AIO Settling chamber ideas?

[Levinson]

I like the idea of using a settling chamber that allows the particulates to settle in one area to be cleaned later, like the radial filter used in aquaponics.
This is just a brainstorming of ideas to see if I can think of a design that does a similar job, particularly in the filter sock area of an AIO tank if possible.
So far, the pic below is all I could think of (It was inspired by the radial flow filters). The idea is to diffuse and slow down the flow enough that the particles will settle in the PET bottle while letting the water through. It uses a filter sock cut out at the bottom as a 'pipe' to carry the water deeper inside the bottom cutout PET bottle placed upside down. Ideally, the flow won't be strong enough to suspend the particulates and it will remain at the bottom. It won't work if the flow inside the bottle is strong enough to suspend the particulates. I have no clue if this design will work or not but what do you think? Do you think the flow will be too strong for it to work? If you have any other interesting ideas about how a settling chamber could be set up, for AIO or not, please share them with us. Cheers.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Interesting idea. I just don't see it as feasible since your missing the crucial step of the filter sock getting the finer particles in the beginning. If it just pipes down, most of it won't settle and only the larger particles would in the bottle. This may slow down clogging of the filter sock in the long run but those finer particles will slowly build up and gunk up the next chambers. You'd need to create a secondary system to pull the finer particles.

Edit: looking at your design again. I can see a modest improvement with the sock lasting a little longer than normal. You would have to ensure the sock is press near the holes so no water flow can get around the filter.

 

[Levinson]

Interesting idea. I just don't see it as feasible since your missing the crucial step of the filter sock getting the finer particles in the beginning. If it just pipes down, most of it won't settle and only the larger particles would in the bottle. This may slow down clogging of the filter sock in the long run but those finer particles will slowly build up and gunk up the next chambers. You'd need to create a secondary system to pull the finer particles.

Edit: looking at your design again. I can see a modest improvement with the sock lasting a little longer than normal. You would have to ensure the sock is press near the holes so no water flow can get around the filter.

Thanks for the feedback. I don't use a filter sock for my system so I'm not too concerned about changing them. What I would like from the settling chamber is just to collect some of the particulates in one spot in a passive way so I won't be too fussy about some finer particulates getting away. This would be easier if space wasn't an issue.
I don't think my initial design is very good and I'll try to think of other ways to do this.

 

[Levinson]

Brain storming another version.
Diffusing, spreading, and slowing down the flow to make the particulates sink to the bottom is the key (gravity winning over the water flow).
Hopefully, the filter mat on the top would diffuse the flow enough that the particulates wouldn't push through it upwards and sink below.
One of the potential issues with this version is the filter mat area seem too small and I'm not sure if it will be able to pass enough water through the filter mat. Again, it would have been easier if there was more room to work with.

 

[GARRIGA]

Simpler to capture the detritus, let it decompose and use a chamber for algae and process the inorganic produced as nature does. In addition, it will strip co2 stabilizing pH and reducing the need for hydroxide dosing. Seek simplicity and one gets more time allocated to enjoyment vs maintenance.

 

[Levinson]

Simpler to capture the detritus, let it decompose and use a chamber for algae and process the inorganic produced as nature does. In addition, it will strip co2 stabilizing pH and reducing the need for hydroxide dosing. Seek simplicity and one gets more time allocated to enjoyment vs maintenance.

That is pretty much how it's running at the moment. ATS is my main means of filteration. Still, I think it'd me nice to have an area that collects detritus, that doesn't require replacing, that I can remove easily when I want to. It's not something I need of course.
I don't know anything about the hydroxide dosing though. Never heard of it before. What is it for? Breaking down detritus?

 

[GARRIGA]

That is pretty much how it's running at the moment. ATS is my main means of filteration. Still, I think it'd me nice to have an area that collects detritus, that doesn't require replacing, that I can remove easily when I want to. It's not something I need of course.
I don't know anything about the hydroxide dosing though. Never heard of it before. What is it for? Breaking down detritus?

Use sponges to collect detritus. Easy enough to remove and rinse or go old school with filter floss. Keep it simple.

Hydroxide such as in calcium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide from two part. Solving co2 via algae means one can rely more on baking soda or formate.

 

[Levinson]

Use sponges to collect detritus. Easy enough to remove and rinse or go old school with filter floss. Keep it simple.

Hydroxide such as in calcium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide from two part. Solving co2 via algae means one can rely more on baking soda or formate.

Sponges clog quickly and need frequent cleaning and if left alone, it will remain clogged and detritus will just flow over it. That is not simple enough for me. Same reason I'm not using filter sock, it's not simple enough. I'm trying to keep it simpler than that. The settling chamber I'm thinking of is not meant to be taken out for cleaning or harvesting btw. A turkey baster can be used to suck up some of the collected detritus whenever I feel like it (or not). Something that requires little to no maintenance, that I don't need to take out.

 

[GARRIGA]

Anything will clog quickly if too fine used. Stacked from coarse to fine lasts longer. Another option is filling it with different size pumice from coarse to fine and letting it collect and decompose although going to want something like floss end of process to reduce particle size in display and that can be remedied by occasionally adding filter pad to top of chamber and using flocculant to maximize size of particulates. Really depends on how clear one wants display although oceans aren't ultra clear as there's always particulate matter which corals feed on.

Thing I recall about undergravel filters was how clear the display was although those ran at slow speeds and allowed detritus to settle out as mulm under the plates. Occasional stirring ensured no dead spot from biofilm or yet decomposed detritus clogging. Providing a chamber with mixed size pumice which is light and can be occasionally stirred with a turkey baster or power head can help solve the constant maintenance of tossing floss or cleansing socks.

Just providing alternatives should this design not work as expected.