Oyster Shell Filter Idea

[wally]

Ok I got this crazy idea and want some opinions on it. I remember from my High School Biology days back in Maryland that in the Chesapeake Bay the large beds of Oyster Shells are kind of like the filtration system for the bay. Most if not all of the oysters are not living but rather just a huge pile of shells. "Good Bacteria" live in the shells and do their thing, kind of the same way that live rock works in reefs.
Anyway my idea as to take a large power filter like the "Supreme Super King" by Danner which has both a huge filter box and turns over 600gph. Instead of using filter pads or Carbon I would just load the filter box up with oyster shells. (I have a huge box of them)I would stand them up side ways so they wouldn't trap that much dirt or anything. And I figure with 600gph moving through a 4x6x12 box all the dirt would be washed away anyhow. That would prevent it from becoming a nitrite/phosphate factory. I think it would become a very good biological filter which would help greatly. You could also hook up several filter boxes together using a sihpon made out of PVC. If you had 2 or 3 of them by the time the water got to the third box it would be low in oxygen, which would give you the same effect as a DSB or plenum. What do you all think?

 

[von_rahvin]

what you have there is a custom built wet dry filter. it would work. bio balls are just as effective or more so. I have talked to alot of people on this board, many of them just use a combo of LS LR and a skimmer, some people use a refugium. I am going to build one of those soon.

 

[mr . salty]

The biggest problem I see with this idea is hooking up multiple tanks/sumps with syphons.This is the weak link that will require constant monitoring.If any of them would ever fail,You got a major flood on your hands...

 

[wally]

Thank you all for your input, I did think about using bio balls, or cell pore balls, but I thought that the oyster shells would act as a PH buffer and add minerals to the system much like argonite does. Also this is a hang on the back of the tank set-up so if the siphon fails you wouldn't get much (if any) water spillage as the filter would just go dry.
Thanks again

 

[mr . salty]

One other possible problem using these shells is the calcium they will leech into the water.Sure,calcium is good,but only too a certain point.Much over 500ppm,and the water will not absorb any more,and you will end up with a tank full of milk.I'm thinking that if this truly was such a great filter media,more people would be using it.I have never heard of ANYONE using it....Proceed with caution.Or try it on a test tank first.

 

[von_rahvin]

you could be right though, all it takes is one break through thought and the whole world of fish tanks could be reset. i say try it. (on a small tank) hey if it works i'll go snag some oyster shells for my self. (not to dissagree with Mr. Salty you need to take into account the things he mentioned)good luck!

 

[nm reef]

While it does sound interesting I'd think that its much more complicated than simply useing a combination of LR/LS/skimmer/refugium.............both may provide the same results but the tried and true method seems to work quite well and I'd be scared to try a radical new system.........