View Full Version : Rotifers etc & diatom filters
To get my water crystal clear for taking some pictures, I plan to use my diatom filter. I have heard that the diatom filter will clean practically everything, including beneficial bacteria etc.
If I held back say a litre (quart) of tank water before filtering, then added it back after filtering, would this be enough to re-establish the bacterial colony in a reasonable amount of time?
125gJoe
11-08-2003, 4:44 PM
Get the Vortex XL - you will be amazed!!
Smaller tanks can use the Vortex D-1. The Vortex is not needed or designed to run all the time like regular aquarium filters. A couple hours, at most six hours is all that the filter needs to do the job. I've left mine on overnight, but prefer not to do that, as it's not needed.
This filter even removes Ich from the aquarium. Diatom filters are not needed by everyone, but they sure do work!!
Hogwash, on removing the beneficial bacteria. There's plenty of that going on in the tank. Remember, this is not a 24/7 filter....
What it will do is give you crystal clear water! :)
Most of the bacteria in the water column are the heterotrophs that live off organic compounds. The populations in the upper substrate will replenish any removed from the water by a large water change or diatom filtering (if possible). The nitrifiers are attached communities and will be just fine.
As for rotifers; depending on how vigorous your filtration is, you may have very little in the water column.
I’ve been using a Whisper Diatomagic whenever I rearrange a planted tank for over 10 yrs now with nary a problem.
Tom
I have a Vortex Freedom filter and it works great (after I finally get it primed that is). My filtering is a RFUGF and is not very aggresive at all so they may be present in large quantities.
125gJoe
11-09-2003, 11:50 AM
Originally posted by Matak
I have a Vortex Freedom filter and it works great (after I finally get it primed that is). .... Isn't the a newer Vortex Filter? I don't have stats in front of me about the XL, but I think it's for larger tanks like 55+ gallons. I'm still amazed at how good the Vortex XL works! What size tanks are recommended for the Vortex Freedom filter?
I haven't used it in over half a year, and I don't have the instructions (at least they're not in the storage box I keep all my diatom filter stuff in). My tank is only a 30g, and the current was a little strong, but it sure cleaned the tank great! Six months worth of poop, uneaten food, dead algae and plant matter that the siphoning didn't get. Talk about clear! I'm just waiting for the bubbles to free themselves from the water.
I bought a 10 lb. bag of diatom powder from a discount pool supplier back in the spring for only $15.00 CDN and I couldn't be happier. I'll probably get at least 50 tank cleanings from that one bag.
I love the performance of this filter, but I could probably design it much better. It looks as if it was designed with 70's technology and hasn't been upgraded since.
125gJoe
11-10-2003, 10:10 AM
The Vortex XL needs a drop of oil every other use.
Check yours to see if it needs that too. The motor on the XL can get pretty warm.
F.sparverius
11-10-2003, 11:12 AM
Is there any great harm in letting one of these things run nonstop. Also would it eliminate brown algea. I seem to be getting quite a bit of the stuff lately.
125gJoe
11-10-2003, 12:36 PM
The diatom powder IS the filter, and it clogs rather quickly. So, it's not a good idea to let them run for extended periods. Run it twice if needed. I haven't needed to ....
Originally posted by 80gJoe
The Vortex XL needs a drop of oil every other use.
Check yours to see if it needs that too. The motor on the XL can get pretty warm. Thanks for the heads up on that. I will do that. Where do you oil?
Originally posted by F.sparverius
Is there any great harm in letting one of these things run nonstop. Also would it eliminate brown algea. I seem to be getting quite a bit of the stuff lately. These things can actually filter out parasites which a good thing in the short term, but can make your fishes immune system 'lazy'. Also, it will filter out good bacteria as well as bad.
I only use the filter to 'polish' my water from time to time. There are naturally occurring oganisms that will control algae. It takes a few months before these become properly established in a tank.
F.sparverius
11-11-2003, 8:56 AM
My tank has been set up for roughly 4 months. It does get a good bit of sunlight in the morning though,which does not help with the algea.
Matak
11-11-2003, 10:41 AM
Hang in there. I think it was a full half year before my tank was fully estabished. I went through a few boughts with different types of algae, some requiring radical treatment, but I have not had any kind of an algae outbreak in over six months.
F.sparverius
11-11-2003, 12:37 PM
The water stays crystal clear, there is just green a brown film covering everything 4 days after I clean the tank. The fish seem to think it's rather tasty, it just gets on my nerves because it covers the sidewalls of the tank.
chefkeith
11-11-2003, 1:36 PM
Would a diatom filter still get clogged easily if it had a prefilter on the intake or if it were set-up in a sump tank?
Cearbhaill
11-11-2003, 1:52 PM
Would a diatom filter still get clogged easily if it had a prefilter on the intake or if it were set-up in a sump tank?
They are simply not designed for continuous usage.
They filter to such a fine degree that yes- they will still clog up.
125gJoe
11-11-2003, 4:40 PM
Oiling the Vortex XL is easy - once you see the small hole to put the oil in...... It's located of the side.
I'm not sure about the Freedom Vortex. :confused:
Originally posted by 80gJoe
Oiling the Vortex XL is easy - once you see the small hole to put the oil in...... It's located of the side.
I'm not sure about the Freedom Vortex. :confused: *Big Homer Simpson Doh* I looked and saw the 'oil here' holes after I posted. :o
Yes, a diatom filter can get clogged up, but that is the beauty of it. The more junk that gets pressed up against the earth, the smaller the spaces between pores becomes and the finer the particle it will filter out. The downside is that less water will be filtered over a given time period.
I really get a kick out of seeing how much crud gets squished against the white powder. Watching the powder settle after the pump gets turned off is kinda neat too.