I wasn't sure whether to put this in DIY or filtration but Ive made my choice.. mods let me know how to move it if it needs to be in DIY filtration.
Scroll down if you'd rather watch this as a youtube video... its easier to see how it works on camera.
So i use a lot of crappy wal-mart filters for my tanks because they are cheap and useful and I do a lot of moving tanks around, setting up new tanks for fry etc. The main problem with them is that they stop working allllll the time because things get caught in them. This is simple enough a problem to remedy on the ten gallon model, as the bottom just snaps off, you can clean the impeller and put it back together good as new..
The problem I run into is with the 10-30i big model, which is made to not be serviced. When you open the bottom, it snaps the supports inside the case and makes it impossible to use (this is obviosly done on purpose so they can sell more filters... but lets not get into that.)
SO heres what I do with them.
When you crack one open,
the case comes apart into two irreconcilable peices and a pump.
]
servcing the pump is easy enough if you remove the plate covering the impeller.
sometimes these can snap back on sometimes you have to use aquarium sealant.
The water comes in through the impeller then goes out the top from an opening perpindicular to this hole.
So what I do is just wrap a piece of filter floss around the intake of the filter and tie it
(here its done with the cord but its better to use zip ties as tying can sometimes damage the cord. I dont have any zip ties right now so I just tied it like this.)
You end up with a little "sponge " filter like this
Sorry for the crappy pic, the video is better. I like these filters because you can hide them easily in tanks and direct them like a powerhead to create a current. also I use these when I have to drain a lot of tanks for a while while doing massive water changes... to keep some current going while the main filtration is off. This is esp. useful when its hot.
Of course, I realize that having serviced one of these filters, you could simply seal the case back together with aquarium sealant, but they get things caught in them so often i find this way is easier for me.
There you have it... heres a youtube video of me demonstrating the idea for all you visual learners
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TzFIvblQus&context=C30046e7ADOEgsToPDskJjdC6CXeoSOzeY8idgsArh
Thanks everybody! hope that helps
Scroll down if you'd rather watch this as a youtube video... its easier to see how it works on camera.
So i use a lot of crappy wal-mart filters for my tanks because they are cheap and useful and I do a lot of moving tanks around, setting up new tanks for fry etc. The main problem with them is that they stop working allllll the time because things get caught in them. This is simple enough a problem to remedy on the ten gallon model, as the bottom just snaps off, you can clean the impeller and put it back together good as new..
The problem I run into is with the 10-30i big model, which is made to not be serviced. When you open the bottom, it snaps the supports inside the case and makes it impossible to use (this is obviosly done on purpose so they can sell more filters... but lets not get into that.)
SO heres what I do with them.
When you crack one open,
the case comes apart into two irreconcilable peices and a pump.
servcing the pump is easy enough if you remove the plate covering the impeller.
sometimes these can snap back on sometimes you have to use aquarium sealant.
The water comes in through the impeller then goes out the top from an opening perpindicular to this hole.
So what I do is just wrap a piece of filter floss around the intake of the filter and tie it
(here its done with the cord but its better to use zip ties as tying can sometimes damage the cord. I dont have any zip ties right now so I just tied it like this.)
You end up with a little "sponge " filter like this
Sorry for the crappy pic, the video is better. I like these filters because you can hide them easily in tanks and direct them like a powerhead to create a current. also I use these when I have to drain a lot of tanks for a while while doing massive water changes... to keep some current going while the main filtration is off. This is esp. useful when its hot.
Of course, I realize that having serviced one of these filters, you could simply seal the case back together with aquarium sealant, but they get things caught in them so often i find this way is easier for me.
There you have it... heres a youtube video of me demonstrating the idea for all you visual learners
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TzFIvblQus&context=C30046e7ADOEgsToPDskJjdC6CXeoSOzeY8idgsArh
Thanks everybody! hope that helps
