200 litre plastic drum for filtration

[livingart]

need to up the filtration on the aro tank, so i thought i could use a 200 litre plastic drum for a filter, sort of wet dry system.
will divide through the middle vertically and fill one side with media
and pump from other side
started the build but wondered if there are any pit falls etc from others who have done this sort of build?

 

[mrunlucky07]

The divider down the middle may be difficult and not necessary.

I have been using 55 gal drum on a turtle tank for the past few years. Its in my lab so I wasn't worried about the looks, it works decently. Its just a spreadplate above about 40 gallons of bioballs and media, pump in the bottom. Pump is 1500gph and covers the 22" diameter evenly. I flush it about once a year.

 

[livingart]

thanks for that,
i have used a smaller version of what you have there
with a bucket drilled with holes, then bio balls and filter wool on top
drum had pumice floating in water

 

[livingart]

trimmed down an old plastic milk tray for a base to the filter
cut down an offcut of shower lining to fit inside as a central divider
lightly sanded the plastic to help the silicon to adhere to sides
pushed the drum out of shape a bit to get a tight fit

filling with pumice pieces in layers for media

pumice layer in

some plastic grid for seperation of media

scoria on top to help flow through finer pumice

then cover with pumice and another layer of grid

 

[livingart]

another layer of pumice and scoria

needed something on top to spread the water across the pomice as the top layer is "dry"
drilld holes in a piece of coreflute

space on right for pump

plumbed to existing filter, hansen fittings

tap at base to drain detritus

bucket for pre filter, holes to aid spread of flow

filled with bioballs