Diatom filters - Need the info...

[deehar1]

I'm looking at a diatom filter to aid in purifying my tank water (on top of my regular filter) and abating any potential age old problems of ICK that I hear can strike at any time. I'd rather prevent than treat....

Anyone ever used the System 1 from Aquarium Products?
Any info would be appreciated. I've also surfed Vortex's site, but I heard that they are more difficult to clean and a little more messy/invasive than the System 1..


TY, DEE.

[koolkatzfish]

Skip the diatom and get a UV sterilizer. They sell them at that fish place, I got one for $50 there, and it is great. It will kill ich and other fish diseases and the water is so clear. And no mess. You still should quarantine fish before putting them in the tank. I had a mini ich outbreak and it was gone in 4 days. I had stressed a fish moving into the community tank and sure enough. Last time I had ich (pre UV) it took 2 weeks to clear.

[ewok]

koolkatz: they aren't even CLOSE to being the same, uv needs yearly bulbs and is pretty much useless with polishing and ich.

ich shouldn't be a problem at all in a well running tank tho in all seriousness, unless you add new stock i haven't ever had it just "appear"....

having said that, i use a vortex xl, it works like a dream even if it is sort of bulky and awkward to set up. as far as invasive, there are just 2 tubes that go in wherever..... run it for a day or 2 and pretty much everything is gone for sediment. it is amazing how well it works, but is only designed for occasional or temporary usage. anything that filters that fine would not run very long in a fishtank. i think 2-3 days straight in my 90 and the filter is pretty plugged but the tank is crystal clear.......

any specific questions just ask.....

www.diatomfilter.com

[125gJoe]

UV Sterilizers don't really "filter" the water, but do 'kill' stuff in the water. I use my Vortex XL after every water change. This diatom filter 'polishes' the water to a super clear look. I learned about them here on Aquaria Central and I highly recommend purchasing this filter. The UV sterlizer is also a nice product to have, but it does not actually 'filter' the water.

[deehar1]

Excellent tips and advice on the diatom filters!!! I will check out the URL and thank you all for your candid info.

BEST, DEE

[cacti]

We used a diatom filter once in a while on our 50 gallon with big clowns and bala's. It helped make the water very clear and would recommend them expecially with big fish that can be big poluters. Still have to do water changes though. :D

[koolkatzfish]

The patented helix design forces water to make a double-spiral pass along the entire length of the PowerCompact UV lamp. This Helix UV technology provides unprecedented 36" and 60" of Ultra-Violet exposure. That's more than twice what conventional UV sterilizers supply! The result of this exposure is a dose of ultraviolet light that kills over 98% of harmful microorganisms, eliminating unsightly algae and disease in your tank.

An add for a uv sterilizer. Most retail fish stores use uv sterilizers on line since most tanks are on the same filtration system. As for cleaning the water, no it doesn't "polish" but it keeps it sparkling clear, since it kills algae and small protozoa. I bought mine orginally because I had an outbreak of some sort of paramecium, that was clouding up the water, they were big enough to see. Nothing seemed to kill them (I tested outside the tank) and my water was getting extremely cloudy. I posted on several sites and got no good info. So went with the sterilizer. My water was crystal clear in 72 hours, nary a bug to be seen.
I work in veterinary hospital, we don't do fish, but another hospital does and the fish vet stopped by our hospital to treat a lizard, I showed her my tank (I live on site, I am the overnight emergency tech). She highly reccommended the UV sterilizer and quarantine tank.