Using a "swimming pool" type sand filter

robshippy · 06-06-2004, 08:41 PM

For those who have larger tanks (maybe 150g & up), is anyone using a "swimming pool" type sand filter?

From time to time, I have seen some photos of saltwater tanks that have used "swimming pool" type sand filters as part of their filtrations system(s).

If you want to see one example of a "swimming pool" type sand filter being used with a tank setup, go to this link & look at the photo of the 1700g double-bullnoze tank...
Link to Seavisions web page showing photo of a tank with a sand filter

Well anyway... does anyone use a sand filter like the one shown in the picture?

I also did a Yahoo search for: "Hayward sand filter saltwater aquarium" and Yahoo came up with the following matching web page...
Link to South American Cichlid web page
(This was the only article I could find discussing sand filter applications).

Obviously there would be issues for placement of such a filter due to its extremely large size. And there would also be a serious plumbing issue (because the sand filter has to be flushed periodically & a lot of water would need to be flushed out to a drain).

In my case, my tank is plumbed through the wall to a small closet. I could swing the size of the sand filter.

Does anyone use a sand filter or know of any web sites that discuss them?

Does anyone know some of the pros or cons of a sand filter?

Thanks.
-Rob[i]

cath · 06-07-2004, 12:39 AM

^^^ I dunno, but I'll bump this up for ya

tims · 06-07-2004, 08:01 AM

morning Rob,
sounds like a good idea, it would be like the smaller one you can get from the LFS ..other than the pump size i would think it could be done..
sorry i ain't much help on this one.. maybe tom or jerel orgreg or.. will pop in..

cath · 06-07-2004, 06:19 PM

Casey · 06-07-2004, 07:44 PM

Humm I cant think of anyone using one but I would think it would work great.

robshippy · 06-07-2004, 10:38 PM

Thanks for the replies so far.

I am still hoping to hear from someone that is actually using a "swimming pool" type sand filter.

Hopefully, more people will reply.

RWD · 06-07-2004, 11:00 PM

I've seen then used in pond setups but not really in any type of reef system.

cyberchef · 06-07-2004, 11:12 PM

Having rebuilt a few of them in the past, you might run into problems with metal parts inside of the head unit. You would have to make sure that everything was plastic or titanium to prevent toxic metal leaching.

robshippy · 06-07-2004, 11:34 PM

Cyberchef,

What did you mean by the head unit? Did you mean the multi-port valve (used for reversing flow etc.)?

I did not think there were any metal parts in the tank itself.

cyberchef · 06-08-2004, 12:30 PM

Yes the multi port valve is the head unit... lol You might actually have to pull it apart to check for metal parts including regulator, pressure gauge, pins and srews/bolts. Also check the drain plug on the bottom, most opf the older units had a brass drain.

robshippy · 06-08-2004, 09:02 PM

Thanks for the help cyberchef.

Anyone else have any advice?

Has anyone actually ever used a "swimming pool" type sand filter on a reef tank?

robshippy · 06-10-2004, 09:31 PM

I found a company that is already selling "swimming pool" type filters for reef tanks!

It looks like they have taken the "basic" swimming pool type sand filter and added a bunch of really cool looking stuff to it (like an Iwaki pump). After modification, Seavisions calls it an auto cleaning bead filter (not a sand filter).

This is a serious piece of equipment and the manufacturer's web site says it is designed for reef tanks up to 1200 gallons.

They sell several different models ranging in price from $1369 to $2399. (Maybe they've got layaway?)

If anyone wants to check this thing out, go to Seavisions.com and click on Products & Services. Then click on BIOSEAS FLUIDIZED BED AUTOMATIC BEAD FILTERS.
Or here is a direct link

Due to the high cost, looks like I will be sticking it out with my current filtration setup. But I can dream.

OodleyBoodely · 08-03-2004, 07:46 PM

Hi! I think a sand filter would be fine if you just needed the biological filtering. The problem as I see it would be that it is the same as adding any flow-thru type bio-filter to a reef tank...nitrate buildup (the same as using a wet/dry, sponges/ bio-wheel, or bio-balls). If water is flowing through the sand, then the sand will be an aerobic filter. It will be great for converting ammonia to nitrite to nitrate, but, you will end up with nitrate building up in your system. HTH