Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1523&hilit=real+smart+guy

but warning - the thread is 14 pages long! good reading.

the other reason (and the main one for me) for the RSG filter test was to reduce the nitrate readings through the off gassing procedure

Actually, you just used one that was in the Webster dictionary as long ago as 1913

My conical bottom containers are actually really large old (I guess they were being thrown out as a friend dropped them off to us) Feed hoppers for pond feeders.

If I were trying to make a conical bottom on a say 5 gallon bucket, I would probably do it outside or in the garage. I'd use a heat gun. I would perhaps try placing the bucket upside down on a stake or pipe or something and start warming the bottom and see if pulling down on the bucket produced any useful deformation.

As to larger containers, I would probably just use the natural deformation that the weight of water causes with the conical stand or ground shaping.

Just as a note about the acronyms here. Would it have been any more useful to you had he spelled out the Really Smart Guy Filter? Probably just as useful as RSG Filter, you still need an explanation so it is something worth looking up, searching for or asking for the link. As with many of the other acronyms, it just makes it something easier to type and if people want more info on it, that is easy to provide, those who know will either explain it when asked or direct the interested party to a thread that does explain it. Spending a paragraph to explain the RSG filter when one is simply mentioning it in passing is probably a bit more than we can expect each and every person on the forum to type and read.

Frank, and others, try searching short words with the wildcard... i.e. "RSG*" ....

It returns results that point to both the original discussion thread ... and another regarding construction....

There's also a list of "forum acronyms" in the FAQ section.... viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1275

thanks Rupert
Steve already pointed out this trick
I still think acronyms as being not "user friendly" unless for insiders
and a pain to newbies
I prefer words
lots less confusion

frank

Steve has also "reindexed" the search database Frank...

Now returning results as expected...

frank, in this case calling it a 'really smart guy' filter would not have helped you much

acronyms don't help at all for an ignorant like me

frank

No acronym Frank,
RSG = Really smart guy

Frank

If you want to research them they are deep sand bed filters (DSB ) usually used to remove nitrates in coral tanks. It appears that the bacteria (anerobic) also convert metals into a chelated form, rather than an oxide which would be normal in aerobic conditions.

If you're trying to do something with a large tank you could treat the tank as a shower stall. Use a shower drain connector(which is height adjustable) and line the bottom of the tank with a dry stucco mix. Slope it the way you want it. It's not a big job and you'll have a permanently slope bottom a lot cheaper than replacing the tank.