The MRC iSump - This Filter Is Almost Too Good to Be True!

[@Trav84]

Thank you for braving through your cold for us. It all looks amazing.

[@tidalgardens]

Thank you!

[@TrevorHiller]

If you want to replace those stainless steel Unistrut clamps, I found some fiberglass ones through a company called Unistrut Buffalo. They are a little pricey but I spec’ed out all my plumbing support with their stuff and it’s nice quality. I recommend their rigid pipe clamps and not the adjustable ones as they aren’t as heavy duty. They’ve got some nice industrial plumbing support stuff available that is well suited for marine environments.

[@tidalgardens]

I will check it out! Thanks for the tip.

[@Bnn0070]

I love my Isump!

[@JaYoeNation]

Its a really interesting method to use instead of large filter socks.

[@tidalgardens]

I did some napkin math and if these filter rollers work out well for us, they would save thousands per year in labor to clean filter socks.

[@UnderTheTideSOS]

Filter socks are so much work compared to roller mats.

[@bradytrulove4826]

great video Than. Thank you.

[@tidalgardens]

You’re welcome!

[@lorenzobosforo6697]

I agree with you Phan. I don't like ocean nose either. I wish someone could quiet the ocean too.

[@jungleboys3220]

I have had an MRC Sump with Built in UV since 2020 I did notice the acrylic start to chip in the UV chamber after a year or so.

[@tidalgardens]

I wonder if this happens inside every UV sterilizer. I never really thought about it much but most plastics just have some degree of UV resistance not full immunity to its effects. At least in sumps there is the possibility to install a sacrificial acrylic lining that can be periodically swapped out.

[@dannymcelroy]

very nice systems, love it!!!

[@tidalgardens]

It came together really nicely. Shout out to our staff member Dana who did the plumbing and wire management.

[@UnderTheTideSOS]

Super interesting, I really am interested to try and find one of these for my own system.

[@tidalgardens]

I've had good experiences with the equipment I've purchased from MRC.

[@UnderTheTideSOS]

@ can you share how or where to purchase? Website or vendor? Thanks

[@Ellery-USA]

I like the giant aiptasia tank 🙃😅 That tank is so full of anemones.

[@tidalgardens]

all those are nexus burst bubble tips

[@siggyincr7447]

When you mentioned that the roller filter only advanced enough to keep the water level down my first thought was that would lead to a stinky filter as there would be a continuous film of gunk all around the spent filter roll, great for efficiency but I would have expected that would keep the decomposition process going. The fact that the roller filter doesn't smell even when you are up close is really surprising and makes me wonder how that is even possible. I'm not doubting, just really curious how they managed that. Seems to me that the outgoing filter sheet would need to dry out in order for decomposition to stop, not sure how you would manage that. Do they use some sort of non-wicking material? do they have fans blowing air past the outgoing roll? It makes the engineering side of my brain confused. Just out of curiosity, is the spent filter roll dry?

[@tidalgardens]

The outgoing filter sheet is dry by the time it is getting rolled up. If I had to guess the roller is only advancing a couple times a day at most for 3 seconds at a time.

[@beepboop204]

simping for sumps 😛

[@tidalgardens]

gotta love professional gear

[@treasurecoastreefer]

You should put a controller on the Pump and UV, so that if your main flow pumps stops, it turns off the UV Power supply. UV's can heat the water inside them to the point it melts PVC and Plexiglass. Having a controller controlling them both makes servicing your pumps easier, because it will shut off the UV before any damage happens.

[@tidalgardens]

It's a good idea but a little trickier to do professionally. My friend that burned his place down with a UV actually had it on a control system but it was hobby-grade control which did not work properly and did not shut off.

[@espeterson522]

I would imagine the filter rolls would increase odor exponentially. Given that you now have a large surface area of damp bacteria/food/waste/etc. Maybe everyone who uses them is just so used to the general odor of aquariums that you don't notice it. Would be interested to do a comparison based on the senses of someone who doesn't keep tanks.

[@tidalgardens]

No, there is no odor in that building. Tons of air exchange and we are dumping ozone into the skimmers. If something were to start smelling it would be obvious.

[@harkinsaquatics]

What micron is the filter roller I was running a 50 micron my skimmer basically stopped working so i switched to a 200 and it has actually made the whole tank function better. thanks again for another great video.

[@tidalgardens]

MRC offers a 30 micron and a 50 micron. I opted for 50 micron but they said that the 30 micron was by far the more popular of the two and the one that ships stock with the filter roller.

[@harkinsaquatics]

@@tidalgardens cant wait to here more about your experience. My had a similar dino issue and I did something very similar. Filter roller and UV to great results. Hope it really helps you out.

[@tidalgardens]

@@harkinsaquatics UV and ozone did wonders for the dino bloom in the greenhouse. It solved the issue in about a week.

[@ion599]

I would love to see the before and after microscope slide of those dinoflagellates. Not necessarily a scientific sampling, but it would be cool to see them disappear from the water column.

[@tidalgardens]

I don't have a microscope, but it is on my long term shopping list

[@alexanderwilms327]

​@@tidalgardensHi from Germany, unfortunately I missed having a chat with you at MACE. Every cheap student grade microscope is already enough for dinos. I tried it myself.

[@mx5_enigma308]

It looks like the water goes through the roller then through some filter socks in the lower sump. Any reason for that?

[@tidalgardens]

The filter socks were the original design that was running the past 2 years. I am hoping that the filter roller will cut down on the frequency of cleaning the socks out. Theoretically we could run more water up through the filter roller and take the socks out entirely, but it would make more noise which is not what I am looking to do.

[@mx5_enigma308]

@tidalgardens ahh, seems redundant but makes sense! Thanks for the reply!! Love these videos!