2.5 hr Swirl filter

[dirtyhabanero]

Nice weather here in Brisbane today, and a good day to put a swirl filter in I guess. For some reason, reading through Swirl Filter diagrams, the build seems like it would take a while, but this one only took me about 2-3 hrs. I read a neat HowTo on the Ecofilms.com.au (http://www.ecofilms.com.au/2010/08/20/diy-swirl-filter-for-aquaponics/) website and made a few changes; left a few things out because I just wanted a simple one.

There is a video below, and a link to some photos that I've taken.

It's not great but I'm just curious to see if it will make a difference to my system. What I didn't mention in the video, is that the water-in is coming from my sump which is where my fish are at the moment. I will probably move it and have it after my fish tank in due time.

If anyone can suggest improvements or even whether this design is ineffective, that would be great. I'm thinking that maybe it's too big...

tKY5lBm-pqM

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k622/dirtyhabanero/Aquaponics/Swirl%20filter/2011-08-06151032.jpg

An outlet in the centre is ideal for sediment drainage (from what I've read), but I couldn't do that so I just connected a short bit of hose from the outlet to the centre
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k622/dirtyhabanero/Aquaponics/Swirl%20filter/2011-08-06173136.jpg

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k622/dirtyhabanero/Aquaponics/Swirl%20filter/2011-08-06151053.jpg

More photos (http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k622/dirtyhabanero/Aquaponics/Swirl%20filter/)

Salvador

[fishfood]

Extend the outlet to the center of the green drum the inlet is ok

[RupertofOZ]

Welcome to the forum Salvador...



It's not great but I'm just curious to see if it will make a difference to my system.

What "difference" are you expecting it to make.... or to put it another way... why did you decide to incorporate a swirl filter??

[Murray]

Yes, I am curious to know that as well. What difference are you expecting in plant growth, fish happiness........

[bigdaddy]

G'day Dirtyhabenero,

Could you post a picture showing the top diameter of your swirl filter please?

I'm just trying to picture what you have done inside of your filter.

I think also, you could make the drain from a minimum of 25mm dwv PVC, just buy two 25mm flat washers, silicon them on the inside and one on the out side after you drilled a 25 mm hole into the drain part, then you have a good sealing surface to put your bulkhead fittings or whatever onto.

Looks good, you'll learn a lot I think.

Cheers

[bigdaddy]

That should be 2 flat rubber washers.

Cheers.

[dirtyhabanero]

Rupert,


why did you decide to incorporate a swirl filter??

Well the aim is to see if I can reduce the amount of sediment in my sump. Is it normal to have some in there? I have about a 1/4 inch layer on the bottom which gets stirred up when the grow bed drains. I'm hoping that when this does happen, the pump will suck up the stirred up sediment and send it into the swirl filter, where it will gradually settle.


I'm guessing it could take a while before I see results? The fish appear to be happy, however it is the amount of fine sediment which is troubling me.


Re: bigdaddy
I'll keep that in mind. Will get a picture tomorrow morn.

[RupertofOZ]

You shouldn't really have any level of sediment in your fish tank... certainly not 1/4 inch...

It implies that you're either under-filtered, over stocked, over feeding... or very probably... all of the above...

Yes a swirl filter will remove some of the "heavier" solids over time.... but it may not deal with the issue of fine suspended solids, or fine solids lifted into suspension by the grow bed return...

But I think your issue might run a bit deeper... are you oxygenating your tank other than by grow bed return??? ... ie an air pump...

An air pump.. as well as obviously providing more aeration... would be continually "stirring up" the "sediment" for the pump to send to the grow bed(s)...

And really your pump should be strong enough to suck any "sediment" from the tank anyway...

It almost sounds like your tank has so little flow, even if intermittantly... that it's acting as a "settling tank"... allowing the suspended solids to settle out... are you using a timer??

[dirtyhabanero]

bigdaddy,

Drew a quick side view diagram to better describe what I did. No drilling was required as I used the existing drain, however, a central drain would be better.

You haven't had any trouble when using a bead of silicon between the flat rubber washers and the surface?

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k622/dirtyhabanero/Aquaponics/Swirl%20filter/2011-08-09090827.jpg

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k622/dirtyhabanero/Aquaponics/Swirl%20filter/2011-08-09063501.jpg

Made the extension to the centre of the drum, ty fishfood!
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k622/dirtyhabanero/Aquaponics/Swirl%20filter/2011-08-09063445.jpg



Re: Rupert
Sorry, I over exaggerated the 1/4 sediments. At present I do not have any air pumps running as I figure the grow bed return would provide enough aeration for my system (the GB drains roughly every 20mins, 24hrs/day). I'll see if I have an air pump lying around somewhere.

Sal

[bigdaddy]

Hi Sal,

I use 200 litre tubs, a simmilar size to the blue barrels for my swirl and now, solids seperator, the silastic works well with them, you must make sure the area you put the silastic onto is clean and dry.

I checked my old tubs and coincidently I don't have any silastic at all on my 25mm drains, they sealed well with just the washers, the 50mm PVCdwv pipe I put in about 3/4 of the way up the top of those 500 litre tubs with rubber washers and silastic worked well, being submersed in fish water 24/7/365 cleaned and scrubed for about a year, I have since changed the system around and the 500 litre tubs are spare for now, I noticed the silastic is just starting to come away from the edges, not bad for that amount of time. I just think those drain valves you have are too small and you may get frustrated with them when you go to drain your solids, but if you are happy with them, no probs. If you want have a look at my thread in the DIY section My DIY nearly finished, it may give you a few more tips, my tubs were used for fish tanks.

I see what you have done up the top, thanks for drawing that, you may want to search for my swirl filter in the swirl filter section I think, that may give you some ideas.

Looks good.

Cheers.

[DaveOponic]

From your photos I can't see any foam or other kind of filter material inside your swirl filter to catch the finer particles. In my swirl filters I use a plastic laundry basket lined with foam as well as bagged coral to get some bio filtration. There are some photos in my folder in the community section.

Dave