Continued from page 5

MISCELLANEOUS

Mechanical filters can be made using any convenient container and filter floss or gravel, or a combination of both. This is easy to achieve if you are using a trickle filter at the same time, as all you will need to do is first flow the water into that container, and through the media, and then from that container to the top of the trickle filter.

A old aquarium, or a plastic bucket if that is all you have, will do just fine, and will make the filter quite inexpensive. In fact, if you refer to some old FAMA magazines, in the For What it's Worth column, you will find many suggestions on how to set such filters up.

Without a trickle filter (see biological filtration) it is very difficult to use this form of mechanical filter, unless float switches (level switches) are used as well. This complicates the set-up and can increase its price quite a bit.

One tried method that is often inexpensive to install, consists of using old canister filters, place them in series, and run them with an old pump you have sitting around. Not the pumps that came with the canisters, but something stronger than that as, to push water forcefully through one or more canister filters, you may need something the equivalent of a Number 2 or 3 magnetic drive pump (brands include Little Giant, March, Iwaki, and others). Do not use extra strong pumps as the canisters will not take a very high amount of inside pressure.

If you do not own such a pump, look in your local bargains advertisement paper, ask the Pet stores you deal with for second hand pumps, or call other Pet Stores in your area. Your local Aquarium Society may also be a good source for getting equipment you need.

MECHANICAL FILTER IN SYPHON :

To bring water down to a trickle filter two methods are used. Either the surface skimming syphon arrangement, or holes in the tank combined with a corner overflow box (see The Marine Fish and Invert Reef Aquarium for a detailed discussion).

A number of syphon devices have a pre-filter (mechanical filter) built in to the downflow. That is of course an excellent way of filtering the water, as it is done one step before the water enters the biological part of the trickle filter, thus reducing the amount of detritus that can get stuck there. This is especially important with certain types of materials used in such filters, e.g. DLS and similar materials that go by different names.

The latter, due to its denseness, can indeed trap dirt very easily. Such is totally undesirable, as it will quickly lead to reduced levels of dissolved oxygen, which, as we shall see later, will stress all tank life, and lead to a system that is not running at its optimum, and in which disease and micro-algae will more than likely occur intermittently or, more likely, all the time.

Mechanical filters inside syphons are usually made of coarse foam that traps the dirt. Clean it regualarly. At least once a week. Remove the sleeve, or twist it loose (as in the Smit's Natural Reef model and also in a few others), rinse it out, and place it back in the syphon.

CONCLUSION :

You must clean the water with a mechanical filter, and you should do so before the water enters the biological filter.

You must clean the mechanical filter(s) regularly, at least once a week. More often can not hurt, to the contrary.

You should, in my opinion, not use micronic, sub-micronic and diatomaceous earth filters on small Reef tanks, and if you do, you should only use them very infrequently.

The denser the material inside your biological filter contact chamber, the more importance mechanical filtration of the water going to that filter, before it gets there, becomes. Indeed, this will prevent dirt getting trapped too quickly, loss of dissolved oxygen and decay inside the biological filter.

Several mechanical filters, instead of just one, do not hurt the system, on the contrary, but are, in my opinion not a requirement. They just add to the cost of setting up the tank, unless of course you have them standing around anyway.

A complete trickle filter with all the required types of filtration incorporated, and segregated, is the ideal system to go with for a small Reef Aquarium.

How such a filter is built and what it looks like may not be what you have in mind right now. The traditional box-like filters that have been around for several years are obviously one way to go, but there are other approaches that we will discuss.

Look for our recommendations on mechanical filtration later in this book. You may also wish to refer to the How To section of FAMA magazines, as many ways of fine filtering have been described there.

Incidentally, FAMA published all the HOW TO's in book form. Check with them for ordering information. FAMA is the abbreviation for Freshwater and Marine AQUARIUM magazine.

[Albert J. Thiel requests that you make a $5.00 donation to the New Mexico School for the Visually Handicapped Children, 1900 North White Sands, Alamagordo, New Mexico 88310 (or other charitable group) if you download the entire book. This would be in lieu of the standard purchase price for this publication.]

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