I think some light is getting through the blue plastic material of the tank that's why lots of algae is growing, either a few layers of spray paint should do the trick or covering it in mylar. Have you ever considered using centrifugal filtration to remove solids ? It would take up much less space but use more electricity as you need high pressure for this type of filter to be effective.
A little light isn't a big deal. Most paints won't stick to the HDPE and I find wrapping tanks to be messy in the long run. If I didn't use this type of settler, I probably would just install a drum filter.
I have raised rainbow trout in my backyard aquaculture system for years successfully. I also used to get those floating poop mats in the radial flow filter. I clean that filter twice a week by siphoning the poop off of the bottom. I found that I could fix the floating poop mat problem by doing one of the following three options...feed the fish less, lower the quantity of fish, or clean the filter more often. But my system is only for aquaculture so not sure how those options would affect the nutrients for your plants?
Great idea! Would you be willing to share the CAD files for the new weir? I would love to size it down to fit my two radial flow settlers since I often have the same problem. I currently have a similar setup as yours with the settling tank bottom drain connecting into my mineralization tank. I have a multi relay/timer and actuated valves so that every couple of days the mineralization tank stops to allow everything to settle, then a valve opens to drain off the top "clean" water from the mineralization tank into one of my sumps. Following that the bottom drain on the settling tank opens and via gravity all of the solids at the bottom of the settling tank are forced into the mineralization tank. The problem is that not all of the solids leave the settling tank, especially the larger chunks that are about to start floating. I think the only solution is a wiper system like mentioned in another post, that would slowly nudge all of the solids on the bottom of the settling tank into the center bottom drain.
A few people have tried and have found that there are far more solids going through an AP system than a swimming pool. The filters will clog quickly and require frequent backflushing. Drum filters are used in a lot of aquaculture systems...but $$$$$
If the swirl is for air (like a dyson vacuum), they are very efficient. When the buoyancy of the waste is nearly the same as the water, they are very poor. There are plenty of articles out there that can explain it in detail.
I think it's a difficult problem. If there is just a screen in there, stuff will just accumulate on it. I've wondered about some kind of "wisk" that could move around once in awhile. Of course that requires some type of motor/timer system, plus it would stir up the water a bit when it ran. I'm not sure if there is a simple and cheap solution to this. ;-)
@Bigelowbrook if you attach an auger to the bottom at the drain that comes on twice a day then the product doesn't have enough time to gasification and float
@@cowboynidaho I was thinking about some kind of wiper blade that goes around the cone to scrap everything. Maybe have it move super slow so it doesn't create any currents. Basically the same as a wastewater treatment pond.
Ingenious design as always Rob. 😁👍
Hear Hear! 😉
Thats pretty close to what is used in waste water
Outstanding adaptation. Thanks for sharing.
I think some light is getting through the blue plastic material of the tank that's why lots of algae is growing, either a few layers of spray paint should do the trick or covering it in mylar. Have you ever considered using centrifugal filtration to remove solids ? It would take up much less space but use more electricity as you need high pressure for this type of filter to be effective.
A little light isn't a big deal. Most paints won't stick to the HDPE and I find wrapping tanks to be messy in the long run. If I didn't use this type of settler, I probably would just install a drum filter.
In production was use 2-5 layers of mesh. Your design is cheap, but probably cost effective since your end product doesn't care about the extra ppm.
I have raised rainbow trout in my backyard aquaculture system for years successfully. I also used to get those floating poop mats in the radial flow filter. I clean that filter twice a week by siphoning the poop off of the bottom. I found that I could fix the floating poop mat problem by doing one of the following three options...feed the fish less, lower the quantity of fish, or clean the filter more often. But my system is only for aquaculture so not sure how those options would affect the nutrients for your plants?
Great idea! Would you be willing to share the CAD files for the new weir? I would love to size it down to fit my two radial flow settlers since I often have the same problem.
I currently have a similar setup as yours with the settling tank bottom drain connecting into my mineralization tank. I have a multi relay/timer and actuated valves so that every couple of days the mineralization tank stops to allow everything to settle, then a valve opens to drain off the top "clean" water from the mineralization tank into one of my sumps. Following that the bottom drain on the settling tank opens and via gravity all of the solids at the bottom of the settling tank are forced into the mineralization tank. The problem is that not all of the solids leave the settling tank, especially the larger chunks that are about to start floating. I think the only solution is a wiper system like mentioned in another post, that would slowly nudge all of the solids on the bottom of the settling tank into the center bottom drain.
Send me an email at info@bigelowbrook.com
Awesome 👍
I wanted to make a system like this but the equipment and materials were insufficient
good!
Just curious if someone wanted a simpler system could a sand filter be used, similar to a pool sand filter?
A few people have tried and have found that there are far more solids going through an AP system than a swimming pool. The filters will clog quickly and require frequent backflushing. Drum filters are used in a lot of aquaculture systems...but $$$$$
Do you sell these?
does not seem to be working as good as a swirl filter.
If the swirl is for air (like a dyson vacuum), they are very efficient. When the buoyancy of the waste is nearly the same as the water, they are very poor. There are plenty of articles out there that can explain it in detail.
@@Bigelowbrook what are you talking about? swirl for air? what does that mean? A swirl filter will not have "floaters".
I wonder if there is some way to mechanically break up the floaters between the fishtank and the sawtooth weir so that the floaters don't float.
Or capture them so they get sucked down when you drain the bottom
I think it's a difficult problem. If there is just a screen in there, stuff will just accumulate on it. I've wondered about some kind of "wisk" that could move around once in awhile. Of course that requires some type of motor/timer system, plus it would stir up the water a bit when it ran. I'm not sure if there is a simple and cheap solution to this. ;-)
@Bigelowbrook if you attach an auger to the bottom at the drain that comes on twice a day then the product doesn't have enough time to gasification and float
@@cowboynidaho I was thinking about some kind of wiper blade that goes around the cone to scrap everything. Maybe have it move super slow so it doesn't create any currents. Basically the same as a wastewater treatment pond.
@Bigelowbrook true. Look at round secondary clarifiers.
if a redesign or scaling of the parts benefits anyone I could be interested in offering my help, might trade for a print job
STLs?
shop.bigelowbrook.com/Item.aspx?ItemID=402
You use PLA in your Aquaponics system that grows food?
yup. It's generally considered to be food safe. It's tie dies they add which are usually the concern.
@@Bigelowbrook Ahh, I see, and that's why you print them white?
@@Bigelowbrook PVC also considered " food safe" but the plasticizer that leaks out of PVC is considered toxic.
What do you do with the solids?
to go into the mineralization tank.