My Filtration Idea

[mdwheeler]

So I got a good pump (hopefully) off ebay for the eventual filter I plan to make. Its a via-aqua 2300: 600 gph and 7 ft max lift. My idea is to have 2-3 reactors with various media I choose.

aquarium > reactor 1 (mechanical) > reactor 2 (chemical) > pump > co2 diffuser/reactor > aquarium.

I'm hoping the pump is strong enough, as the lift will only need to be about 4-5 feet. My only design flaw (that I can think of) is air removal. I'm not sure the best way to prime the system and eliminate all the air thats already in the reactors/canister I use. Also is it possible the pump will be too strong for the reactors? I plan on getting 2 via aqua poly reactors and creating a co2 diffuser similar to this. And should I place the pump before or after the 2 reactors? I've placed it after to avoid possible gunk buildup since the water will be well filtered before entering the pump. I'll also be sure to create bypass plumbing for the 2 reactors in case a possible leak arrises or I think the filter needs to be changed and I can keep the pump flowing.

My co2 reactor will also have a mini pump (just like the pic) that i'm thinking might aid the main pump for lift. its rated 190 gph with 4.9 max lift. The best part is if the system works and I decide to upgrade tank size, it will most like be able to transfer.

The tank is a 29 gallon freshwater planted.

 

[OldMan47]

An interesting concept MD. If you can have a nice open celled sponge in the first reactor housing, you might be able to have one ahead of the pump. Please check the pump suction requirements before building the arrangement. Many pumps are rather sensitive to the minimum net positive suction head, NPSH, that they must have to avoid cavitation. The lift of the pump is not very important for an aquarium filtering system since the inlet and discharge are at the same height. The pump just needs to make up for the head losses associated with the piping and filter housings, what you are calling reactors. If you can get a barbed connection like the one shown in your picture, you could attach a very short piece of airline tubing and a simple shutoff valve to each one. That would let you vent each filter housing if you saw any air in it.

 

[mdwheeler]

An interesting concept MD. If you can have a nice open celled sponge in the first reactor housing, you might be able to have one ahead of the pump. Please check the pump suction requirements before building the arrangement. Many pumps are rather sensitive to the minimum net positive suction head, NPSH, that they must have to avoid cavitation. The lift of the pump is not very important for an aquarium filtering system since the inlet and discharge are at the same height. The pump just needs to make up for the head losses associated with the piping and filter housings, what you are calling reactors. If you can get a barbed connection like the one shown in your picture, you could attach a very short piece of airline tubing and a simple shutoff valve to each one. That would let you vent each filter housing if you saw any air in it.

Wouldn't having a nice open sponge also act as a convenient biofilter for the system? The pump did come with an intake strainer, so I might not have to place it at the front. The fittings, both in and out, are 3/4 barbed. What i'f I were to have the first reactor half sponge half carbon and the second all bioballs or some other bacteria sustaining media? Would that work or is it possible that the flow rate will be to much? The pump did come with a shutoff valve to be attached to the outflow, so surely I can control the flow. I'll be sure to get a flow meter so I know I won't be blowing a sandstorm of media through the reactors .

I like your idea of having an airline vent but i'm not exactly sure what your saying. Where would I place the tubing in conjunction with the valve? You mean a 3 way piece with a very small valved outlet? Lets see if I can put this into words

Inlet > reactor > 3 way outlet > up being the air escape valve, down being the regular outflow

??? ???

I'm also thinking i'll probably create a co2 diffuser like this instead of the other one.

 

[OldMan47]

The diffuser picture you first linked to has a barbed connection on the top for you to feed in the CO2. You could simply set up a shutoff valve on that connection on everything but the CO2 reactor to vent those filter housings. The 3 way would only be needed on the CO2 reactor itself. It won't take a very large vent to quickly remove all the air from a small housing like that. At most we are talking about venting a litre or less of air.