How to Filter Massive Amounts of Salt Water

Filtering debris and chemical waste from saltwater on large scales can be a challenge due to the very large filter mechanisms needed. The process, however, is very similar to filtering water for a home aquarium, just larger in scale. The key to proper filtration is to have mechanical, chemical and biological filtration working at once. Biological filtration is a natural process. Some filters used encourage biological filtration, but cannot replicate it.

Things You'll Need

  • Protein skimmer
  • Filter media mesh
  • Granular activated carbon
  • Microbead filter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Install a protein skimmer, or a foam fractionator. These devices violently mix air with water, which creates a think foam on top of the filter chamber. The foam collects dissolved organic compounds and pulls them from the water and into a collection cup. Skimmers have a wide range of sizes; some handle 10 gallon aquariums, while other massive skimmers can process as much as 2,000 gallons of water per minute. For large-scale operations, a large commercial skimmer, or skimmers, should be used.

    • 2

      Install a filter mesh after the protein skimmer. This will help catch any large particles that did not make it through the skimmer. The mesh can be nylon screens, woven fabric or large collections of "filter floss."

    • 3

      Install granular activated carbon after the mesh filter. Granular activated carbon (GAC) removes many chemical contaminates from salt water. You will need about 900 cubic inches of GAC to treat every 1,000 gallons of salt water. The GAC will need to be changed about every other month.

    • 4

      Install a phosphate reaction chamber filled with phosphate sponge granules. Phosphates are a contributor to algae blooms in the aquarium and should be reduced or removed from the water. Depending on the exact product, you will need about 5 lbs. of granules for every 1,000 gallons of water. The reactor is simply a chamber where the water is pumped up through the bottom, through the granules, then out the top and back in to the filtration system.

    • 5

      Instal a microbead filter so that all of the filtered water passes through it. Microbead filters work by spraying the water on top of a bed of small beads. The mixture of the air and water helps biological filtration by providing a place for beneficial bacteria to grow. This type of filter will help remove toxic ammonia from the saltwater. The size of the microbead filter depends on how heavily you feed the fish, but if you feed 500 lbs. of food, the recommended filter size is 265 cubic feet of beads.