Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am in the process of building a relatively large system (4300L) and was wondering if anyone has come across plans to build a swirl filter, from the looks of it they are relatively simple devices - but what worries me is that they seem to only work at certain flow rates. Has anyone had any experience with this?

FYI - I have been trying to post pictures of my small system but have been having a couple of hassles (stupid newbie) - in touch with one of the moderators so hopefully all will be sorted out shortly and can thus become a certified member of the addiction

There is a maximum flow rate for swirl filters of various diameters. I have not yet seem any figures for building / designing a filter.

Why do you want to incorporate a swirl filter and where in the system do you intend to incorporate it Axle?

Axle - I did some searches not long back and found some figures for flow rate of some larger units than we would want - which should be able to be scaled down.

I too intend to build a cheap and nasty swirl filter to remove some of the solids from my system when running higher stocking numbers than my limited number of beds and plants can handle. The solids will of course not go to waste and will be used on my soil gardens as an organic fertiliser. I' not sure when I'll give my first one a whirl - but probably isn't too far aways, so I'll watch what you are doing with interest.

Pretty simple to do I reckon - particularly when I am not concerned about getting all solids out, but rather simply reducing the amount.

DanD acheived the same result for the same purpose by making up a bio-bead/bio-ball filter....

Would seem an easier approach... and google will give you plenty of DYI references.... just check out the Koi sites

Easiier to clean (remove solids from) a swirl filter I reckon.

Thanks for the responses so far, Rupert the filter would run between the tank and before the grow beds for much of the same reason as veggie boy, it is not there to remove everything but rather to pull out part of the effluent - I can then use this for 'organic' fertilizer for items such as potatoes which I grow in the garden. I will have a look ate the bio-bead/bio-ball setup in the mean time.

I agree with veggie boy, there is literally a tap on the bottom, open it up and the effluent drains out.

Axle

Also try searching for diy vortex filter.

That's the one Sleepe

Here's a commercially made swirl filter running a 10000L tank filled with 300kg of Silver Bream ...

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... 243#115243

Flow rate doesn't seem to be significantly fast....

Yes - I don't think the flow in the swirl needs to be significantly fast, just needs a current to move the solids slowly and they will congregate in the centre.

The venturi drains used on some of the fish tanks do the same thing and then extract the fish poo from the tank - the swirl speed in my fish tank is not fast

Hi I have swirl seperators on all my tanks it takes a bit of time to set it up right this one does about 8 litres per min

Good one Piggy - tell us some more. Are they commercially built or did you make them yourselves. Kinda just looks like a bucket on top of a big piece of PVC pipe for the stand. Is the bottom of the filter sloped?

how do they work?