Settling tank

[okccichlid]

Im trying to find good information about settling tanks for use with aquaponics. If you have a link to a setup you like or use, please leave it below. Thanks.

Mike

[kellenw]

Hi Mike,
You won't find much information on this particular topic because it is not a commonly used filtration method in aquaponics. Personally, I like it if you have the space. It's cheap and pretty effective. There are far more efficient methods though.

[okccichlid]

Hi Mike,
You won't find much information on this particular topic because it is not a commonly used filtration method in aquaponics. Personally, I like it if you have the space. It's cheap and pretty effective. There are far more efficient methods though.

Could you elaborate on that a little? I am trying to learn what those "far more efficient methods" are.

Mike

[GaryD]

Hi,

I also like settling tanks if you have the space.

Basically, a settling tank can be anything which is large enough to hold at least 30 minutes of water flow. You can make them more efficient by fitting baffles that force the water downwards as it enters the settling tank (like a clarifier does).

Here's something you might like to consider to boost the effectiveness of your settling tank.

You could install a baffle into a tank to create two compartments. The water flows into the first compartment in such a way that its velocity is reduced.

The baffle forces the water downwards further encouraging any sediment to settle to the bottom. The water flows under the baffle and up into the second compartment.

The second compartment could be filled with floating media which would trap much of the suspended solid.....particularly once it became coated in bio-film. The water would then flow over a weir in the top of the second compartment and exit the tank.

A settling tank of this type could be built to make it relatively quick and easy to clean. The water that is lost to cleaning could be used to water your soil-based gardens or trees.

Some of the "more efficient" devices to which Kellen may be referring include purpose-built clarifiers (featuring baffles and a cone-shaped base for easy solids removal) or a swirl tank....which relies on a hydrocyclone effect to separate heavy particles out so that they settle to the bottom of a cone-shaped tank for easy removal.

Gary