DIY Diatom Filter for under $100.00

[CoralB]

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

The pump is not strong enough for this to be possible and pushing the water through wouldn’t imo be efficient enough to get a even spread on the diatomaceous earth . What he’s doing here is recreating the wheel not re- inventing it .

 

[Paul B]

Also remember, like a skimmer we want to see how the thing is operating so it needs to be clear for couple reasons. You want to see the powder coating the bag ( or canister) because if it isn't the bag has a hole in it and the unit won't work.

You also want to see if the powder is dirty and once I sucked up a small gobi which didn't fare very well even though I removed him right away. He probably died of the Horrors.

When you back flush it, you also want to be able to tell it is clean and all the powder is out.

My DIY skimmer also is PVC but I made the top 6" out of clear acrylic so I can adjust the bubbles and see how it is working.

 

[Paul B]

I have the half size diatom filter about half assembled and it is looking snazzy. (thats a word I haven't used since the 50s)

I am just short a 1/2" union and a few short stainless steel screws so hopefully it will be completed today. I hope to test it right away. It looks very nice so even if it doesn't work, I can still sell it as Steam Punk.

 

[Mickey]

Pictures, pictures!

 

[Paul B]

OK Mickey. Don't get crazy, contrary to popular opinion I don't sit around all day looking up at the ceiling going:
"Doot Da Doot-Doot Da Doo". Sometimes I do, but not all the time.

I just finished it 5 minutes ago.

Now all I have to do is test the small one. The large one works perfectly. I have a one micron element for the small one but I am not sure how easy I can clean it. I can't seem to find a 5" pleated element in 5 microns. If I can't find one, I will just build it but for now, I am going to run the small one on my tank as a test.

Now that the prototypes are completed I can build them much faster but I have no plans to produce these things. I may show them to the manufacturer who builds the majano wand but I doubt they will want to make them and neither do I (for now anyway except for experimental purposes)
I just like building things and the more they resemble SteamPunk, the better I like them.

They both open very easily by just turning the union so backflushing is not required. But I still need to test it.

What do you think?

 

[Paul B]

 

[Paul B]

I am doing a test on my reef. So far no leaks and it seems to be working perfectly. But this model is to small for my 125 gallon tank because I only have a 250 GPH pump on it. My larger model has a 500 GPH pump on it. I think this would work best on a 75 gallon or less tank.

I stirred up my gravel here t see how long it takes to clear it and see how easy it is to clean. The things starts instantly with no problems. Just stick the inlet hose in the tank and suck a little on the other hose. Plug it in and you are good to go.

The big problem with the manufactured diatom filters was the motor, or pump was on top ad the slightest air inside the unit will stop it. That problem is eliminated here.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Beautiful work Paul - now if only you would not be so selfish with your time and get to work on my metal fish.

 

[Paul B]

LOL, I would rather make ten of these than one metal fish. Those things are a horror to build and the only one I have is a Porcupine fish that looks to have ich. All the rest I stupidly sold.
(I also gave a couple away)

 

[BeanAnimal]

Why tease me like this (okay it is my fault but...) The one above is one of my favorites too! The other puffy one (lone gone) with the big eyes was another fav. I MUST HAVE ONE. It would be my precious!

 

[Paul B]

This one I gave away



This is my favorite. I think I gave it to my Daughter.



All the rest are gone.



I did keep this futuristic blimp. It was not finished here. I put in windows and windshield wipers

 

[BeanAnimal]

You are absolutely killing me my friend. I could have a room full of those and never get tired of them.

 

[Mickey]

My hero!

 

[Mickey]

Actually, I think the small one is too small for my tank (system is probably a bit over 240 gallons) but purty to look at. I want to build the big one, just need to order the parts. Debating if I should go with the 500 gph pump or maybe a slightly larger one. And debating buying pool grade DE instead of using my food grade, or just going with smaller filters.

I have two of the Marineland Polishing Filters but they are more of a pain. Filters more expensive to replace and hard to clean.

 

[Paul B]

Mickey, stop it, you are getting me all excited.

Bean my friend, why don't you take one of these. You will be the hit of your neighborhood and I need the room to build more filters.

 

[Paul B]

Mickey the larger one would work for a 240. That pump I used for that is 500 GPH but they make them in many sizes up to 950 GPH. The price for the 350 GPH seems wrong. For a 240 gallon tank I would use the 700 GPH.
Also, you can't use food grade powder as it is not porous. I tried it and it just clogs almost instantly. I use pool diatom powder, very cheap. Just don't breath it in

If you use a standard under sink canister like I did for my larger one, the pump volume isn't that important because you can only push so much water through the canister and powder.

My larger filter totally clears my 125 gallon in half an hour no matter how much detritus I stir up.

Size: 180 GPH
https://www.reef2reef.com/javascript:void(0);

• 250 GPH
  

  ---

  $63.56
• 180 GPH
  

  ---

  $156.37
• 350 GPH
  

  ---

  $63.41
• 500 GPH
  

  ---

  $71.46
• 700 GPH
  

  ---

  $89.00
• 950 GPH
  

  ---

  $89.93

 

[Paul B]

Test is over. I ran it on my 125 with the gravel stirred up and in an hour the water disappeared. The cartridge used was one micron. I think it would be better if I could find a pleated cartridge that I could use with powder. The thing comes right apart for cleaning, all you have to do is loosen up the union and the entire housing comes out.

Then just twist it open and rinse the cartridge.

Something like this would be excellent for anyone to build especially if you are concerned about parasites because it will remove them especially if you use a quarantine tank (which I don't)

When I collect NSW I can just submerge these units in the tub of sea water without using the tubing because the pumps are submersible.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Mickey, stop it, you are getting me all excited.

Bean my friend, why don't you take one of these. You will be the hit of your neighborhood and I need the room to build more filters.

As absolutely cool as those are, I have no real place to display Rube Goldberg steampunk machines. Our small domicile is controlled by a strict warden who does not understand the need for these things, even if it is my recreation area.

 

[vahegan]

Why don't you take the 10" pleated cartridge, and cut it in two?

 

[Paul B]

I am going to do that but it's not as simple as it sounds. The pleated "paper" on the end has to rest in a solid housing or the thing will just collapse with the suction of the water.

Now that I know the "Proof of Concept" and prototype works I designed a much simpler design that anyone can build quickly using the bracket that you can buy for these canisters. I will take these prototypes apart and build them using the new design.