diy filter sump and wet/dry(load warning)

[eh1421]

here it is not in action yet but soon will be for my 75 gal cichlid tank.

The whole thing will sit above the main tank. Water is the pump to the first chamber wich will hold coarse filter media and filter floss as this will be the chamber that is cleaned most. From the first chamber water will flow up and into the second chamber. the second chamber will hold coarse gravel for further cleaning the the water of any debris. The third chamber will hold broken up bricks as bricks are real porous and provide a large amount of surface area for bacteria. The water flows up through the third chamber through the overflow and into the spray bar and then into the wet dry container filled with pot scrubbers and finally will return to the tank.

A little long winded but i hope it helps to explain the project.

mike

Heres the pics.

 

[fishyboi]

NICE planning to make my own too

 

[mjime714]

Interesting design. You should raise the pot scrubbers above the drain line using egg crate or somethng so that they do not get submursed in the water. They are more effective that way.

 

[rallysman]

that is very interesting...let us know how it works out

 

[Cyclop3000]

Yes very interesting, if it works (and I don't see why not!!!) it would be a very cheap alternative to a DIY acrylic tank for wet-dry...Now what pump strenght are you going to use, since it's a 75g? And why put the wet/dry above the tank rather than below...any reason other than space limitations?

If I am correct those bins are not that big...what are dimensions? Any reason for using two bins instead of just one larger?

Keep the pics goin!

 

[eh1421]

cyclop the reason its going above is space my tank sits on my dresser in my bedroom no where to go underneath
The only reason i went with 2 tubs was because of space on the shelf above the tank The bigger tubs were way to wide for the shelf and now after a water test i am glad i did.

You see i did't account for water pressure pushing out the sides of the tub. The tub didn't fail but my baffles sure did. So now i have to rethink the mechanical side of this filter. Maybe some sort of super glue to hold them in then silicone to seal them or maybe just fill the whole thing in layers of dif filter media.

Who knows but the bulk heads held perfect.

Thanks to all
mike

 

[Cyclop3000]

I see...maybe some kind of quick-build light wood frame would prevent the bins from warping with water pressure. I have done this in the past for other applications (mainly a very large tub), and it worked great. Sort of like a wooden 1"-2" stand/frame that you sit the bins into.

Just a thought

 

[R1_Ridah]

Awsome bro, very creative.

 

[phreakyfaerie]

fosters and smith sells an underwater epoxy for glass or acryllic tanks, i have seen this epoxy put to the test on tv, they glued two pieces of metal together and lifted a truck with it. its not too pricey it comes in a 2 part syringe. that should hold it together.

 

[fishnutham]

great to see someone using pot scrubbers i think they work great and are cheap imo i would compress them together so you can get more in and the tighter they are the more benificial bacteria will attach to them. oh and add air to them helps with bacteria growth a small pump with a air stone would do it.