Red Hydroton Dust Filter

[HealerOliver]

I am far enough along on my project to place the Hydroton in the grow bed. I know I should have washed it first but this was just a test to see if the syphon would still work.

I found that I will need to make some adjustments to its size as the Hydroton displaces about 50% of the water and I had to slow the flow in order to maintain a 15 minute cycle time. Now the flow is so slow it won't start to cycle so I need to reduce the stand pipe size in order to get it started syphoning.

The amount of red dust is considerable. The 100 gallon fish tank was very red so I drained it, cleaned out the red mud from the bottom, removed the Hydroton from the GB and cleaned it out as well. I then refilled the system with the same Hydroton and fresh water. With pumps running I noticed the same old red water filling the tank, once again.

I am thinking of adding some gravel to the FT. I first thought of Hydroton but it floats so that is out. The reason for the gravel is so the dust has somewhere to settle and the fish won't be stirring it up as they swim around.

If that doesn't completely work then I am thinking of adding some kind of a sediment filter to the return line to the FT, one of those cartridge types so it can be cleaned and reinstalled.

Questions:

What type of gravel should I be using for the bottom of the FT and how much?

Is there another solution that is simple and will help clean out the dust from the water?

Oliver

[Finn]

Attach a sock full of pillow stuffing to the end of a return line. Change the pillow stuffing when needed. I would not add gravel to the fish tank. It will only post pone the problem and make cleaning your fish tank harder. (I learned the hard way)

Finn

[Outbackozzie]

Keep the bottom of the fish tank gravel clear!!! As above.

Hydroton is only slightly buoyant, it stops floating very quickly.

Was it the proper hydroton, or a rip off copy? I have found there is very very little dust in the Hydroton brand balls, I have never had to wash it yet.

The 15 minute cycle time is not a requirement, its a guide. The cycle can be 20 min, 10 min, or 1 hour, does not matter.

Just a sock over the pump return is all you need.

[HealerOliver]

Ok, thanks for the replies so far.

I still have an unopened bag of "Hydroton" so when I get back there this weekend I'll take a close look at it. Lord knows I paid a premium price for those bags from the local hydroponics store in Palm Springs. I have secured a much better price but will have to pay shipping, ouch!

The sock is a great idea, thanks for that. Based on the amount of mud I removed from both the GB and FT it will need to be changed many times before things start to clear up. Hope the new Hydroton is much cleaner.

So, no gravel in the FT. I recall one member advising to place some GB filler in the FT in case the pumps quit so I would continue to have some bio-filter action.

I will have air pumps doing their thing, just have not got to that point yet but soon will.

Check out my post with pictures I just put up.

Oliver

[Adareaqua]

Interesting comments OBO-

"I have found there is very very little dust in the Hydroton brand balls, I have never had to wash it yet."

The stuff i have I thought i had washed it and now after a couple of months i am finding it is turn a blacky muddy colour and feel to the top layer.. not sure if i should empty the lot and start again - how long did you leave yours in the grow bed for,, OBO??
I am using the clay balls from BYAP

[Outbackozzie]

I'll bet your flooding too high.

[Adareaqua]

OH ok.....I understood with the Bell siphon, the top of the evacuation tube should be just below the pebble...mmmmm...do you suggest I chop some off the top of this tube then?
Do you use Bell siphon's?? how far up do you flood then.?

[Outbackozzie]

1 inch below the top of the gravel is the usual flooding height.

Either lower the hieght, or add more gravel

[Adareaqua]

Thanks for that OBO- So would you recommend just topping up the grow bed with more pebble or should I take some of this top layer out and wash this mucky stuff off first
cheers
Adareaqua

[Outbackozzie]

If you have the height, just top it up. Add some worms to the bed as well, and there will be no more problems with algae.