Considering a barrel filter. I was thinking that you would build a round
cartridge so all the straws stay upright and bunched together. It would have
a tension band around the outside and a top and bottom screen inside a
support grid to keep the straws from dropping or floating. The cartridge
would be slightly smaller then the container so a bit of closed cell foam
around the circumference would prevent water from leaking around the filter.


Interesting, that using the smaller 1/8" straws (7.75" long) nets over 500
sq.ft./cu.ft. density! (Although you use 4 times as many, about 65,000 in my
calculations, they are still cheap compared to foam)

May Matt have found "the perfect filter"? (engineered media rather than
random)



Tom

"zookeeper" wrote in message
...
Thomas Ball wrote:
I think it is a great idea!

Light!(Will not hold water)
Easy to inspect! (Shine a light to look for blockage)
Easy to clean! (A little moderate pond water pressure from a hose would
push
any crud through to the bottom)
All crud will fall directly to the bottom! (bottom drain in filter?)

Might have to gasket between the straws and the container to prevent
short
circuit.

Tom, what do you mean by "gasket between the straws and the container?"

One summer we used plastic forks as our filter media. It worked well,
but they turned out to be heavier than I had expected. Will be
interested in any feedback on using straws if anyone tries it.
--
zookeeper