ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Vapor, Liquid or Cooling Management. Flutes, plates, etc.

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by shadylane »

I'm going to give these a try for column packing

User avatar
zed255
Distiller
Posts: 1021
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2017 7:06 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by zed255 »

I have enough of a product called Siporax to fill my column, it is a sintered glass material made for aquarium biological filters. It is shaped like rasching rings but the material itself is open pore, so liquid / vapour can also move through it and not solely around it. I just need to do a new sugar wash to see how it performs against my copper mesh and marbles. Was pricey though, but we will see if it is a bust or not.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000A2 ... UTF8&psc=1

Oh, I can't see your linked product Shady.
----------
Zed

When the Student is ready, the Master will appear.
If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by shadylane »

zed255 wrote: Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:43 am I can't see your linked product Shady.
ceramic bio rings.jpg
cob
Master of Distillation
Posts: 2691
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 4:38 pm
Location: little puffs of dust where my feet used to be

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by cob »

the photomicrography in the siporax link reminded of the sintered glass grill bricks

I posted back in 2012 the link is now dead but grill brick is readily available.

Is there any estimate for the volume of eg. #5 box?

looking forward to your opinion. Shadylane

edit; web search did not find sintered glass grill brick, only pimice.
be water my friend
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by shadylane »

Here's the SS packing I removed, the new ceramic rings and the best dephlegmator I've built so far :wink:

DSCF0137.JPG
DSCF0136.JPG
DSCF0135.JPG
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by shadylane »

cob wrote: Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:10 pm Is there any estimate for the volume of eg. #5 box?
Some were around 215 cubic inches or 3.5L
User avatar
acfixer69
Global moderator
Posts: 4826
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:34 pm
Location: CT USA

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by acfixer69 »

Got a link to them shady. I am looking for a packing in my 4" I now run lava rock. I'm happy but always looking to improve.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by shadylane »

Try searching amazon for
Aquacity Premier Bulk Bio Ceramic Rings Filter Media for Aquarium Koi Fish Pond Reef Filter.
I don't know how good their going to be, but they are about 3 times cheaper than Riesling rings
User avatar
acfixer69
Global moderator
Posts: 4826
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:34 pm
Location: CT USA

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by acfixer69 »

Got it Thanks . Going to look them over. Be watching your results.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by shadylane »

There was some white dust on the rings that was rinsed off.
Not much but some. There was maybe a big spoon full in the bottom of each 5 pound plastic bag
To do the required sacrificial run. the boiler was charged with around 6% clear water/ethanol
The CM rig was left in 100% reflux for a couple hours.
When the boiler was drained it had a slight white tint to it.

I'll know more about how these porous ceramic rings work after I've done a couple runs.
cob
Master of Distillation
Posts: 2691
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 4:38 pm
Location: little puffs of dust where my feet used to be

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by cob »

shadylane wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 5:16 pm
cob wrote: Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:10 pm Is there any estimate for the volume of eg. #5 box?
Some were around 215 cubic inches or 3.5L
thanks shadylane, that won't break the bank loading a column.

regarding my edit; I have a palm print on my forehead because

pumice is a form of sintered glass, similar to scoria but much

more porous, and considerably lighter.
be water my friend
User avatar
netmastr32
Novice
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2020 8:51 am

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by netmastr32 »

Here this looks like similar item a lot cheaper

https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-PreFilter ... 22&sr=8-16
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by shadylane »

If my math is right
The round rings I used cost $3.60 a pound and the polygon shaped rings are $4.50
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by shadylane »

acfixer69 wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 5:41 pm I am looking for a packing in my 4" I now run lava rock. I'm happy but always looking to improve.
This would be a good option from what I've seen so far :thumbup:
Lava rock is good but this is better.
One things for certain, the rings out perform SS scrubbers or marbles by a bunch.
User avatar
acfixer69
Global moderator
Posts: 4826
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:34 pm
Location: CT USA

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by acfixer69 »

shadylane wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 3:37 pm
acfixer69 wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 5:41 pm I am looking for a packing in my 4" I now run lava rock. I'm happy but always looking to improve.
This would be a good option from what I've seen so far :thumbup:
Lava rock is good but this is better.
One things for certain, the rings out perform SS scrubbers or marbles by a bunch.
Will be looking into these are all one size fits all. :lol: I'll look I got a 48" 316 SS tube to fill.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by shadylane »

acfixer69 wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 4:38 pm Will be looking into these are all one size fits all. :lol: I'll look I got a 48" 316 SS tube to fill.
20 pounds of the 1/2" rings filled my 4" column 71"ish deep

I also saw some that were 5/8 dia X 11/16 inches long
But I ordered the smaller 1/2" x 1/2" because I thought they would probably work better.
User avatar
acfixer69
Global moderator
Posts: 4826
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:34 pm
Location: CT USA

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by acfixer69 »

I think you are right with the 1/2 by1/2 that is bout the size of most of my lava rock.
StillerBoy
Master of Distillation
Posts: 3387
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2016 6:27 pm
Location: Ontario

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by StillerBoy »

acfixer69 wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 5:31 pm I think you are right with the 1/2 by1/2 that is bout the size of most of my lava rock.
With lava rocks size wise, which I have been experimenting on and off for the past few years, indicate that size is very important, especially going down in size..

I don't have a 4" column, but on the 3" am down to about 5/16 - 3/8" in size from about 1/2", and each time I reduced the size, I got an improvement in take off rate..

On the 2", I'm at about 3/16 - 1/4" in size and matching the take off I was getting before downsizing on the 3".. so I'm in the process of making a batch of very small ones in size, maybe average about less than 3/16" in size..

So from my experience with size with lava rocks, I would have to support the smaller size rings..

Mars
" I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiosity, Obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my knowledge and understanding "

– Albert Einstein
User avatar
acfixer69
Global moderator
Posts: 4826
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:34 pm
Location: CT USA

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by acfixer69 »

Size matters for sure and 3" seam to be the funky point as a 2" is a popular column diameter choice, low cost so there is lots of input. With the 4" diameter it is pricey so most build plates, but only a tad more then 3" so there is less quantitative knowledge on 3" packed.
User avatar
bronctoad
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 165
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2016 5:16 pm
Location: middle of vacationland

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by bronctoad »

Shady have you done anymore runs with the ceramic rings?
how do they clean up after a spirit run?

Bronctoad
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by shadylane »

I'm not sure whether your asking about the rings or the spirit being cleaned up :lol:
After a couple runs, the ceramic rings look identical to new.
They do a good job. I'd recommend using them over anything else I've tried.
A friend normally uses 1/4 Inch Porcelain Berl saddles in a 2" column
He tried the ceramic rings and said they were as good, if not better and cost a lot less.
User avatar
bronctoad
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 165
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2016 5:16 pm
Location: middle of vacationland

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by bronctoad »

Thanks Shady
just needed a little more,( yup that's it! :shock: ) before I pulled the trigger :wave:

bronctoad
Avo
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 283
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2018 8:25 am

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by Avo »

zed255 wrote: Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:43 am I have enough of a product called Siporax to fill my column, it is a sintered glass material made for aquarium biological filters. It is shaped like rasching rings but the material itself is open pore, so liquid / vapour can also move through it and not solely around it. I just need to do a new sugar wash to see how it performs against my copper mesh and marbles. Was pricey though, but we will see if it is a bust or not.



Ths Siporax is an interesting product - I just found out that it's available on Ebay. Would the Siporax stand up to the generated heat; with expansion would the porous glass fracture :think: I guess you'll find out. Could be used with other column packing.
Kansas
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 19
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:20 am

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by Kansas »

I ended up giving this a shot after reading this thread and it's been working great so far. Bought 6 pounds of the Aquapapa (lol) brand from Amazon and it perfectly fills my 3" x 36" CCVM column. Replaced marbles and works better. Can easily get azeo vs ~90% with marbles.

Thanks for the suggestion.
User avatar
Yummyrum
Global moderator
Posts: 7652
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:23 am
Location: Fraser Coast QLD Aussie

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by Yummyrum »

Thanks for the report Kansas .
Sounds like a winner
Mozzie
Novice
Posts: 13
Joined: Fri May 15, 2020 6:54 am
Location: Scotty Doesn't know

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by Mozzie »

Took the plunge for my first build. 12lbs of 1/2 for a 4" * 41" section..
How / what are you guys using to hold these rings in place? I don't want to loose my marbles or rings. Oh yeah I don't have any marbles.
OtisT
Master of Distillation
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 11:59 am
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by OtisT »

Mozzie, I use a 3” screen section clamped to the bottom of my 3” packed column. My rings are 1/4” and the holes in the screen are about that size, so I added a small piece of heavy copper screen just to make sure any small or partial ring bits don’t fall through or clog holes.
8BEA309E-EFC4-4DE5-A234-6A2B50E70831.jpeg
A39C7D41-EC44-4D6B-A87C-C0846BF505B0.jpeg
9EB121D6-EE03-4AB7-9443-47D12D3432CC.jpeg
Ring size: Shady is using 1/2” rings in his 4” column. I am using these 1/4” rings in my 3”. I have not done any detailed experiments, but I’ve often wondered if my ring size should be a bit larger. I was thinking 3/8, not necessarily 1/2”, for my 3”. Right now, I feel like my power input is a bit limited before I reach flooding. I have a long list of things to do once I get my still up and running again, but trying a larger sized packing material is on that list. Once I get a larger size I will do some power comparisons with the different sizes to see where my power limits are.

Otis
Last edited by OtisT on Mon May 25, 2020 9:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Otis’ Pot and Thumper, Dimroth Condenser: Pot-n-Thumper/Dimroth
Learning to Toast: Toasting Wood
Polishing Spirits with Fruitwood: Fruitwood
Badmotivator’s Barrels: Badmo Barrels
User avatar
pope
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1346
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:56 pm
Location: Tinseltown

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by pope »

Thanks for bumping this guys, I’m taking y’all’s advice and upgrading my lava rocks to these. Mozzie I tack welded as 60% open area perf plate of stainless into the bottom of a 4” pipe, similar to what OtisT has done. It works well.
"A little learning is a dang'rous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again." - Alexander Pope
seabass
Rumrunner
Posts: 626
Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:08 am

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by seabass »

Is the consensus that these work better than copper mesh packing? I've only used copper mesh and when I look at the hetp calcs on the main page, it looks like ss scrubbies outperform the ceramic rings by a considerable amount. I'm guessing copper mesh is somewhere between the ceramic rings and ss scrubbies in those calculators.

Are the calculators way off? When I plug in my info it tells me I should get around 10 theoretical plates with scrubbies and 5 with 6mm rings. That's a hell of a difference.
User avatar
zed255
Distiller
Posts: 1021
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2017 7:06 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: ceramic rings meant for using in an aquarium

Post by zed255 »

I think some of the calculator data might be suspect. My last reflux run using marbles outperformed my copper mesh, which in theory shouldn't happen.
----------
Zed

When the Student is ready, the Master will appear.
If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
Post Reply