Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I know that solids removal isn't something that most of you do, as you run your solids through your GBs to be digested, however...

My original system design was going to be 100% DWC beds, but on a much smaller scale than the UVI system. At this point I may include some GBs into my design for handling solids but more importantly for additional biologic filtration.

Anyway, I needed a solids removal solution for my system and didn't think a 1000gal clarifier was going to work for me so I started working on an alternate solution.

Now it isn't perfect, and probably isn't a new idea or anything like that, but take a look. The idea of this device isn't exactly to filter out solids. It's to trap solids so they can be evacuated. There will be a pump attached to the "crud suckers" at the bottom that will kick on once an hour for only a few seconds, to quickly evacuate the accumulated debris at the bottom of the clarifier. I realize the filter will need to be cleaned regularly, as it will likely clog. To help prevent this the final product will be much taller, as the solids need a greater depth to settle out. The model is short only so I could reach my hand into it.

Here is the second pic...I'll try to get the rest on one post. Keep in mind the holes in the "filter" are just to show that it's a porous entity, it is merely a representation of a filter.

Here are the remainder...

Should work David.... and I like the thought process that's gone into it...

Just a questian wont the cardboard go soggy in the water

Think it's just a "mock up" F&F...

OH just beeing a smart ass

F&F at least your not ol' grumpy

B.O.T. It will be interesting to see the finished product
Good luck

Figured you knew that there's nothing more useless than a paper bag full of cold water...

Yeh but wet paper bags I can deal with...
at least they don't come back and annoy me

LOL, yes, I thought I would at least use that wax coated cardboard for the real deal.

I've made some custom saltwater aquarium sumps in the past, so I may wind up making it out of some plexi/polycarb sheets.

I've began construction of my fish tank. Going to make a plywood box and line it with pondliner(and pad). Will likely make a similarly constructed sump. I keep throwing the solids separation and the DWC channel beds around in my head, and the fact that you all let your solids go to your GBs. The solids separator that I've designed here I may not ever make except to test.

David,

I use a very simple fliter, it is a plastic tub of about 45L, the water is pumped in one end and there is a type of stand pipe at the other, in the centre I use dacron (synthetic fiber material) as the filter material. I have found that half a pillow, yes that is pillow, with the cotton outer removed is a very effective filter that is good for about a month. The reason that I use the pillows is that you can get them very cheap and it is the same as the stuff from the roll. Also I find that with the slowing of the water as it enters the first side of the tub, a fair amount of the solids just sink to the bottom. If you are interested I could post a pic tomorrow.

Andrew.

Have you looked into a Vortex Filter?

http://www.aquaart.com/vortex.html

I had considered a conebottomed tank for this purpose. The UVI clarifier is rather like the first of those three vortex tanks. This is an indoor system, and as such space is at a premium. What I designed may or may not be big enough for appreciable settling to occur, but since it will be regularly evacuated I'm hoping to counter some of that. In addition, if need be, a longer cycle could run, pulling the "clean" water from above back through the filter, backwashing it. I'm going to try to keep the unit small for this particular reason, so that if I perform a certain number of backwashes everyday, I lose the smallest amount of water possible.

The main reason I didn't go with a conebottom tank is because of the issues UVI has had keeping the interior of theirs clean. They have fingerlings inside to help keep the deposits off of the walls. I'm hoping that more frequent(they empty a few times a day) evacuations will help reduce the amount of "stuck" residue. The fewer vertical (or sloped) walls present the less of that will happen.