I'm new and need tips!

[Apollo]

topz, my pump runs constant.

So, an SLO works like a non-firing bell siphon...you have your stand pipe, cut to the height you want the water level at. Same as if it was a continuous flow raft system, then you add a non-pressuring bell or a pipe with notches on the bottom, over top of the stand pipe.

I guess I've been using an SLO on my new duckweed setup...works great, it only pulls water from the bottom of the tank as the duckweed floats on top.

[Oliver]

SLO stands for Solid Lift Overflow. It is the pipe that runs from the bottom of your fish tank to near the top of the water then exits the fish tank through a bulkhead or Uniseal. From there it needs to have a tee, either inside or outside your fish tank, with a vertical anti-siphon stand pipe extending upward several inches above the water level.

All of the water from the top of the SLO goes to the Grow Beds (original CHOP design) or directly to the sump tank (CHOP II design), which is preferred. In the case of the CHOP II design, the pump located in the sump tank returns the water to the fish tank and to the grow beds through reduction valves.

CHOP stands for Constant Height One Pump. It was popularized by Murray Hallam of Australia. He advanced the design and created the CHOP II.

CHOP (original) is also known as CHIFT/PIST = Constant Height In Fish Tank - Pump In Sump Tank.

In my opinion, the CHOP II design is superior because it can have a greater flow of water from the fish tank thereby aiding in the solid lift part of the operation. It also macerates the solid fish waste by passing all of it through the pump prior to sending it to the grow beds. This is necessary to create a greater surface area of the fish waste solids in order for the heterotrophic bacteria in the water to more quickly mineralize them.

If the solid waste is not macerated then it remains in its sheath and breaks down more slowly, which allows it to accumulate in the grow bed. It is important to mineralize the solids instead of removing them as they add valuable nutrients to the system allowing for more and better plant growth.

The argument against CHOP II is that it sends some macerated fish waste back into the fish tank. This is true, but the amount of fish waste being sent back as compared to the mount of water that is flowing through the system is small and not noticeable. Eventually all of the solid fish waste is sent to the media filled grow beds where it remains and is broken down. This all assumes that you have enough media to handle the amount of fish waste being produced and enough dissolved oxygen (DO) to help perform the process. It helps to add heterotrophic bacteria to your system on a weekly basis to keep the process functioning at a high level and keep your water clear. Heterotrophic bacteria is sold as Stress Zyme, an API product.

Oliver

[Apollo]

What happened to Bameroncrinkley...the Author of this post? How did I get listed as the Author?

[topz]

He was accidentally removed when the site was under siege from spam bots. JCO said he would reinstate him when he sends him a mail.