Overall Filtration Shot (Early Tank Setup Stages)
I set up this page specifically for the filtration system on my 180 gallon aquarium. It is not as simple to explain as my other tanks, where I would just have a specific name brand filter I can specify and everyone will know what it is. This one also has many stages to the filtration, so I use this page to explain the entire setup.
Overall Filtration Shot (Early Tank Setup Stages)
So, the filtration begins with the unit that hangs on the back of the tank with a small container inside of the tank and another small container outside of the tank. There is a U-Bent tube that connects these two. The filter box inside the tank is open at the top with grooves on the side near the top to let water in, and its position is adjustable . . . as to adjust the water level in the tank and overall filter. The higher it is, the less will get into the filter box and the less will flow downwards, but the lower it is . . . the higher the level of water inside the filter box and the higher the water level of the filter. As water exits the U-Bent tube, it goes into a filter box that has an exit down to the main filtration box. However, there is a spongy material around this to filter large debris, first.
First Stage - Water Leaving The Tank
The water passes from the tank outward using only suction and gravity to make it all the way down to the filter box. After the water exits this unit that hangs on the back of the tank . . . it heads into the main filtration area. Underneath this hose, I have a pourus bag of activated carbon which sits inbetween two layers of filter material.
From The Tank - Into Activated Carbon & Pre-Filtration
(Before Bio-Balls)
After these two, the water passes onto the Bio Balls creating the ideal environment for holding the bacteria which handle biological waste in the tank. It's at this point that most of the bacteria for biological filtration will take place. This would be similar to "Bio-Wheels" in smaller tank filters.
Biological Filtration - The Bio-Ball Chamber
After it falls through the Bio-Balls, it passes through this sponge like material shown below.
Sponge Filter
Next the water rests in the final chamber where there are two pumps. The first pump sends water into the Ultraviolet purifier, this Ultraviolet light filters a lot of impurities out of the tank water. The water is then expelled back to the top of the filter for another round of filtration, right above the filter material above the activated carbon.
Ultraviolet Filter
Another pump then pumps the water back up into the tank. I have the pump that returns the water to the tank on an uninterruptible power supply (battery backup) to avoid a filtration disruption or filter tank overflow in the case of a power outage.
Return Pumps
I didn't feel like this filtration system was providing sufficient filtration for the tank, I noticed the water was not as crystal clear as my other tanks. I added a TetraTec AP500 (500 Gallons Per Hour Filtration) in addition to all the above filtration setup. The water was noticeably more clear after the addition of this filter. There are other drawbacks and concerns to the wet/dry setup above. First thing is that if you shut off the pumps and stop the filtration . . . restarted the suction from the top into that U-Bent tube is very difficult. One way is to blow enough pressure (of water) through it to get it started, but this is difficult without a garden house (which dispenses chlorinated water), so won't work, anyways. They say that the proper way to do it is to use airline tubing and suck the air in the U-Bent tube out of it 'til you're just bringing water, through. Whenever I do this, I hate getting fishwater in my mouth, so this is not a pleasant solution. Also, if the power went out for longer than the battery backup could make up for, and the return pumps could not function . . . the filter's water level will continually rise, possible overflowing 'til the unit on the back of the tank has no more water in it. This could cause a disaster. I hope I never have to restart this filter or come clean up an overflow mess . . . but these ideas are on my mind.
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Please let me know if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions to improve this setup or offer me tips. I am always trying to learn more and become a better hobbyist. You can reach me by E-Mail by clicking here at anytime. Thanks!
This page was last updated on June 13, 2004.