Comment

Comment by Jeremiah Robinson on September 26, 2014 at 9:53am

I use them with seedlings.  I'd like to mix them with coir and use in net pots, but drying them is such a bother.

Comment by Vlad Jovanovic on September 26, 2014 at 9:50am

Just out of curiosity...What do you guys then do with the removed solids? How do you re-process those essential elements and put them back into the system? 

Comment by Jeremiah Robinson on September 26, 2014 at 9:34am

Can't argue with the point about cost.  I'm not buying one of these anytime soon.

Here's a whitepaper that talks a little bit about solids.  There's a missing overflow pipe in the diagram I pasted in, by which floaters are discharged.

Essentially the center standpipe drives suspended solids downward, which takes care of the "floaters" that would sink over time.  The v-shaped notches prevent most floaters from escaping, and there's a drain pipe that discharges them to a rotating drum filter.

Comment by Jim Fisk on September 26, 2014 at 9:07am

First off: How much does that complicated commercial filter cost? Do you really think folks are going to make that at home? Secondly where does it address floaters? in that tiny center section around the standpipe? How do you collect them and remove them. If I am reading that diagram right, NO it does not. Why so complicated? Got a bunch of orders in so I have to get to town for pieces parts but I'll join in on this later.

Comment by Jeremiah Robinson on September 26, 2014 at 8:41am

Doesn't this one address floaters?

Comment by Jim Fisk on September 26, 2014 at 8:31am

I will get a diagram on here soon of my latest swirl design but I do have pics of it at my photo pages. This diagram above is very old.

Comment by Jim Fisk on September 26, 2014 at 8:29am

I have yet to see a radial filter that addresses floaters. If you are set up to skim the floaters off of your FTs as you should be, you will get all clogged up with a radial filter under the inlet cap. With a swirl filter that incorporates a proper T at the outflow (just like a septic tank) you will also be addressing the floaters (like uneaten fish food that will either rot in the FT without a skimmer or clog up a radial filter). A swirl filter is cheap and easy to make and mine has worked perfectly. As to the Bio part it is simply a place to grow bacteria that will start the nitrification process before it gets to the GBs. I don't use one for that. My 2 Bio's are only used to clarify my 2 trout grow out 330g IBC FTs. If you are feeding a DWC you really should make a polisher like Rob's.

Comment by Jeremiah Robinson on September 26, 2014 at 7:14am

Hi Jeff, 

Radial flow filters are the aquaculture industry standard, so you'll never do better than a professional radial flow filter, unless you're willing to go to the trouble of a sand filter.

For the homemade radial flow vs. swirl filter, it depends on the construction.

Comment by Jeff S on September 25, 2014 at 8:30pm

How is this filter working for you? I'm planning on using a radial filter set up and was looking at a secondary filtration. Maybe I'll just incorporate the bird netting. Does the swirl filter do a better job with solids than a RFF?

Comment by Ivan L Hurley on June 27, 2014 at 11:48am

I didn't realize it was a biofilter, too.  How many wraps or how thick do you make the bird netting? Do you have bioballs or anything else in there? I have lots of greenhouse shadecloth I was thinking about using, ever tried that?  Have you released the specs on your feeder as yet?  

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