Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => DIY => Topic started by: JeffroM on February 02, 2012, 01:22:06 PM
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In the next few weeks (months or possibly years) I plan on building a couple Trickle filters to be placed in a sump. The design I've come up with will be based largely on this - http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-filter/111.asp.
I'm changing a few things though. I'm only using 1 bucket. I'll still cut the bottom 2" off the bucket. However I plan on attaching egg crate to the now open bottom of the bucket. I'll still use the cut off bucket bottom as a drip plate with filter floss and will be located within the bucket at the top. I will then place the unit on a 4" stand made of PVC with in the sump. Within the PVC stand I'll place sponge filters.
I'll take photos and post a detailed tread when I finally get around to building it.
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Im very interested to see how it turns out. I have been wanting to try and build something similar myself. Problem is, I have only ever used hang on the backs and canisters. I really have no working knowledge of them and the little bit i know is actually from watching clips online.
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The wet dry configuration is pretty neat too. http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-filter/48.asp (http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-filter/48.asp)
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Hey Jeff i just started working on a wet/dry using a square tidy cat litter bucket. This bucket fits perfect in a 20 gallon tall.
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I’ve started working on my filters. Here are step by step instructions on how I’m building them:
1) Get a standard 5 gallon bucket. Remove the handle from the bucket. Cut the bottom 2 inches off the bucket. I used a table saw. Initially cutting into the bucket and then rotating the bucket until it was completely cut.
(http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u373/JMatson248/Bucket%20Wet%20Dry%20Filter/SDC10341.jpg)
2) Cut a piece of eggcrate to cover the opening of the bottom of the bucket. I used wire cutters.
3) Drill 6 to 8 holes into the side of the bucket approximately 1” from the bottom of the bucket.
4) Use zip ties to secure the eggcrate to the bucket. Cut the extra lengths off the zip ties.
(http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u373/JMatson248/Bucket%20Wet%20Dry%20Filter/SDC10344.jpg)
(http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u373/JMatson248/Bucket%20Wet%20Dry%20Filter/SDC10343.jpg)
5) Take 2” cutoff piece from the bucket and drill 1.2 million holes into it to use as a drip plate.
(http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u373/JMatson248/Bucket%20Wet%20Dry%20Filter/SDC10346.jpg)
(http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u373/JMatson248/Bucket%20Wet%20Dry%20Filter/SDC10345.jpg)
6) Fill bucket with bio balls, leaving enough space for the drip plate to placed on top of the bio balls.
(http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u373/JMatson248/Bucket%20Wet%20Dry%20Filter/SDC10348.jpg)
7) Place drip plate on top of bio balls.
(http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u373/JMatson248/Bucket%20Wet%20Dry%20Filter/SDC10349.jpg)
8) Fill drip plate with filter floss material.
(http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u373/JMatson248/Bucket%20Wet%20Dry%20Filter/SDC10350.jpg)
Steps I still haven’t done:
a) Install bulkhead or other plumbing through bucket top.
b) Install plumbing from tank to filter
c) Place trickle filter on sponge within a sump tank
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Im liking it. Looking forward to seeing the complete setup.
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Looking good so far. Are you concerned with the remaining height of the drip plate edge after the filter floss blanket was placed in there?
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Looking good so far. Are you concerned with the remaining height of the drip plate edge after the filter floss blanket was placed in there?
When the bucket lid is placed on it is actually inset slightly. Plus the picture makes it look like there is more space than there actually is.
Whenever I get some more time I'll finish this project up... LOL.
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Whenever I get some more time I'll finish this project up... LOL.
I'm calling you out - it's been almost 2 months! Did you finish it yet? ;D
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Whenever I get some more time I'll finish this project up... LOL.
I'm calling you out - it's been almost 2 months! Did you finish it yet? ;D
I haven't spent a single minute on this! This issue being I don't want to set up this tank until after I move, which at this rate may be in 2020.
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Whenever I get some more time I'll finish this project up... LOL.
I'm calling you out - it's been almost 2 months! Did you finish it yet? ;D
I haven't spent a single minute on this! This issue being I don't want to set up this tank until after I move, which at this rate may be in 2020.
Well give it to me. Ill set it up 8) Ive been really wanting to see this thing in action.
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I haven't forgotten about this thread. I just still haven't worked on it any more. I will update when I do...
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I haven't forgotten about this thread. I just still haven't worked on it any more. I will update when I do...
I wish you would! :P Ive been kind of waiting to see how it works out to make my own.
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I haven't forgotten about this thread. I just still haven't worked on it any more. I will update when I do...
Any updates?! :P
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Any updates?! :P
Nope. Maybe in a few months.
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I know you haven't done anything else to this but i'm curious, what size tank are you doing this for? What are you thinking of using for an overflow? I'm doing a somewhat similar project but i'm stuck at what to do for the overflow. As i'm concerned about making it move enough water to be practical on my 180g. Also it seems everything i've read say that while they are good for bio filtering they are lacking on mechanical. Just can't seem to wrap my head around this as with the addition of floss i would think the mechanical aspect would be pretty well handled.
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Also it seems everything i've read say that while they are good for bio filtering they are lacking on mechanical. Just can't seem to wrap my head around this as with the addition of floss i would think the mechanical aspect would be pretty well handled.
FWIW, the mechanical limit is due to flow rate rather than the amount or type of media held. ;)
That's not to say that you can't setup a system with a 10x flowrate, but typically HOB flow rates > canister flow rates > sump/wetDry flow rates.
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I know you haven't done anything else to this but i'm curious, what size tank are you doing this for? What are you thinking of using for an overflow? I'm doing a somewhat similar project but i'm stuck at what to do for the overflow. As i'm concerned about making it move enough water to be practical on my 180g. Also it seems everything i've read say that while they are good for bio filtering they are lacking on mechanical. Just can't seem to wrap my head around this as with the addition of floss i would think the mechanical aspect would be pretty well handled.
I was planning on using it on a 120 but 2 bucket filters would be more than enough for a 180 as well - IMO. Overflows are built in my tank already, but if you don't have any buy some rather than trying to build them.
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Thanks Ron, i was looking at the Mechanical aspect from a completely different meaning. Now it makes sense. And thanks JeffroM, I was already thinking i was going to have to go that route and buy the overflows. I've looked at the DYI ones and nothing really impressed me as far as asthetic looks.
Also, this brings me to the next question, and again, i'm not trying to hijack a thread but if you were going to do this i figured you had addressed this already. How do you choose the overflow based on gph?
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I would want a flow rate of MINIMUM 5 times the size of the tank. So if you have a 180 tank you need an overflow(s) designed for a MINIMUM of 900 gph. But I would get it the overflows rated to up to 1800 gph and then get a pump rated for 1500 gph at a head height of the height between sump and where it comes into the tank.
Hope this helps.
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It does make sense. But are you suggesting (being that i think it would be best to go with Dual over flows, one at each end of the tank) that they be 1800gph each? or two 900 gph overflows to total the 1800gph that we are seeking?
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i believe a 1" overflow is rated at about 600 gph. i have a 1" overflow on one 180g with a quiet one pump, rated at approx. 700 gph, and along with a big aqua clear hob it kept my water great in a heavily stocked tank (petro's and tropheus). my other 180g i'm running two 1" overflows into one sump, with a magpump rated at around 1200 gph. using lots of pot scrubbers as media in both tanks, and i can't imagine that higher flow would add anything other than more current. wet/dry filters are very efficient.
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FWIW, you should always have overflows rated comfortably higher than the pump can possibly deliver. No sense in trying to nearly match them and then have a dead floater/up-rooted plant/etc partially block the overflow and let the pump fill the tank up and then some until it finds the floor!
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Going to use this for the 500 gallon?
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Going to use this for the 500 gallon?
This was originally planned for his 120gal