Custom Stainless Filter Up date.

[bendog]

G'day everyone,

Time for an update on the custom stainless filtration setup I built last year. http://www.thefishtank.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=832&highlight=stainless
I stripped down the first stainless filter after 6 months of service.
I performed the regular back flush before I removed the filter and stripped it down.
The filter pads in the cylinder have hardly any crud after the flush. The filter media still looked brand new after 6 months of use, so I hosed the remaining crud off (minimal) and re-installed it.
Took about two hours total time to do the filter strip down, rebuild and reinstall.

Fish wise I have only stocked the tank with about 50 or so Mollies and Guppies.

Well I think the pictures speak for themselves.
I could not be happier with the result.:D
I reckon I won't need to touch the filter again for at least a year

What do you think?

Ben

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[wombat1100]

Well done mate, now if you can manufacture and distribute for under 500 bucks u will be on a winner!!!
did u use a seal on the top or is that silicone i can see???
Dazz

[bendog]

G'day Dazz,
Yes that is good 'ol silicone you can see. I didn't want to seal it up too well for fear of it not coming apart. I decided against sika flex for that reason. Couldn't be stuffed with re usable gaskets either.
Cheap and reliable silicone, is there any thing it cant do?

I pressure tested the cylinder and it held pressure perfectly. The seal is under 1meter of H20 when operating under my fish tank.
I can rest easy knowing the seal is good.


Regards
Ben

[Woodsy]

If you were going to built a prototype, you would have to use o-rings. If the results are there mate, I'm extremely happily for you!

[bendog]

Woodsy,
You're right about the O-rings if you went into production. Up for some machining work on the flange though.
Easy enough to do.

Ben

[GoGuppy]

Hi Ben

Looks great!! Glad to see it all came together and is obviously working well.

As previously posted, I am all for longterm intervals between filter cleans, provided the tank is well cycled and water conditions have settled down nice and steady.

Also, I find that if the tank is ticking over nicely, there is little need for superfine filtration, even when pulling out old plants and disturbing the substrate, it all settles down again within 24 to 48 hours and the water is clear again.