Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

What are your guyses ideas on filters for IBC? is it worth it, i have colarado river rock in mine and its pretty smooth so should i add a filter? i will be putting 20 Tilapia in a the tank about 250 Gallons. I read about the Rapid Flow Sand filter in a book and i kind of like the idea. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Definately don't use a sand filter.

There's multiple opinions on additional filtration for a standard backyard system so go with what works for you. Although apparently it's not 'modern' if you don't have a bunch of extra filters attached to it.

What wrong with a sand filter? I read they are good for biological filtration.

I'm a newbie but my take is that sand will clog with suspended solids and possibly go anaerobic, need cleaning/backflush, etc.

I use a RFF for large heavier solids and hope the lighter suspended solids deposit in my growbeds to benefit the plants. I may add some red worms to GBs when I get solids accunulation.

I have an IBC system with 200 gal FT and 100 gal ST, 5 growbeds with 170 gal of lava rock. I cycled without fish and just added 20 catfish last week. I hope I can bring them to harvest. The first taco is gonna be about $1000, but after that they should only be a couple bucks apiece. I hope they're as delicious as I imagine.

Having a lot of fun though.

What is RFF and why would it make a anaerobic area? I would just have to backwash it to get rid of solids wouldn't i?

A RFF is a radial flow filter. I'm no expert on filters so I was just speculating about sand. I think backflush is fine. I know a local fish wholesaler that uses a sand filter for all of their water - feeding dozens tanks of various sizes.

How does it work? im a little confused a swirl filter and RFF are the same thing right?

Similar but slightly different. RFF uses a change of direction to settle solids, swirl uses a swirling motion. Most on here go with RFF (which I believe is backed up by studies). Plenty info on both in both the web and on this forum. I'd go with an RFF (and have in my system).


Would you like some basil and Jade Perch with that latte sir?

Build thread- viewtopic.php?f=18&t=21974&start=75

Question, if I have my IBC filled 275 gallons and run a pipe from the outlet at the very bottom into the RFF in a 16 gallon drum then run clear water to a 16 gallon drum sump with my 850GPH pump to pump to growbed. Would it use more water than its getting in the sump?

I am concerned with the same thing. I've watched many people tweak their systems while I am still in the planning stage. I think you just do it, and see what happens. I'm planning a dual outflow to give my system setup more options. Whatever the RFF and biofilter can handle it handles, and a second settling tank with catch over flow if there is any

Yeah I'm a little confused will the water rise to the hieght of the standpipe or the water level of fishtank

are you going to have a standpipe in the sump or fish tank? That doesn't sound right, stand pipes go in the DWC. SLO goes in the FT, sump pump in the ST

No no just wondering how that worked standpipe will be in the RFF from the bottom IBC outlet, just wondering if the water will rise to standpipe level or water level of the fish tank.

my experience so far is with biodiesel wash tanks and the surface tension may be greater with oily water, but the water sits just above (or a couple mm) the top of the standpipe

Even if the fish tank is water level is above the standpipe?