I need some filter suggestions

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject: I need some filter suggestions

I am looking for ideas on a water filter housing that I can connect with 1 ½” hoses.

Here’s what I am doing: I bought a new 4000 gph swimming pool pump and filter at a low clearance price. The filter is a pleated micro-filter. This set-up has 1 ½” inlet and outlet hoses. I will be using this filter three or four times a year to clean my aquarium gravel. My aquarium is very large and cleaning the gravel was an all day job with my old filter set-up. With this new pool filter, I can do the job very quickly. I use the outlet water flow to stir up the gravel and the particles then suspend in the water and get sucked into the inlet before settling on the bottom again. I want to put a pre-filter inline on the inlet hose so that the micro-filter doesn’t get clogged as quickly. I frequently have to remove the pleated filter and rinse it off and then reinsert it. I have several choices on media that I can use for a prefilter, but I am lost on what to use for the filter housing. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what would work.

I have several commercial water filters, but they each have 3/4" inlets and outlets. Unfortunately the housings are plastic so I cannot open them up and re-tap the holes. I really need something with 1 ½” connections, slightly smaller or anything reasonable bigger would probably still work. I just don’t want to restrict the flow and continuously work the pump too hard.

I use to use a 300 GPH set-up that was made for aquariums. I had bought two and put them in series. Here is how I had set them up: one had pre-filter media and the second had a pleated micro-filter. That system only had ¾” hoses, so I can’t use it with my new system either. This set-up worked great, but would take all day and required constant personal interaction due to the small amount of flow. I am trying to recreate the same thing, but on a larger scale / higher flow rate.

The only idea I have had so far is using another pool filter with a junk pump. I could then just use the filter housing and throw away the pump. Or if I could find a new pool filter that doesn't include the pump, I would buy it new. I haven't found one yet except for some very expensive sand filters. Those would work perfect, but I'm not going to pay several hundred to buy a new one.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Here's my new Turbo System:

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Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:27 pm Post subject:

Try http://www.mcmaster.com search for "filters" and then try pages 354 and 355... Grainger ( http://www.grainger.com ) also has some... You might also try MSC and some of the local plumbing houses like Lemming Supply at 447-9660...
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Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:34 pm Post subject:

If you just want something a bit cheaper, get a strainer... They are on pages 340-345 at McMaster Carr, and you can get different size mesh screens for them... No where near as good as a filter, but they will get the bigger stuff out...
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Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:17 am Post subject:

Awesome!

Thanks HiTech!
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject:

No problem... When in doubt, ask the maintenance guy... Wink

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Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!

Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 1:42 am Post subject:

Go to your local Lowes, and ask them about their Grainger catalog!

Cool

I see redexzorz already hit that point... See what Lowes can get it for!!! Love the catalog, and we deal with them specifically.

Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 1:58 am Post subject:

I didn't know Lowes carries Grainger... We used to have a Grainger store here that you could walk into and buy anything they sold, but Grainger Corporate, in their "ultimate wisdom", closed it... I miss that place... With the distribution center in Indy, you could have almost anything in their catalog next day... Now it's 3 days UPS... Not sure why, since the distribution center is still in Indy... McMaster Carr's main distribution center is in Chicago, and if you order it before a certain time, you will have it next day...
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Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!