w tanks. Cheap, reliable, easily scalable, and sufficient. Appropriately engineered to the size of my problem. (Your problem could be different.)
#15
Guest_Alex95_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 10:26 PM
Thanks for the helpful information everybody
#16
Guest_Alex95_*
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Posted 11 August 2011 - 10:40 PM
All this stuff about overflow flow filters and sumps seem so complicated but I want to set on up and was wondering if u guys could help me out with setting one up
thanks a ton Alex
thanks a ton Alex
#17
Michael Wolfe
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Posted 12 August 2011 - 07:29 AM
an optimist sees the glass half fullI use air-powered sponge filters in my f/w and b/w tanks. Cheap, reliable, easily scalable, and sufficient. Appropriately engineered to the size of my problem. (Your problem could be different.)
a pessimist sees the glass half empty
an engineer sees that the glass has been inappropriately designed for the required purpose
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#18
Guest_frogwhacker_*
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Posted 12 August 2011 - 12:54 PM
an optimist sees the glass half full
a pessimist sees the glass half empty
an engineer sees that the glass has been inappropriately designed for the required purpose
A fish head sees the glass as a possible small daphnia culture.
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