10 replies to this topic

[Ponderthis]

I will start to build my (2) 55 gallon biofilter this weekend and was going to go on the advice of one of the Dr's that is using the irrigation tubing (7,000 x 2 = about 4 hours straight of cutting, can't wait).

My question is, is the tubing that is being used the flexible tubing or is this like a black PVC pipe?

Thanks again for any help any of you can give me.

P.S. I thought about using the scrubbies that everyone keeps talking about, but it seems like it would cost a lot more money to purchase enough of these to fill up 2 55 gallon drums.

[huskerfan]

The biggest problem with scrubbies is that the fine ones will clog up, the 3m pads are a better choice, but cost more. The tubing is a good call lots of surface area. You might want to get on ebay and look for package strapping, its basically the same stuff sold as 'Spring Flo' only a lot cheaper, 7000' should do a barrel and then some with no cutting.
http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item53dfc0bd82

[DrCase]

Any kind of plastic tubing or pipe would work fine
The strapping would be good...
any thing with a lot of surface area for the bacteria to grow on works
You want it to be a light material ...no lava rocks

[koiguy1969]

he did use irrigation tubing....its black and you buy it in rolls..check the sprinkler section at Lowes or HomeDepot.

[undrtkr_00]

I think it is what some places call funny pipe. It's flexible, but not really that funny, IMO:wink:.

[koikeepr]

I agree with husker! No reason to cut anything and springflo or strapping is great. You can buy the strapping on ebay in huge 50' rolls. And, yes, it is simply the strapping that pallets and boxes come corded with.

[DrDave]

I am doing an experiment with 50' of plastic poultry fence rolled up in my 55 gal bio filter. I want to see if it does as good as the irrigation tubing.

[j.w]

Is this the stuff you are going to use? I will be interested to see how well it works.

http://www.homedepot...uctId=100384027

[DrDave]

j.w said:

Is this the stuff you are going to use? I will be interested to see how well it works.

http://www.homedepot...uctId=100384027

Yes it is, I very carefully cut it in half using my radial arm saw. It is only 18" tall now. Then I rolled the 2 halves together and set it inside my 55 gallon drum. It rests on top of a PVC frame I built to support the grid with the fence on top. I still have the sump with 2" ball valve. It has only been running 2 weeks and only this week did I add Koi to these ponds. It will take some time to get established. I have held off posting pictures on my web siite until I see what if any problems arise.

I made some other improvments to the overflow and I will also post these when I do the others.

The "Doc Filter" is evolving. Stay tuned.

[koikeepr]

but isn't that stuff heavy Doc when you've got 50 feet in there?

[DrDave]

No it is actually very light. The whole 50' probably doesn't weigh over 5 lbs.