Post by johnt501 on Jan 13, 2011 10:42:32 GMT -6
Before I started this I read all the threads I could find about DIY canister filters. None of them seemed to work, they all leaked.
But with more time than money and a simple idea here is what I did. The simple idea being that all the issues were caused by too much pressure inside the canister. So I will have the pump on the down stream side of the filter actually causing a vacuum inside of the canister.
I went to Lowes and bought a couple 5 gal buckets and some fittings and tubing. I already had a EHIEM 650g/hr sump/external pump.
#1: I made a loop out of 3/4"ID tubing and drilled holes on the inside of the loop, this is where the tank water enters at the bottom of the canister.
#2: I bought some egg crate material at ACE hardware and cut some out to fit over the tubing loop to allow space for the water coming in.
Over the egg crate I cut and put a piece of pretty open filter batting material. (no pic)
#3: Then I went to Dollar General to get some scrubbies, They also had some cheep strainers so I got a couple of them. I placed the first strainer over the filter material and placed 36 scrubbies in it.
#4: another piece of the egg crate material and another strainer full of 36 more scrubbies.
#5: Over the top of the second strainer full of scrubbies I cut and placed a layer of 10 PPI sponge type filter material, and then 2 layers of egg crate material at 45* angle from each other.
#6: I put a water tight fitting in the top of the lid and another fitting for the 3/4" id tubing.
So, I spent:
$32.00 at Lowes for the bucket and fittings.
$12.00 at Dollar General for strainers and scrubbies.
$30.00 at lowes for more tubing to and from tank.
and to be fair I had the EHIEM pump that would be $100 at least I think.
So I hooked it all up and it was sucking air (reverse leak) in around the lid and would loose it's prime and stop pumping.
I put some silicone in the lid as a gasket and let it dry for 24 hrs.
I hooked it back up and let it run for like 8 hrs and it seamed to operate fine. I think I will add something to screw/clamp the lid tight just in case.
But for the $75.00 (plus the pump) I have 5gal of media flowing at maybe 500g/hr.
Ok 2 things, what do ya think ?
And what do you think of the 500g/hr flow in a 125g tank with mostly different kinds of adult Severums.
I'll get some pics of it as it sits hooked up with pump and tubing and all else.
thanks...
But with more time than money and a simple idea here is what I did. The simple idea being that all the issues were caused by too much pressure inside the canister. So I will have the pump on the down stream side of the filter actually causing a vacuum inside of the canister.
I went to Lowes and bought a couple 5 gal buckets and some fittings and tubing. I already had a EHIEM 650g/hr sump/external pump.
#1: I made a loop out of 3/4"ID tubing and drilled holes on the inside of the loop, this is where the tank water enters at the bottom of the canister.
#2: I bought some egg crate material at ACE hardware and cut some out to fit over the tubing loop to allow space for the water coming in.
Over the egg crate I cut and put a piece of pretty open filter batting material. (no pic)
#3: Then I went to Dollar General to get some scrubbies, They also had some cheep strainers so I got a couple of them. I placed the first strainer over the filter material and placed 36 scrubbies in it.
#4: another piece of the egg crate material and another strainer full of 36 more scrubbies.
#5: Over the top of the second strainer full of scrubbies I cut and placed a layer of 10 PPI sponge type filter material, and then 2 layers of egg crate material at 45* angle from each other.
#6: I put a water tight fitting in the top of the lid and another fitting for the 3/4" id tubing.
So, I spent:
$32.00 at Lowes for the bucket and fittings.
$12.00 at Dollar General for strainers and scrubbies.
$30.00 at lowes for more tubing to and from tank.
and to be fair I had the EHIEM pump that would be $100 at least I think.
So I hooked it all up and it was sucking air (reverse leak) in around the lid and would loose it's prime and stop pumping.
I put some silicone in the lid as a gasket and let it dry for 24 hrs.
I hooked it back up and let it run for like 8 hrs and it seamed to operate fine. I think I will add something to screw/clamp the lid tight just in case.
But for the $75.00 (plus the pump) I have 5gal of media flowing at maybe 500g/hr.
Ok 2 things, what do ya think ?
And what do you think of the 500g/hr flow in a 125g tank with mostly different kinds of adult Severums.
I'll get some pics of it as it sits hooked up with pump and tubing and all else.
thanks...
