Diatom Filter on a reef tank...
- Thread starter baloo6969
- Start date
baloo6969
Member
yea just like a DE pool filter...same media...it's rock (high silica though)... but it's fossilized diatoms(rock hard algae crushed up)...so my only concern is the sillica...but if the silica remains in the filter bag i cant imagine a problem.
Mike, do you(or somone you know) use one on a reef?
Mike, do you(or somone you know) use one on a reef?
T
tiberius
Guest
I use DE in my Magnum filter sometimes. It just needs to be changed in a week because it gets clogged. I mostly run the micron cartridge. The tank surely is crystal clear when I do!
reefkprz
Active Member
Originally Posted by baloo6969
yea just like a DE pool filter...same media...it's rock (high silica though)... but it's fossilized diatoms(rock hard algae crushed up)...so my only concern is the sillica...but if the silica remains in the filter bag i cant imagine a problem.
Mike, do you(or somone you know) use one on a reef?
the silica wont be a problem. the beauty of diatoms is when they bind silicic acid into their body they change it to non-soluble form. (this is the reason diatom blooms pass they use up all the silicic acid and render it inert) even if a little were to get into your tank any effect would be negligable. Diatom filters are great for poklishing water. just remember like any form of mechanical filtration keep it on a regular maintinence schedule to prevent it from becoming a nitrate "farm"
Oh you should also turn it off for a short period when feeding planktonic foods as it will quickly remove them from the water.
yea just like a DE pool filter...same media...it's rock (high silica though)... but it's fossilized diatoms(rock hard algae crushed up)...so my only concern is the sillica...but if the silica remains in the filter bag i cant imagine a problem.
Mike, do you(or somone you know) use one on a reef?
the silica wont be a problem. the beauty of diatoms is when they bind silicic acid into their body they change it to non-soluble form. (this is the reason diatom blooms pass they use up all the silicic acid and render it inert) even if a little were to get into your tank any effect would be negligable. Diatom filters are great for poklishing water. just remember like any form of mechanical filtration keep it on a regular maintinence schedule to prevent it from becoming a nitrate "farm"
Oh you should also turn it off for a short period when feeding planktonic foods as it will quickly remove them from the water.
