Best DE Filter for 400 gal

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PhantomHalo

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Okay, well I got one made. It’s not the prettiest, but I think she’ll do. I wanted an all in one unit that I can take away and bring back when needed. So I bought this pump that flows 2800 gph. Paired it with a 1 micron 4.5”x20” whole home filter and plumbing to make it all work. I have 4 ball valves so I can “load” the filter and change it. Two go to the tank for a feed and return and two go to a bucket or whatever else I need to load up the filter with DE. Got the basic DE that is pool grade. Put about 3/4 cups in there and so we will see what happens. Plan on running it two weeks and then change out the DE and run for another two weeks. That combined with a 72watt UV filter, I’m hoping I can put a serious dent in the ich population in my tank. It’s not horrible yet. So I’m hoping I have a chance. Other two fish are out and being treated with cupramine starting tomorrow. (Had them on paraguard, but it wasn’t working.) Below are the pics. The steel clamps are going to be changed out with plastic ones when they come in. Just wanted to get it going. Also, made sure there wasn’t any metal in the file yet assembly. Have it mounted onto the wall that can be easily removed. Thanks all for the help!!

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Too late now I guess, but there were a couple of really good DE threads here a while back. Chap there was using the Hayward pool unit.
 
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Any issues priming the pump

Yes! It was a huge PITA. I ended up using another pump I had, put it in the bucket, and primed the filter and pump with it. The configuration of the pump on top of the filter, pointing up, made it challenging to get primed. I may re configure it in the future. Just wanted to get it going and working since I saw the cysts drop off my fish yesterday. Want to catch them while they’re free swimming.
 
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Don't forget, do outside, wear respirator, mix DE powder with aquarium water, before bring inside home . Powder very dangerous
Yeah, I went outside and poured it into a cup with water and then brought in inside and poured that into the bucket. Thank you! I will check out the article above. I plan on repopulating pods and phytoplankton in the tank after I’m done running everything. In the meantime, I’ll be target feeding corals.
 
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Too late now I guess, but there were a couple of really good DE threads here a while back. Chap there was using the Hayward pool unit.
Yeah, I saw those, but still really bulky and wouldn’t fit where I needed them to. (Although this one doesn’t either now. lol) I was hoping to make it slim enough to fit behind my tank, but that’s not happening.
 

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Several threads out there but in general it is a super fine mechanical filter that loads Diaetamceous Earth onto a plated cartridge. This makes the filtering capacity down about 1 micron which can filter out nearly any solid including parasites.
what is a DE filter? I am sure a lot of us who read the thread has no clue.
 
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I also bought one of the Marineland polishing filters that I will prime with DE also for my qt tank. That should be here Tuesday. I’m going to use that in conjunction with cupramine and hopefully get these fish healthy.
 

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I also bought one of the Marineland polishing filters that I will prime with DE also for my qt tank. That should be here Tuesday. I’m going to use that in conjunction with cupramine and hopefully get these fish healthy.
I also bought one of the Marineland Magnum polishing filters. I haven’t used it yet but my intended use is as a water polisher. At this time I have no parasite to keep in check and QT everything.
 
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what is a DE filter? I am sure a lot of us who read the thread has no clue.
Here is some more info if you’re wanting more info as well. I’m doing this to help my DT as it is not really practical to catch all of my fish and qt them for 76 days and hope that everything has died. In reality it would be best to do the 76 day qt and then use this filter to help wipe out the population that is in the tank if they became free swimming and not stuck in a dormant phase for months at a time.

 
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I also bought one of the Marineland Magnum polishing filters. I haven’t used it yet but my intended use is as a water polisher. At this time I have no parasite to keep in check and QT everything.
It seems to do a great job at that from what I’ve read! My mechanical filter on my qt tank is pitiful and doesn’t pull much out due to not being able to use their carbon filters mixed with the meds. Hopefully this will be a two for one for me! Haha
 
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DE is diatomaceous earth

It is a way to pull things out of the water down to .2 of a micron.
For Deezill- I think I read ich is around 4-6 microns. So it shouldn’t be able to pass through this filter. However, it also pulls out everything else that is beneficial in the water column as well. Pods and beneficial bacteria normally stay on the rocks. So it won’t necessarily wipe out your pod population. My wrasses do that for me! Lol
 
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