diatom filters

[ryangrieder]

anyone have one? notice a difference with it or junk? i was looking at the vortex one d-1 i believe. good for algae? it mainly just says about ick and so forth...

 

[JimmyR1rider]

anyone have one? notice a difference with it or junk? i was looking at the vortex one d-1 i believe. good for algae? it mainly just says about ick and so forth...

Ryan I have one but havent gotten it working right had released diatom into my tank- isnt harmful to fish but it killed a fire shrimp. Its meant for polishing the water of any freefloating stuff in your water column but I see quite a few people on here have them- am going to give mine another shot, I do know that if you get it working correctly it will make your water PERFECTLY clear. It only filters out freefloating cysts if ich wont help with ich ON your fish.

 

[FRY]

i have one since 67 it works great mostly use it on my fresh water tank,you have to pregharge it first,they have a precharge valve you run it first till its clear then open it no diatom in tank

 

[DrGonzo]

I have a Vortex XL you can have for free, if you'd like to come to the city and it pick up. I've never been able to figure it out.

 

[jcolon2]

Wow. That's generezo DRGonzo. I just looked it up online, and its pricey.

 

[Bob 1000]

I use have one and use it from time to time.. Not on a regular basis..

 

[beerfish]

I've been considering getting one just to aid in clearing the tank after an induced storm in the tank... aka me screwing around in the tank.

 

[ryangrieder]

thanks everyone. DrGonzo that would be very nice of you. i may take you up on that offer just to give it a shot. how about taking the small micro bubbles out of a tank? i read alot of reviews on other sites and website reviews and everyone is back and forth with it. saying it works great when you actually get it to work, but most people give up because it can be a pain. you think its worth the hassle?

 

[CHEMCHEF]

It is not that hard to get going, once you get the hang of it. Everyone who wants a Vortex should go get one. They are out of business.

 

[DrGonzo]

DrGonzo that would be very nice of you. i may take you up on that offer just to give it a shot.

Let me know soon. I've been getting PM's asking for it.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

It is not that hard to get going, once you get the hang of it. Everyone who wants a Vortex should go get one. They are out of business.

When did they go out of business?

And FRY I dont have the valve the filter doesnt come with one so you have to slide this plastic clip over the discharge hose to charge- which is great IF YOU DIDNT HAVE TO BE ARNOLD SCHWARTZENEGER TO SQUEEZE THE DAMN THING OVER THE HOSE!! My hand was cramped for 3 days after lol.

The problem I had with mine actually is the seal- the flat gasket in the groove doesnt seem to be thick enough so I had to fill it with a bead of silicone and seat the gasket so itll seal better- every 30 seconds or minute youd hear air getting in like a slurping then air bubbles and a little diatom would get released into the tank. My fish were unaffected but my fire shrimp afterwards starting rocking back and forth like a pee pee dance and found him dead in the morning.:letitallo. Haven't tried it since doing the mod will try again soon hopefully will be good to go.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Also one more note---CHEMCHEF stated they were out of business, they arent I talked to them today on the phone and ordered the charging valve to get mine working better so if anyone is looking for them theyre still in production

 

[cisco1717]

works great for me, i see a diffrence but the only drawback is its charging or leaks which causes bubbles and at times release of diatom. i do thinks it helps with the removal of ich and etc.

 

[Elflaco112]

Can anyone help me to get the one I have working, I borrowed it from a friend and cant get it to pull the water in, I hear the motor going but no water being pulled in. Please Help me. I have some ich in my tank would like to see if this helps.

 

[cisco1717]

you have to suck in on one sideof the hose to get it going

 

[seldin]

I have used a system diatom hob on my fresh water tank. Pretty amazing how it polishes water. When starting reef I used it, but stopped. Figure that it also removes good stuff in water column.

As per use, the system one diatam is a snap to use. You hang it on back of tank, run it for a few hours and you are done. To recharge is simple. Just unscrew jar type lid, clean out junk, load in fresh stuff and it works again. Very, very easy.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

I easy if it seals correctly but thats the whole problem I had is the seal would let in air and release bubbles and some diatom to the tank, have since i think at least remedied the problem but havent tried it since.

 

[seldin]

I guess it depends on the model, etc. On the system one, you just hang on back of tank, turn the plug on, and away you go. Then, just unscrew jar empty it and put in new stuff. Again, very, very easy.

I had used mine for many years. Only thing, I did, was buy a new gasket every year or 2. Years ago, thatfishplace had it. Not sure if it is still made, etc.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

I guess it depends on the model, etc. On the system one, you just hang on back of tank, turn the plug on, and away you go. Then, just unscrew jar empty it and put in new stuff. Again, very, very easy.

I had used mine for many years. Only thing, I did, was buy a new gasket every year or 2. Years ago, thatfishplace had it. Not sure if it is still made, etc.

Nice should have gotten that one i got the d1 you have to have it lowerr than the tank the whole nine- bought the charging valve yesterday though so it will be easier to get going the right way.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

You can start it in, Say, a 2 qt pitcher. once it is going. Just lower the pitcher into the tank. Viola Done!!!