Hi, I'm not even sure how to spell Diatram Filter but if you know what I'm talking about would someone please explain how they work and what they are supposed to achieve? (in language for dummies )

hi annette

diatom filters are mainly used as water polishers because they have a tendency to clog so fast. most people use them once or twice a week to remove very fine particulate matter and parasites from the water.

heres a good link that should explain the way it works:

diatom filter manual

hope this helps!

paul

Thanks Paul, that was informative but the diatrams sound a bit temperamental. It certainly sounds like what I need for the "green pea soup" tank.

Both my 35g run on built-into hood wet/dry filtration systems. They are quite large with a lot of space for biological bugs but they only filter 5 x per hour.

As these tanks are becomming established they are getting more and more dirty and I want to add another filter. I was thinking external cannister type, which is more affordable, or diatram. What do you think?

diatom filters are purely to polish the water, not a replacement for another filter. If you want more filtration (5x is lowish), then get another filter. If you want to get rid of little particles that cloud your tank, such as floating algae (green pea soup tank), then a diatom filter will do the job. I run the diatom once a week or every 2 weeks to clean up the tank.

Yeah, mine can only run for 4 hours before it has to be shut off. They're pretty nice though. Clean up a cloudy tank in just a little while.

Do you guys have any problems with the diatram? Are they easy to operate? Can you move them from tank to tank regularly without major hassle?

I asked the lfs today if they had any but the guy hadn't heard of them <_< .

I'll give the Koi Farm a ring maybe they will know.

heres a little tip that is soooo much cheaper than a diatom filter:

diy micron water polisher

this thing should clean up the algae blooms that your tank is having. i know it worked wonders on mine. i have a turtle tank that likes to get algal blooms every now and again and all i do is run my diy polisher for a couple hours. once its done, the water is sooper crystal clear!

hope this helps save you some cash!

paul

Will this filter help with the brown "algea"?
Thanks,
Megan

because brown algae doesnt manifest itself in the free-floating form, i would say no. however, when you go to scrub the brown algae off of the glass, adding either the diatom filter or my diy micron filter (while cleaning) will remove the scrubbed off bits that could very easily re-seed the cleaned surfaces if left to linger..............

I think they are easy to operate, although starting it (filling the tubes with water) is a bit of a hassle. Its easy to move around, and I usually do it with a bunch of my tanks. Carefull of those bags though, they are expensive to replace, at least in the unit I have.

The only cure for brown algae is an algae eater, or lots of scrubbing

I bought a diatom filter a few months ago. It works great. It was $79 at Foster&Smith. I would ignore the directions and use 3 times the amount of diatom powder than directed. Go to a swimming pool supply store and get the extra powder there, it is much cheaper.

If you have green water, run the filter for 45 minutes, then change the powder. I turned my murky green tank to crystal clear in 3 hours doing it this way.

Dave

Hey Paul that DIY idea sounds great. Maybe even a dummy like me could do it. I'll let you know when I give it a try.

mummy your not a dummy!

Garion, you're the cutest thing.......

I have an OLD diatom made by Aquarium Products it's a System 1. I don't have to fill the jar with water before I turn it on, and I always use about two times the diatomaceous earth in it since goldies are dirty kids. It makes the tank VERY pretty, and I got it for 70 bucks. It's very easy to move to another tank, although I haven't yet.

JUST A LITTLE WARNING MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO DIATOM POWDER ON ANY AREA WHERE YOU SCREW THE TOP ON OTHER WISE YOU CAN HAVE A LEAK . I KNOW BECAUSE I MADE SUCH A MESS. :goldfish