Sand filters

[MUCHO REEF]

Anyone having any success with them on a grow out tank ?

Thanks

[aquaticsdeptleader]

do you mean a fludized bed?

[MUCHO REEF]

Yes, and is it true that they cause high Nitrate readings

[aquaticsdeptleader]

like other filters that provide lots of o2 to bacteria they are for reefers over efficent they process ammonia and nitrite so quickly that teh bacteria that use the nitrate as an o2 source can not keep up and you begin to get a build up.

for a frag tank doing lots of water changes i dont know if this will really be in issue. i have never used em nor have i had a frag tank.

the biggest negative i heard in regards to the filter is that the sand can get clogged up or stuck in the return.

jim

[MUCHO REEF]

Thanks aquaticsdeptleader, anyone else ?

[dark horge]

Actually, I think it's a case of there being so much O2 around that the bacteria no longer bother with exploiting the nitrate. An anoxic environment forces denitrifying bacteria to act anaerobically.

In any case, yes, a fluidized-bed filter wil likely cause a steady build-up of nitrate, much like other super-aerobic filters (wet-dry/trickle, bio-wheel, etc.)

Nothing, absolutely nothing, beats live rock, good circulation, and maybe an algal filter, IMO.

Deep Sand Beds (DSB's) are to me a crutch for heavy-feeding regimes, and are fraught with all kinds of limitations. If however, you are really after high-energy foodwebs, then maybe DSB's are just the ticket.


horge