Swirl filters.

[Joey]

Yes Gary I agree, not all the solids are captured by the second and third stages as a small amount of sediment is building up on the bottom of the sump tank. However compared with the original system it is minimal.
The second and third stages each contain a 40 litre laundry basket filled with scoria through which the water must pass. Despite this I still get a minimal amount of build up in my DWC raft tanks, this is not preventing me from growing healthy roots on my plants and without filtration that would not be possible.
For ease of cleaning maintenance I am a firm believer in as much filtration that you can get. Adding a brush filters is not difficult and I am keeping a look out for cheap brushers or even matala mat, when I find some I will give it a go.

Regards

Joey

[The scruff]

Joey
how about these inside the swirl filters http://www.blackknight.co.uk/vortex.html
cheers Scruff

[GaryD]

Hi Scruff,

The vortex brush filter will certainly help to trap much of the suspended particulate matter that is too light to settle out.......and improve the efficiency of the swirl filter as a result.

Gary

[jobney]

I am thinking that my 55 gallon barrel swirl filter is running a little slow. It's slow enough that if you could not see solids swirling you might not notice the action. It would be possible to rig a small pipe diverted from the sump pump pipe to a vertical spray bar to assist the swirl effect. I'm not having a problem yet as I'm still cycling the system. ...just thinking ahead. Would this benefit the filter? Would restricting the inlet from 2" to 1" assist the swirl action?

Just a note on the diameter of the swirl filter. At some point the swirl will turn into a settling filter not a swirl. But hey if it works great.

[Joey]

Hi Jobney

I can't see any problems with the swirl running slow. The proof in the pudding are the solids captured on the bottom of the filter. My swirl filter is slow but I can see the solids slowly spiraling downwards and settling on the bottom. Concentrating your water flow into smaller pipes may stir up the sediment in the filter or cause problems in restricting the water flow through your filter system.
I would just suck it and see, run your system I doubt there will be a problem.

Regards

Joey

[GaryD]

Hi Jeff,

Swirl filters have a sweet spot.......or a preferred flow rate.

If you exceed this, the solids will be carried over......too little and the swirl tank will function like a clarifier. This is much less of an issue than too much....because the solids will still settle out (rather than spin out).

If you have spare pump capacity, you could probably just push a bit more water through the 90 degree bend - just don't overdo it.

My swirl filter is slow but I can see the solids slowly spiraling downwards and settling on the bottom.

Exactly what should be happening.

Gary

[mopa]

hi joey , i have read up a lot onmatting , matala and jap matt. be careful, as many are jap matts are poor quality, and release chemicals. On ebay people have been selling cheap matts , and people have been having problems.. this is due to japan having copyright, and not distributing their original heavy duty ones which lasted a lifetime, and a load of poor copies appeared.
over the last couple of years i have seen 4 or five variants.
i would probably use american matala instead...

[Earthan Group]

I am thinking that my 55 gallon barrel swirl filter is running a little slow. It's slow enough that if you could not see solids swirling you might not notice the action. It would be possible to rig a small pipe diverted from the sump pump pipe to a vertical spray bar to assist the swirl effect. I'm not having a problem yet as I'm still cycling the system. ...just thinking ahead. Would this benefit the filter? Would restricting the inlet from 2" to 1" assist the swirl action?

Nah I would leave it be if it is working.