Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

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I had a search, but can't find and real reference to using DE Pool Filters and AP systems..

My likely foolish quest is for clear water, and having an old cartridge filter, have been using it to clear up the developing AP System..
.... yonks ago, I recall also adding DE to such filters for improved filtering..




The obvious question is... is there any likely problem in using DE with an AP system..??
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If your GBs are sufficient volume for your fish stocking density, and you mostly keep the sunlight off your system water, then your water should usually stay pretty clear with no need for additional filtration.

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Thanks GG...
I have spent days, trying to wash scungy sediment from pre. loved clay ball GBs... so I can appreciate how the crud builds up..
I have the cartridge filter and know that it's worth a good deal of dosh to buy.. hence making it likely an item that few would purchase by choice..
I tried to use an old canister filter from another life, but in trying to stop the leaks, I cracked the plastic, rendering it useless, hence the digging out of the canister filter..

So... the original question stands, as much for curiosity..
. is there. Anything wrong with using DE..
IE. the ingredients sound pretty harmless.. for both fish and crustaceans
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I think it should be ok, so long as it is kept in its filter, and not mixed in with the system water. It is quite sharp on a microscopic scale and would probably damage fish gills if in solution at any significant concentration. It is used to control lice on chooks, I think it kills them by damaging their exoskeleton and drying them out.

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and having read the extensive discussions on Red-Scoria, the DE seems to have similar possible ingredients..

It would be good is you could get a similar product in powdered limestone..
Now that would be a double benefit... :-)
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