Construct the radial filter
A clarifier or radial filter is a dedicated vessel
that uses the properties of water to separate
particles. Generally, water that is moving
slower is unable to carry as many particles
as water that is flowing faster. Therefore,
the clarifier is constructed in such a way to
speed up and slow down the water so that the
particles concentrate on the bottom can be
removed. In a radial filter, the water from the
fish tank enters near the lower middle of the
clarifier through a pipe. This pipe is positioned
tangentially to the container thereby forcing
the water to swirl in a circular motion inside
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the container. The centripetal force created
by the circular motion of the water forces the
solid waste in the water to the centre and
bottom of the container, because the water in
the centre of the vortex is slower than that on
the outside. Once this waste is collected on the
bottom, a pipe attached to the bottom of the
container can be periodically opened, allowing
the solid waste to flush out of the container.
The clarified water exits the filter at the top,
filtering through a secondary mesh filter,
and flows from the outer container into
the biofilter. The solid wastes trapped and
removed contain nutrients and are very useful
for the system or for garden plants in general.
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