DIY Diatom Filter for under $100.00

[bblumberg]

I can't see clearly in your pictures, but a lot of these filter housings have air bleeder push button valves on top. That might be helpful in getting the air out.

 

[Paul B]

I can't see clearly in your pictures, but a lot of these filter housings have air bleeder push button valves on top. That might be helpful in getting the air out.

It does have an air bleed on top. The air bleed makes it much easier to empty the thing when it is finished. But there are still some miner things to work out.

There is a screw inside that holds that bleeder valve in and it will rust badly so I need to replace that with stainless steel. All the screws that hold the device to the mounting, whatever I decide to build it out of will also be stainless steel. But for now, I am still in the testing and tweeking stage.

I am also having huge back, disk problems and have a problem standing, sitting, breathing, eating etc so I am working slower. I see a huge back surgery in my near future, Remember my wife has MS and can't do much so I have to do just about everything and my filter work suffers.

I get up at 4:30 or 5:00 to start my day so I can get everything done that is simple for most people.

 

[gbroadbridge]

It needs to suck the water out to keep the diatom powder against the filter cartridge. If the pump pushes water in the powder will just swirl around the housing. That’s how vortex worked.

Put the powder inside the cartridge and push water through.

That way it'll expand rather than crush like a beer can as it clogs

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

The old Diatom Filters, when you first started them, some of the Diatom dust would go into the Aquarium. It never seemed to effect the Fish and would clear up in a few minutes. I’m wondering if a Fluval G6 Filter element would work. I’d have to get someone to either CNC or 3D make the adapter, it locks into. The advantage of this filter element is the opposite end cap comes off for cleaning.

 

[Paul B]

Gbroadbridge, inside the pleated filter cartridge is a rigid plastic cage that keeps the filter from collapsing. But I will see how it behaves when it gets clogged. I am waiting for the 5 micron filter cartridge coming today.

Steve, that is correct as I have 5 of them. But this one with the 30 micron filter doesn't even get a chance to coat the filter as the pores are to big. I will experiment with the 5 micron filter.

This is all just a new prototype and will require a lot of tweeking. I made probably one or two dozen Majano Wands before I settled on the design that I was allowed to get a patent for.

I acquired a half size model so while I am tweeking the larger one, I will design a smaller one for a smaller tank. These prototypes are just for design ideas. I am not sure yet if I can get the correct cartridge for the smaller one.

I also found a material for the base that is cheap, available and all plastic. I will use that for future models of this project.

 

[Mickey]

Great idea! I may try to build one myself as I was thinking about it when I stumbled on this thread.

What's the purpose of the metal base on the canister?

Could this be used as sort of a vacuum cleaner to siphon cyano or dinos off rocks and put the water right back into the tank? Seems like it would work if you had the right sized filter, even without any de powder. Maybe a 5 micron or 1 micron filter.

My tank is around 225 gals so I think the larger canister you are working to tweak now would work for me.

 

[ScottJ]

I installed the thing and it is working better than my wildest dreams......... Well,, maybe not my wildest dreams because they involve a bowling ball, Vintage Linda Ronstadt "record", 2 Q-Tips, a brake shoe from a 1957 Oldsmobile Starfire and a duck.

But it is working perfectly and I couldn't be happier. Well, yes I could but I can't talk about that here.

I stirred up the gravel here. The entire job was about an hour not counting going to Home Depot.

Speaking of Home Depot. When I came out of the store this guy approaches me saying "Sir...Oh Sir". So I know he is going to ask for money.

He tells me he is 58 years old and has no money. They just turned off his "Cable" and his kids are going nuts. Meanwhile the guy is dressed better than me and has about 2 pounds of gold chains around his neck one of them is big enough to secure a bicycle with.

And he has CABLE.
I told him being that it is near Christmas I will give you two bucks. He says, can I do any better?
I said listen, you really need to come up with a better line and get rid of those gold chains (or sell them and get rid of cable.

I said Take it or leave it. He said, i will shut up now. I said..Good Idea.

Hi Paul, what is at the end of your output hose? Is it just a large air stone?

 

[Paul B]

What's the purpose of the metal base on the canister?

Could this be used as sort of a vacuum cleaner to siphon cyano or dinos off rocks and put the water right back into the tank? Seems like it would work if you had the right sized filter, even without any de powder. Maybe a 5 micron or 1 micron filter.

The metal canister at the bottom is just to hold the thing from falling over. It connects the filter housing to thebase but it will be replaced with rubber or plastic as that metal will rot.

It works as a vacuum as that is how I use it many times for cyano and algae but then I just it like a regular canister filter. I only use it occasionally.

Hi Paul, what is at the end of your output hose? Is it just a large air stone?

No airstone, on the "input hose" is a black strainer so I don't suck up fish. The output hose has a rigid tube on it to blow stuff off rocks.

If the 5 micron cartridge does not coat with diatom powder like I hope it will I designed another modification but it will be a little tricky to build into this device so some people may have difficulty with it. I will see soon as the 5 micron filter is supposed to arrive today.

Right now with the 30 micron cartridge, most of the powder falls to the bottom and turns into mud.

 

[Debramb]

I have 4 or 5 old Vortex Diatom filters in various stages of disintegration and I use one all the time to stir up the gravel in my 125 gallon tank. I also use it to blow out detritus in the pores my real rock. The tank uses dolomite gravel and the gravel has been in there for the 52 year life of the tank.



I also use the diatom filter many times when I collect NSW which is full of sea weed parts, sand and all sorts of debris because I take it from shore.



My last Diatom filter croaked after many fixes and modifications so I built one. I have been wanting to do this for many years because the manufactured model has not been built in many years and it was a horrible design for salt water and it rusted bad causing the bearings and seal to fail.

This working prototype I built in about an hour and so far it runs very well but I didn't put the diatom powder in yet.
The main two parts are a typical under sink water filter housing available from Amazon for about $20.00. The pleated filter cartridge inside is a 30 micron. They sell a one micron and if you use that you don't need diatom powder but I want to try this one first with the powder.

The pump is a 500GPH Supreme Hydro-Mag pump. $68.00 on Amazon

The membrane inside is $13.00​

Pentair Pentek R30 Sediment Water Filter, 10-Inch, Under Sink Pleated Polyester Filter Cartridge, 10" x 2.5", 30 Micron​

This is the finished prototype ready for testing.

The galvanized cap on the bottom of the filter is a 4" end cap for a dryer vent duct. It will corrode so I will replace it on the finished model with a rubber one available in a plumbing supply of Home Depot.

I also would not use that piece of "melamine" shelving material at the bottom as it doesn't do well with water. I will use either Plexiglass or varnished wood.

I also will replace that clear tube between the pump and filter with a 1/2" PVC pipe using a union in the middle for ease in taking the thing apart.

Yo, my favorite fish dude, my beating heart saw your diatom build. We used our one and
only from 80’s through death of it in late 90’s. I saw a YouTube build using Marineland Magnum Polishing internal canister, used the pleated filter, 3 or so Tbls of diatom powder, MY Home Depot 5g bucket and let her rip about 45-60 min. Yeah, it’s turnover is only 290 per hour But, Chewy’s had sale so I’ve got 2 now!!!
This will never get old, your wife is lucky to have your DIY skills, my husband can, but will roll his eyes if I chase him around to look at your clever build!! My fish stuff is low on His priorities list, currently remodeling Master Bath and several other projects lol. At dinner tonight, Bills game kicking Dallas, I’ll try to show your pics
You the Man Paul!
Debra

 

[ScottJ]

No airstone, on the "input hose" is a black strainer so I don't suck up fish. The output hose has a rigid tube on it to blow stuff off rocks.

Gotcha, I had the hoses mixed up! Couldn't tell the ins from the outs

 

[Mickey]

I have a bunch of food grade DE powder which I now understand is too fine. I really hate to buy another huge bag of pool grade and haven't found in smaller quantities. What's the advantage of adding the DE powder, if the filter is small enough to capture most dinos and/or cyano without DE powder?

 

[Paul B]

Debra, my favorite person who reads all my nonsense. Building fish stuff is easy, show your husband some of my "important" stuff.



This one was bought by someone on another forum.

This one is similar'

I built and sold almost 40 of these and similar ones.

I still have the top two devices if you want one 90% discount.

I also have never hired anyone for anything except dentists because I can't stand my screaming. I built the 3 kitchens and bathrooms in my last house, raised the dormer and installed a new heat system and re wired the house. I used to do all that as side jobs for many years and find it fun.

This diatom filter thing is fun and probably because of PTSD I can't turn off my mind and need to build or invent so trying to fall asleep is an adventure that is normally futile.

Mickey, as you found out, you can't use food grade diatom powder in this thing. The easiest thing to do is build this device and just use the one micron cartridge. I have been using powder since the 60s so I am used to it, and I have a lot of the stuff.

I find it fascinating building stuff like this even though it is harder to do it as I want. But eventually I may have to resort to using it that way. But anyone can do that so it is no challenge.

 

[exnisstech]

Following to see how the 5 micron filter works. I have a enough DE powder to last a lifetime, or at least my lifetime.

 

[Debramb]

Debra, my favorite person who reads all my nonsense. Building fish stuff is easy, show your husband some of my "important" stuff.



This one was bought by someone on another forum.

This one is similar'

I built and sold almost 40 of these and similar ones.

I still have the top two devices if you want one 90% discount.

I also have never hired anyone for anything except dentists because I can't stand my screaming. I built the 3 kitchens and bathrooms in my last house, raised the dormer and installed a new heat system and re wired the house. I used to do all that as side jobs for many years and find it fun.

This diatom filter thing is fun and probably because of PTSD I can't turn off my mind and need to build or invent so trying to fall asleep is an adventure that is normally futile.

Mickey, as you found out, you can't use food grade diatom powder in this thing. The easiest thing to do is build this device and just use the one micron cartridge. I have been using powder since the 60s so I am used to it, and I have a lot of the stuff.

I find it fascinating building stuff like this even though it is harder to do it as I want. But eventually I may have to resort to using it that way. But anyone can do that so it is no challenge.

hehe, I got to hold phone up to show him, passing by. He stopped long enough to watch touchdown Bills, yeah, watching for shots of my family in the stands! Thanks for the offer, I know he won’t go for that haha
How’s the back feeling?? Was that U loading the water?
Merry Christmas, Debra

 

[Debramb]

hehe, I got to hold phone up to show him, passing by. He stopped long enough to watch touchdown Bills, yeah, watching for shots of my family in the stands! Thanks for the offer, I know he won’t go for that haha
How’s the back feeling?? Was that U loading the water?
Merry Christmas, Debra

Oh and PS, when we built our house, Tom wired the whole house up to NY codes not Texas, he learned from his Dad, retired Navy guy. My Dad did everything from rebuilding his hot rod tractor for tracter pulls to building a wood splitter with a steam engine and belts to homemade bulldozer with huge old heavy equipment tires for Tracks. If he needed something he built it, used it then sold them. Trouble came when my brother and I threw the track monkeying around in field and we had to tell him. It was not pretty, those cuss words help I guess
Debra

 

[Mickey]

I always love reading your posts, PaulB, regardless of the subject of the thread. They always make me smile.

I too love tinkering and DIY though I don't do much any more. My reef is 19 years old and currently going through a tough time. I'm also in the middle of a new project to move my sump from beneath the tank to the basement because my back and knees just don't do well crawling under the tank anymore. Tackling all that new plumbing while keeping the tank up and running has been challenging. I've taken it slow so hopefully there's no mistakes along the way.

Building one of these things appeals to me and seems like it will do what I want. I've been keeping an eye out for a used Vortex for several years but haven't found one. Seems like fun to try to build. Or, I can just wait for you to perfect it and buy from you. Depends on how your testing goes I guess. I'll keep following along.

 

[Paul B]

Debra, that is me holding that orange bucket behind my Jeep. That is the beach behind my house but we are 70 feet up on a cliff so it is a few blocks away where I could drive on the beach.
That was last year, now as I am getting older I look more like Tom Sellic. Even our Mother can't tell us apart.

Mickey, I am glad you follow my nonsense. Even I don't read what I write. My 10 year old Grand Son yesterday called my wife to say to her: "Grand Ma, do you know what I did today?" She said :No Teddy, what did you do?"

Teddy said, " I watched 2 1/2 hours of PopPop on YouTube talking about fish. And he has 15,000 followers". I never even knew he cared anything about fish, or me for that matter.

He also said: PopPop is the only one fast enough to catch a lizard" . (I once caught him a lizard) I probably fell on it.



I received the new 5 micron filter cartridge yesterday and hopefully will try it today. I don't think it will work exactly like I want yet but I did design the piece that should make it work perfectly. This new piece may be difficult for many people to build at home so I will try to simplify it.

I could make it with my 3 D Printer but that is a pain to set up and I think I can make the "prototype" one by hand faster, just not as good looking. If it works well, I may 3D print them.

If I ever had to manufacture these things (and I have no plans at this time to do that, I would have to have at least that part made in a factory.

The issue is that adding the diatom powder right into the housing like I normally do in a diatom filter, the powder falls to the bottom and turns into mud and resembles the make up on one of my old girlfriends who used to put it on with a trowel.

I designed a tube that extends to the bottom of the canister like the old diatoms had that will keep the powder in suspension while it is coating the bag. (Someone on one of these forums asked me about a tube and he was correct but I tried without it and it failed)

The problem is that there is only about half an inch of space between the cartridge and the housing so little room for the proper sized tube and no space to connect it to the inlet pipe. I solved that problem and hope to build it today.

There is a chance, and I will test it today that the powder will coat the cartridge if I slowly add the powder as the thing is running. But that is a pain and would have to be done in something other than the tank or powder will go into the tank. It can be done in a separate container but I am trying not to do it like that so I think I will have to build my modification.

Vortex used to sell a 4 way valve that was great but it is out of production and also difficult to build even with a 3 D printer (for me anyway as I am not that good at getting it on my computer so the printer knows what I am doing.

If I ever sold these things, I would also have that commercially built but the initial model would cost me thousands for the mold. I know because I patented the "Mojano Wand" and the tiny tip on the thing was maybe $10,000.00 and it costs about five cents to make (after you have the mold built.)

I am trying to simplify the thing so anyone, even my Grand Daughter could build it.

 

[Paul B]

Debra, I have always loved building things and that may be because my Dad died suddenly when I was ten. (he was 47) My Mom had to get a job in a sweat shop on the west side of Manhattan making baby hats as she had a mortgage and two small sons.

That is what made me start building my own things. I built my first bicycle from parts I found in lots.
Luckily when I was 12, my neighbor gave me a job in his auto wrecking yard taking cars apart sometimes with an acetylene torch. (today he would get arrested for that for a number of reasons). But it taught me how to become independent and build anything I wanted

Just last week my Captain (now retired General) from Viet Nam sent me this text after he accidentally googled my name.

Quote:
"Paul, Checked you out on Google-Not surprised by your achievements!! With all the ingenuity you used in Nam to keep our COMMO running with scrounged parts/equipment-even off wrecked helicopters that you could grow coral" .
End Quote

I spent that year in the jungle and all I had was a pliers, screwdriver and probably a hack saw. I was the COMMO chief in charge of a field artillery battery and set up the communications. No cell phones or computers then.

Helicopters would crash all the time and I would fly there with a friend of mine who had a small helicopter and remove parts like switches, guages and batteries to build things we needed like a way to wash our clothes, communicate with the rear or "Gun Ship Cobra Helicopters and light our bunkers. He still calls me all the time and tells me things I built that I have no recollection of.

I was on 14 Firebases that we built and this was one of my "houses" (after a large battle)

 

[Paul B]

The 5 micron cartridge seems to work very well, "So Far in a test". I put diatom powder in a container with water and had the filter suck it up.
It coated the cartridge and completely cleared up the water of powder.

The only "issue" of starting it like this is that it would be difficult to start it in my tank this way. Normally, I add the powder with some water into my diatom filter before I start it. Then I put the ends of the hoses together and let it run until the jar gets clear and all the powder is on the pleated cartridge.

To run it this way, I would have to start it in a container of salt water and after it clears, I would have to put the ends of the hoses together while it is still running and transfer it to my reef. Then put the ends of the hoses under the water in my tank and pull them apart.

I normally do it that way anyway except I dump the power in before I start it. If I did that now, I "think" the powder would lump up on the bottom of the filter and stay there. I will test that and if that happens, I devised another way to start it that is very simple but I need to test it and it won't cost anything or take up any time. Just cost two bucks to implement.

I will post what happens.

 

[Mickey]

Progress.... Can you explain the advantage of using the powder if you use a 5 or 1 micron filter? Does it just preserve the length of the filter since you can wash off the powder and theoretically all the gunk washes off with the powder?