Detritus Removal

Nothing like that exists as far as I know. When I worked at an lfs, I brought my diatom filter to help clean the tanks. Just stir the crap into the water column and let the filter do the rest (do not bother with the gravel vaccuum attachment as it too will suck up sand):

Vortex Innerspace Products, Inc.

 

Thanks, amcarrig. So this filter uses diatomaceous matter as filter material? Is the water filtered through this media similarly to how it's filtered through a fluidized sandbed?

How is the filter cleaned/maintained?

Also, I'm really surprised that no golden bullet exists for sucking detritus off the sand floor!! In my mind, I've always said to myself, "Gee, I've got to ask those folks on 3Reef how to do this, 'cause I know there's got to be an easier way!" LOL. So there's really not an easier way, eh? What a bummer!!!!!

 

I like to use a piece of airline to suck out detrious does an ok job with out disturbing the sand to bad, but from what i understand if I understand correctly is you want that very top layer of sand to get disturb a little every now and again like what a goby would do.

 

Yes, water is filtered through diatomaceous earth. The filter bag that comes with the filter is mainly to hold the filtration media in place. If you find that you want to use one, buy your earth from a pool supply place. It's the same stuff that comes with the filter only it's much much cheaper.

I disassemble the filter and clean it after every use and leave it to dry between uses. You can either disassemble the filter to clean it or you can order the backflush kit and rinse it out that way. I prefer to let the filter bag dry though so disassembling it is a must for me.

 

Thanks a bunch for the info! So this is a mechanical filtration method that filters out to a much smaller scale than is possible with floss, for example, yes?

 

A diatom filter..Never mind I posted on the first page and did not see the 2nd page . But what she said It may be a little old school for many since they have been around since the early 60's LOL But nothing is any better at the job it does

 

But Tangster, I thought this was only a filtration unit to be attached to a running aquarium.

Does this filter have the capability to suck detritus off the sand floor, or do you have to agitate the water to get the detritus to become waterborne?

From what I understood on amcarrig's post, it's the latter, right?

 

Yes it will filter out much smaller particles than floss will. I run a diatom filter from time to time as well and love the results.

 

Oui If you were cleaning gravel, you could use it to suck the gravel clean but crushed coral and sand are too light and would get sucked into the filter if you tried to vacuum it.

 

Thanks for tolerating a million questions, amcarrig; but if I were to go this route, I'd do something such as, kill all pumps and water-moving devices (PHs, koralia, Vortech, etc.), stir up the water column and let the diatom filter do its thing. Maybe agitate the water once or twice more, let the filter run, then remove the diatom filter, and turn everything back on.

Is that about the size of it?