Diatom Filter

[Paul B]

How do you people keep a reef long term without a diatom filter? I don't mean five year old tanks, I mean old tanks. I am in the process now of stiring everything up with the diatom. I think if there was no such thing I could not keep a reef long term. There is so much gunk that gets deposited (and manufactured) in live rock that it has to be removed. I am amazed when I direct the flow from a diatom at a small area of rock and the detritus exits from many places far from the entry point. I put a restriction on the outflow of my diatom to make a powerwasher and I go crazy. The fish love it.
I have dove in the tropics in storms and there is no way that a filter could agitate the water as much as a real storm. Hurricaines and typhoons are a common occurance on any reef and I believe you need the beneficial results of this natural occurance.
Maybe it's just me.
Anyway, Have a great whats left of the day.
Paul

 

[Curtswearing]

I use a 1 Micron filter sock for a couple of hours whenever powerheading off rocks, etc.

I agree though. Getting this detritus out of the system is necessary.

 

[morgan]

thats why havening BB can be helpful when doing this but not worrying about a sand storm in ur tank

 

[Krish]

Wow!!! These things must really be nice! You sure seemed sold on them Paul and must really like what they do for your system!

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15132

 

[Vicki]

I completely agree with Paul. I don't think I would want to keep as many tanks as I have without knowing I have a Diatom Filter nearby. I don't use them very often, but there are times they sure come in handy.

I probably purchased my first one back in the '70s and haven't been without one since. I think I actually have about 3 of them right now.

On my big tanks, they don't do much in a short time. I do use them to clean out the sumps though. With the smaller tanks, they can sparkle the water in just a few minutes. AND they're supposed to remove ICH, so I usually have one attached to a quarantine tank.

You seldom see them available these days, but they were VERY popular when they first came out and were considered a necessary piece of equipment back in those days.

Vicki

 

[Pikachu]

Yeah, these filters are simply amazing. Helped me with my green water problem over a couple of nights.

 

[Paul B]

Yeah, what Vicki said. Krish I forgot I have a thread about these. My daughter got me a new diatom for Christmas. Morgan, I like the sand storms. I Make a typhoon then blow it all off the rocks. There is no DSB in my reef so it is not a big deal. I also get a growth on my rocks which is a combination of algae, cyano, bacteria, slime and tubeworms. It all comes off with a strong diatom. I know my reef would have crashed many years ago without it. I think they are out of business now but you can still get them on line. I think I am on my fourth one.
Have a great day.
Paul

 

[Scooterman]

I used a Diatom in the past, just recently sold it. I guess there are more ways to Get ER Done!

I can keep my tank just as clean or cleaner without it but it takes some thought in the design to accomplish this. I do admit that every so often I use a 1 micron filter sock which is about the same level of filtration as a diatom if I remember correctly but I don't rely just on that to keep everything sparkly. Unfortunately I tore down my last tank to restart a new, so we will have to get back to me in ten years or so to see if what I have is working well.:lol:

 

[Krish]

I use to use a polishing cartridge in a H.O.T Magnum canister filter to clean up the water after a nice blasting of the rocks, but haven't done that in many months. Everyone knows I kinda go overboard with flow so my rocks stay pretty free of detritus so not much extra to get off of them by directing a powerhead occasionally on the rocks (which I do anyways from time to time to lift what the flow misses, but never too much). As for clear water, I basically just rely on my water changes and skimming as well as carbon. Works well for me

 

[gman0526]

Wow!!! These things must really be nice! You sure seemed sold on them Paul and must really like what they do for your system!

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15132

Good thing you don't need one with the huge amount of flow you have, I can tell you that if I pass a powerhead over my LR right now i could barely get a misty haze on the water. It's all about planning your flow especially with a BB tank. It's great to see some alternative methodology being used and you can't really argue about Paul's success.

 

[DonW]

I agree that they are great to have. I keep mine handy. They will pull much finer particles than a 1 micron sock. I dont use it any more because I'm lazy but when you have a disaster or remodel some rock work they are great.

Vortex makes a great unit at a affordable price. I would will always keep mine.

Don

 

[Paul B]

I really don't care too much about polishing the water, I just need to blast everything. It must be my military training :shock:
You guys have to wait until your tank reaches twenty years or so. It may be harder to clean then. Krish, there are places in my tank that haven't seen light since before you were born :lol:
Give it time and all the flow in the world will not kep it clean. The bacteria inside the rock manufacture some tinaceous gunk. Those pores need to be cleaned hence the need for typhoons.
Have a great day.
Paul

 

[Scooterman]

They will pull much finer particles than a 1 micron sock.

They don't filter much more than 1 micron from what I've read & that is from the manufacturer, unless your testing them & I would want to see that, I used both. I don't allow the rocks to build up much either, it is easy to use a real submersible pump with about 1,000gph to blow the rocks off really well when necessary, I don't need 20 years to prove that either. I'm not saying anything bad about a diatom filter they work great but I can accomplish the very same quality filtration without one, also If I really wanted to get picky I could get a 1/2 or 1/4 micron sock but it isn't necessary.

 

[Paul B]

Scooty, I'm sure you could. As I said, I am not interested in the filtering quality of the diatom, I just like them for the water preasure and when I add my powerwasher attachment I have to be real careful not to hit the corals of it would tear them off their skeleton. My tank gets all sorts of garbage growing on the rock and I need to get violent to clean it.
Paul

 

[DonW]

They don't filter much more than 1 micron from what I've read & that is from the manufacturer, unless your testing them & I would want to see that, I used both. I don't allow the rocks to build up much either, it is easy to use a real submersible pump with about 1,000gph to blow the rocks off really well when necessary, I don't need 20 years to prove that either. I'm not saying anything bad about a diatom filter they work great but I can accomplish the very same quality filtration without one, also If I really wanted to get picky I could get a 1/2 or 1/4 micron sock but it isn't necessary.

Vortex diatom filters are rated a .65 micron constantly. A one micron sock is no longer one micron after its been beat up by the washing machine.
I dont think anyone is claiming a power head dosnt work but the diatom filter is much more effective than trying to get all the debris down the overflows and into the filter sock.
If youve ever had a tank with slightly yellow water. The diatom will make it crystal clear, a filter sock will not do that. Diatom filters are also great for clearing up spawning events.

Don

 

[marinegeek101]

Hi, I have a 32 gallon aquarium and my rocks are full of garbage. Should a diatom filter be my next purchase? Cause I usualy just use a turkey baster and a net. I shoot the rocks then i scoop it up.

 

[DonW]

Hi, I have a 32 gallon aquarium and my rocks are full of garbage. Should a diatom filter be my next purchase? Cause I usualy just use a turkey baster and a net. I shoot the rocks then i scoop it up.

Honestly anything would be better than a net. Do you have a sump?

Don

 

[marinegeek101]

No I dont. I was thinking of getting one but someone said it wasn't necessary.

 

[DonW]

No I dont. I was thinking of getting one but someone said it wasn't necessary.

Most of us just put a filter sock on our drain pipes after rock blasting. If your not going to get a sump then I'd get a diatom or magnum.

Don

 

[Scooterman]

I use a pump not a ph to get where needed in the rocks, I attach a flexible hose to it, I also replace the filter socks often & if necessary I can run carbon when needed. The Diatom isn't the easiest to use & I find it a PIA even when I re-plumbed it. Nothing wrong with it & they do filter well but not necessary to have & still get the same results much easier. Everyone has their ways to husbandry the key like Paul said it to get where you need to to keep the rocks clean & then remove it for best results.

BTW I've found where it is claimed .008 & will remove ICK & I think it will trap ICK but will it completely remove it from your tank? I would think maybe if it did everyone would be using them regularly, but maybe we can replace the salt study threads with that? LOL