Fluidized Bed Filter

M

Madness

Keeping it simple
May 8, 2005
95
0
0
61
Western NY
If anyone who reads this has used one or still does I'd love to here how well they have worked for you. They seem like a great bio filter, but I'd like to know if they work as good as they seem they might and if they have any pitfalls.

Thanks.
 
I have not used that one, but I have two old Quiksand/Quicksand (sp?) units that I keep in use. They are handy for me for fry/growout tanks, as they seem to respond to changes in the bioload faster than other filters. When we have frequent power failures, they do blow a tiny bit of sand back into the tank, requiring addition every couple of years - which is a PITA on these units. But other than that they have been trouble-free and almost maintenance-free.
 
Hi, RTR.

Thanks for the info. Do they seem to start back up ok after a power outage or do they often need to be re-adjusted? I'm thinking of water changes in addition to power outages.
 
a good bio-filter that i use is a fluval 304 with stock inserts and a Marineland Biowheel Pro-60 on the output. it works great for my tanks, espically when i had 2 pacus (yea i know, heard it all, i feel they shouldnt even be sold in personal aquaria) in there.
 
I have never had an issue with restarts. We have overhead lines, through woods to the property line, then underground to the house. The right-of-way is poorly maintained, so we get frequent brief power outages, after a big storm can be down for hours to days. I could not use filters which do not restart well on their own.
 
I use the 'rest' of the Rainbow Lifeguard filter setup on my 55 gal tank (cartridge filter, media filter, UV, and heater module also filled with bioballs) but I opted not to go with the fluidized bed filter. Besides being quite picky in regard to flow rate and back pressure needed to get the media to 'flow' properly, it's also an anaerobic chamber. I'm a big believer in having at least some aerobic action too, which is the reason that I also run a Penguin HOB with bio-wheels (at about 1/3 the cost of a fluidized bed filter).
 
Hi, Melonie.

Why do you say it is an anaerobic chamber? It would at least seem that with a constant influx of fresh water that it would be aerobic.
 
None of the FBFs which I have tested had any anaerobic function... could you clarify please?

As I am neurotic about noise, HOBs are not allowed. Plus most of my tanks are planted, so again no HOBs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom