Post Your Bucket Filters!
- Thread starter Dan F
- Start date
Here is the 8th iteration of the 5 gallon bucket filter design. Many tests to figure out what worked to prevent leakage. I ran a ~700GPH pump with this canister type filter for 6 months with no leakage. Just used a router and some toggle bolts to fabricate. Kind of a pain to change/clean the filter though.
Here is the filtration of my 500. Water flows in through 7" filter socks, up through the bottom of the buckets, and overflows out the top of the buckets into the 100 gallon stock tank. The buckets are filled with Carib-Sea Cichlid shell substrate. It helps buffer my PH from 5.5 to 7.2. In the sump I have another 5 gallons of porous bio media in mesh bags.
PVC is 6" down to 3" and 2" into the bucket. There are 2" shower drains in the bottom of the buckets. In the bottom of the bucket on top of the drains are a disc of egg crate and needle point fabric on top of that to keep the gravel from falling through. The void left under the egg crate around the drain is filled with Bio balls. I drilled a bunch of holes in and around the shower drain to try and distribute the flow. I'm running approximately 1800 GPH through this.
PVC is 6" down to 3" and 2" into the bucket. There are 2" shower drains in the bottom of the buckets. In the bottom of the bucket on top of the drains are a disc of egg crate and needle point fabric on top of that to keep the gravel from falling through. The void left under the egg crate around the drain is filled with Bio balls. I drilled a bunch of holes in and around the shower drain to try and distribute the flow. I'm running approximately 1800 GPH through this.
Monster bucket!
Sweet - where there's a will, there's a way!
I love it. Super clean and well-thought-out. PVC gets expensive at 6", though, doesn't it?
http://flic.kr/p/bzqF6C
filter system on my main tank,2 x 1000 liter totes,one has mechanical and hundreds of pot scrubbers,second tote has bout 400 liters of fluidised k1,these are fed by 2 x 4" dia airlifts pumpin 5-6000 gal each,moulded glassfiber tank connectors for the 2 x 6" returns.totes cost £20 each and a load of sewer pipe for making airlifts and plumbing.cheap but works grand : )
filter system on my main tank,2 x 1000 liter totes,one has mechanical and hundreds of pot scrubbers,second tote has bout 400 liters of fluidised k1,these are fed by 2 x 4" dia airlifts pumpin 5-6000 gal each,moulded glassfiber tank connectors for the 2 x 6" returns.totes cost £20 each and a load of sewer pipe for making airlifts and plumbing.cheap but works grand : )
my bucket filter sits inside my DIY sump, but it basically holds a filter sock with bio underneath it. I made a hole in the lids just the right size, so when the sock gets too dirty and starts holding back too much water, the sock falls and the loud water noise wells me it is time to change it.
