Cheap filter made from some tubing and boxes

[Raven_]

Hello.
Im thinking of making a cheap filtrationsystem for a 540Liter aquarium.

Have a couple of plastic boxes im thinking on putting ontop of the aquarium.
One on the left side and one on the right side with a 40-75mm tube in between.
Water will be pumped up on the left side and down the first box, flow through the tube into the second box and down in the aqaurium by gravity.

The light canopy is made of 65x17mm wood so its stable, could take the weight of one box without any problem.
The waterflow will be atleast 800L/h possibly 1600L/H

Any thoughts on this ?

Done some experiments with one box and having some trouble to get a silent reentry for the water flowing down, would a 40mm tube with a 45 degree angel solve the problem ?

Regards

 

[Dr Joe]

These systems work great. Just make sure the water has to flow thru the media not just over it.

Put the return hose/pipe under water (or very close) to silence it. Nylon netting attached to the end can guide the water and lessen the noise too.

What are you using for media?

I've used scrubbies, lava rock, gravel and some stranger things in them.

What size are the filter boxes?

I've used these on 10g up to 500g+ with good results.

Dr Joe

.

 

[cassharper]

I've used these as cheap filters for QT tanks and such in a pinch... they work great. Just listen to Dr. Joe's advice about flow or you could be wasting a lot of potential.

 

[Raven_]

What are you using for media?

Blue filterpad or what its called, roughly 12Liters cut into small cubes.
http://www.backtonature.se/images/300/1845.jpg

Used it in an external filter(broken) with good results.

What size are the filter boxes?

Around 15liters each but i might change them to bigger ones if i can find the right one's.

...flow or you could be wasting a lot of potential.

Have some ideas for that but will be an open easy access kind, atleast for the first box where most dirt will end up.

Thinking of making a smal pre-filter in the first box i can take out, clean and put back in just a matter of minuts.