Swirl filter question

[jimhebert]

I want to use one or two mechanical filters on my future AP system.
How do you stir up the waste materials in the bottom of the fish tank to drive it to the swirl filtration or the trickle tank?

[Pugo]

Well, I can't speak for everyone. But the way I keep the water circulating is placing an Air stone in the middle of the tank. Which causes the water to move and keeps the waste from settling at the bottom of the tank, The best way to go is placing a bottom drain in the center of the tank and suspend the air stone a couple of inches above it. You can read my thread Taiwan Chronicles it shows the build of my system from the beginning until now.. It should answer a lot of your questions as I have asked them when I started too

[jimhebert]

Well, I can't speak for everyone. But the way I keep the water circulating is placing an Air stone in the middle of the tank. Which causes the water to move and keeps the waste from settling at the bottom of the tank, The best way to go is placing a bottom drain in the center of the tank and suspend the air stone a couple of inches above it. You can read my thread Taiwan Chronicles it shows the build of my system from the beginning until now.. It should answer a lot of your questions as I have asked them when I started too

Thanks Pugo,
A little late on getting back. busy. I'll try what you say.

[GaryD]

Hi Jim,

Directing solids to the point in the fish tank where they can be most effectively removed, depends to large measure on the shape of the tank.

In the case of a round tank, you direct the inflow to the tank in such a way that your create a circular movement in the tank. This moves the solids to the centre of the tank......and, if you locate your pump in the fish tank, placing it in the centre will provide for easy solids removal. Similarly, in the case of a sump tank system (CHOP), locating the solids lifting outlet (SLO) or positioning a bottom drain in the centre of the tank will also work well.

A square tank can be made to work in similar way......but not so easily. Rectangular fish tanks are a different (and much more difficult) proposition.

Essentially, the challenge is to use the water and air inflows to the fish tank to direct the solids to where the pump can pick them up.......or so that they go down the drain.

Gary