Does anyone have experience building a DIY carbon filter for quick water changes?? I was thinking of using a sea salt bucket with bulkheads.. the one with the O-ring attached to the lid, but I'm wondering if that will hold the pressure from my garden hose. I don't think there's much pressure (not like a pump). Any suggestions?????
Carbon tap water filter
- Thread starter peterp63
- Start date
The problem of holding pressure shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't restrict the output from the bucket. They have really nice seals and I was wondering this same thing. Instead of using a pressurized container, I ended up using an up-flow design that hangs on the edge of the tank. I also use a carbon cartridge in a "whole house filter". I put some garden hose adapters on it to make it portable. The only problem with carbon cartridges is their useful life is only about a quarter of what they are advertised for (evidenced by my water tests). If you carbon for water changes, buy a chlorine test kit for swimming pools. They start at $5 so there is no reason for everyone not to use one in their routine.
Great info chompers. Hey, check out my RF UGF. I got the idea from your tank. I'm using an Eheim 2260 filled with 4x8 mesh GAC to supply to it. I bought a HUGE bag (55 lb) from Sparkling Clear Industries. It's what the LFS uses. I'm also using a wet/dry and another Eheim 2028 Pro II that's connected to a Turbo Twist 6x UV filter. Let me know what you think.
http://picasaweb.google.com/peterp63/AquariumProject02
http://picasaweb.google.com/peterp63/AquariumProject02
I like your slate job; it looks really nice. Using the canisters to keep the piping for the RUGF out of view was a nice touch too.
Thanks Chompers!! The slate was free from a co-worker who was building a pool at the same time I was building my indoor pool 
My only concern is that the RF UGF is possibly hindering the capacity of the Eheim's pump. The pump is rated for 634 gph, but with some possible backpressure from the RF UGF I don't know if it's being inhibited. I'm thinking of buying a flow meter... any suggestions? I drilled plenty of holes that more than doubles the cross sectional area of the 1" line that feeds the RF UGF like you had suggested. But, with the tiny holes that could easliy become plugged along with the layer of crushed coral I'm a bit worried.
Pharaoh, I decided that I had PLENTY of biological filtration with the ProClear 300 wet/dry filter, Eheim 2028 Pro II, and reverse flow under gravel filter; so, I converted the Eheim 2260 into a purely chemical filter (although it has some noodles on the bottom layer and a course pad and a mesh pad for mechanical). The goal of the activated carbon is to remove impurities and contaminants from the water produced by waste products and that can enter through water changes and the addition of more inhabitants. This article is pretty good to explain activated carbons advantages http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=activatedcarbon
I'm hoping that the large quantity of GAC that I'm using will last 4 months or so. I have plenty of extra that should last me. I bought a 55 lb bag from a nearby water purification company.
My only concern is that the RF UGF is possibly hindering the capacity of the Eheim's pump. The pump is rated for 634 gph, but with some possible backpressure from the RF UGF I don't know if it's being inhibited. I'm thinking of buying a flow meter... any suggestions? I drilled plenty of holes that more than doubles the cross sectional area of the 1" line that feeds the RF UGF like you had suggested. But, with the tiny holes that could easliy become plugged along with the layer of crushed coral I'm a bit worried.Pharaoh, I decided that I had PLENTY of biological filtration with the ProClear 300 wet/dry filter, Eheim 2028 Pro II, and reverse flow under gravel filter; so, I converted the Eheim 2260 into a purely chemical filter (although it has some noodles on the bottom layer and a course pad and a mesh pad for mechanical). The goal of the activated carbon is to remove impurities and contaminants from the water produced by waste products and that can enter through water changes and the addition of more inhabitants. This article is pretty good to explain activated carbons advantages http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=activatedcarbon
I'm hoping that the large quantity of GAC that I'm using will last 4 months or so. I have plenty of extra that should last me. I bought a 55 lb bag from a nearby water purification company.