I’ve been using RDFs (rotary drum filters) on pond and aquaculture systems for quite some time now. They’re generally quite large, needing a lot of space. And many of them have metal parts that come in contact with the water.
A German company has changed all the rules to RDFs with their TinyDrum line. My friends at Integrated Aqua Systems in California gave me a demo of one and I was blown away. As the name suggests, it’s tiny! Better yet, there are no metal parts to worry about.
A digital controller included with each model. It allows control for backwashing, drum rotation speed, and backwash pump flushing duration so you can fine tune the filter exactly to your system’s needs.
Drum filters use a screen to filter the water. As the screen gets clogged, the change in water level will trigger the unit to flush the screen with a jet of water. This waste water goes down the drain and the filter continues to run. Truly a hands free filter system. As you can imagine, this could result in a TON of salt creep in reef systems. The salinity is also subject to fluctuations depending on the frequency of flushes. Nonetheless, I can’t wait to see these in use on some high tech reefs.
The TinyDrum lineup consists of 3 models ranging from 26 GPM to 132 GPM.
?M4
Filter Dimensions: 35” L x 12” W x 18” H
Max Flow Rate: 26 gpm
Rated for systems up to 1600 gallons.
??L5
Filter Dimensions: 40” L x 18” W x 24” H
Max Flow Rate: 57 gpm
Rate for systems up to 3400 gallons.
??XL5
Filter Dimensions: 40” L x 22” W x 28” H
Max Flow Rate: 132 gpm
Check out their brochure for more information.
