diatom filters

[PARROTT9668]

Has anyone in here ever used a diatom filter and, if so, do they work very effectively?

[aharris]

They work OK, but they clog easy. A lot of folks I've heard talk of them use them only for occasional water scubbing and not all the time becuase apparently they can be a pain to clean.

[PARROTT9668]

So you would'nt recommend buying one? What would you use in place to polish the water of the very small particles that regular filters seem to miss?

[aharris]

Oh, you can use the diatom filter, just don't let it run all the time. Turn it on for a whiel at a time until it cleans out your water. I'd run it as a supplemental filter and not as a primary bio-load-bearing filter that runs all the time.

[83Street]

There are now attachments that allow you to gravel vac with the diatom filter. sounds pretty cool as the water is just filtered and put back into the tank.

I heard diatoms are known to kill parasites such as Ich and Hexamita. If im correct, a diatom filter contains diatomaceous earth, which is biliions of dead organisms called diatoms. Diatoms are tiny bacteria glass-like in structure. So, whenever something microscopic and alive passes through the filter, they get cut up and die. Kind of walking into a giant knife. Not sure if this is what a diatom filter is though...

[Seedy]

Originally posted by 83Street
There are now attachments that allow you to gravel vac with the diatom filter. sounds pretty cool as the water is just filtered and put back into the tank.

I heard diatoms are known to kill parasites such as Ich and Hexamita. If im correct, a diatom filter contains diatomaceous earth, which is biliions of dead organisms called diatoms. Diatoms are tiny bacteria glass-like in structure. So, whenever something microscopic and alive passes through the filter, they get cut up and die. Kind of walking into a giant knife. Not sure if this is what a diatom filter is though...

Yeah that's what a diatom filter is...it's not meant to filter diatoms, but actually is made up of dead diatoms' shells (don't inhale these guys, it'll be really bad for you, asbestos style) diatoms are silica shelled microscopic critters...live diatoms dont really effect parasites, but as diatomatious earth (concentrated dead diatom shells) it is a very small diameter pass filter...

[Seedy]

Originally posted by PARROTT9668
So you would'nt recommend buying one? What would you use in place to polish the water of the very small particles that regular filters seem to miss?

Why do you want/need to do this?

[egcman]

I have used a diatom filter for five years now. I have a 100g tank with 2 penguin 330 biowheels for filtration. The diaton work very well if your tank becomes cloudy - it will turn your water crystal clear.
I use it once every 6-8 months mailny to clean the gravel. The one I have works very well, but it is a bit messy to get it started. By the time I have it up and running, there is a lot of water on the floor. Newer models might be better now. It is a good filter, but it is kind of expensive.