btmachone
11-04-2008, 12:35 AM
Problem:
I just switched my substrate from gravel to pool filter sand and I did a poor job of rinsing the sand. When I filled my tank, the water was so cloudy, it was hard to see the driftwood and rock through the haze.
I needed a way to filter the particles out of the water and try and prevent them from getting into my filter.
The first thing that came to mind was the filter socks that are generally used at the inlet for a sump.
Parts List
-(1) 4" Diameter PVC (about 14" long)
-(1) 4" Diameter PVC cap
-(1) 3/4" Diameter PVC (approx. 2')
-(1) 3/4" threaded to 3/4" slip fit PVC adapter
-(2) 3/4" PVC 90* Elbow
-(1) 4" Diameter Filter Sock (200 micron)
Assembly
-First I drilled a 7/8" hole into the center of the 4" PVC cap. I should have used a slightly bigger hole so I had to try to widen it with a drill bit.
-Next I took the 3/4" threaded to slip fit PVC adapter and threaded it into the hole in the 4" PVC cap. This took a little bit of force but it seems to work alright.
-Next I cut my 4" PVC to about 14 inches in length to accommodate my filter sock which is about 12 inches in length.
-Next I put the 4" Cap onto one end of the 4" PVC.
-After capping off the PVC I cut a very short piece of 3/4" PVC to go from the adapter at the end of the cap to the first 90* Elbow.
-The short piece of PVC was pushed into the adapter and then the 90* Elbow was pressed onto the end of the 3/4" PVC.
-Another short piece of PVC was cut to join the next 90* Elbow to the first. (Note: This piece must be long enough so that when the last piece of PVC is attached, it does not run into the 4" Tube above)
-The short piece of PVC is then pressed into the 90* elbow at the bottom of the assembly and then the second 90* elbow is attached to that so that it points towards the open end of the 4" pipe.
-The last step is to cut a piece of pipe to go from the 2nd 90* elbow to the FX5 intake hose. This took a little guess work but mine came out to be just under 20 inches. I had to cut little bits off a few times to make it right. (My aquarium is 24" tall for reference)
-once the assembly was built, I installed it into my aquarium. After that I slipped the filter sock into the open end of the 4" pipe and turned on the filter.
The results:
This picture shows the tank after a few hours of the new intake running.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh225/btmachone/Aquarium/DSC_0001.jpg
This picture shows the tank after sitting overnight with the intake running.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh225/btmachone/Aquarium/DSC_0004.jpg
I had to clean the filter sock out every so often as I was a little worried about restricting the flow to the filter. I'm not sure that I would use this intake over a long period of time, but it did do a great job of getting most of the particles out of the water in a relatively short amount of time. I would have also liked to have come up with a way to make the filter sock a bit more secure in the pipe, especially if I were to use it over time. Other than that, I am very happy with the results.
Also, the reason I decided to have this pointing up, was so that it did not suck in the sand from the bottom, I just wanted it to take the loose particles out of the water.
Here is a full tank shot after having the filter running for a little over 24 hours.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh225/btmachone/Aquarium/DSC_0008.jpg
I just switched my substrate from gravel to pool filter sand and I did a poor job of rinsing the sand. When I filled my tank, the water was so cloudy, it was hard to see the driftwood and rock through the haze.
I needed a way to filter the particles out of the water and try and prevent them from getting into my filter.
The first thing that came to mind was the filter socks that are generally used at the inlet for a sump.
Parts List
-(1) 4" Diameter PVC (about 14" long)
-(1) 4" Diameter PVC cap
-(1) 3/4" Diameter PVC (approx. 2')
-(1) 3/4" threaded to 3/4" slip fit PVC adapter
-(2) 3/4" PVC 90* Elbow
-(1) 4" Diameter Filter Sock (200 micron)
Assembly
-First I drilled a 7/8" hole into the center of the 4" PVC cap. I should have used a slightly bigger hole so I had to try to widen it with a drill bit.
-Next I took the 3/4" threaded to slip fit PVC adapter and threaded it into the hole in the 4" PVC cap. This took a little bit of force but it seems to work alright.
-Next I cut my 4" PVC to about 14 inches in length to accommodate my filter sock which is about 12 inches in length.
-Next I put the 4" Cap onto one end of the 4" PVC.
-After capping off the PVC I cut a very short piece of 3/4" PVC to go from the adapter at the end of the cap to the first 90* Elbow.
-The short piece of PVC was pushed into the adapter and then the 90* Elbow was pressed onto the end of the 3/4" PVC.
-Another short piece of PVC was cut to join the next 90* Elbow to the first. (Note: This piece must be long enough so that when the last piece of PVC is attached, it does not run into the 4" Tube above)
-The short piece of PVC is then pressed into the 90* elbow at the bottom of the assembly and then the second 90* elbow is attached to that so that it points towards the open end of the 4" pipe.
-The last step is to cut a piece of pipe to go from the 2nd 90* elbow to the FX5 intake hose. This took a little guess work but mine came out to be just under 20 inches. I had to cut little bits off a few times to make it right. (My aquarium is 24" tall for reference)
-once the assembly was built, I installed it into my aquarium. After that I slipped the filter sock into the open end of the 4" pipe and turned on the filter.
The results:
This picture shows the tank after a few hours of the new intake running.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh225/btmachone/Aquarium/DSC_0001.jpg
This picture shows the tank after sitting overnight with the intake running.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh225/btmachone/Aquarium/DSC_0004.jpg
I had to clean the filter sock out every so often as I was a little worried about restricting the flow to the filter. I'm not sure that I would use this intake over a long period of time, but it did do a great job of getting most of the particles out of the water in a relatively short amount of time. I would have also liked to have come up with a way to make the filter sock a bit more secure in the pipe, especially if I were to use it over time. Other than that, I am very happy with the results.
Also, the reason I decided to have this pointing up, was so that it did not suck in the sand from the bottom, I just wanted it to take the loose particles out of the water.
Here is a full tank shot after having the filter running for a little over 24 hours.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh225/btmachone/Aquarium/DSC_0008.jpg